SERVICING LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
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The Well-known Repair Works and Garage of Spicers, Ltd., Extended and Improved to Provide Still Better Facilities.
MHE tremendous increase in the em ployment of light commercial vehicles for all classes of transport work is encouraging the equipment of service stations which can specialize in the particular requirements of these vehicles, but there is still room for a number of really efficient and well-organized service stations which can undertake complete overhauls as well as major and minor repairs.
A company which has already had considerable experience in this class of work is Spicers' Ltd., Eaton Street, Great Charlotte Street, London, S.E.1, which has been at its present location for some six years, during which time the work has grown steadily in volume as its excellence has become appreciated.
In fact, the motto of the company is, "We grow as we serve."
Owing to its growth the garage space has recently been considerably extended, and there i now accommodation for 270 light vans, whilst on the repair side 50 vehicles can be dealt with simultaneously.
The company is distributing agent for the London districts S.E.1, 8JE.16, and S.E.17 for Chevrolet chassis, and the service station, although, of course, dealing with the servicing of this make does not confine its activities to it, and is perfectly willing to deal with other makes of light commercial vehicle.
It is as well to point out that the company does not cater for cheap and, possibly, nasty, repair work. It em ploys 16 skilled fitters, two lathe hands, and two electricians, apart from painters, bodyworkers, etc., and the premises are open both (lay and night, a staff being always available.
For breakdown work use is made of a Star 2i-tonner equipped with crane, towing tackle, vice, etc., capable of dealing with the largest breakdowns: There are two petrol pumps, a Bowser and a Bywater, with tanks holding 2,000 and 3,000 gallons respen!. tively, the spirit provided being Dominion.
The new premises which have been ab.N.orbed into the concern are at 111 and 112, Wootton Street, 3:E.1.
All work is carried out under the "guaranteed repairers' scheme" of the Institute of the Motor Trade, and is under the personal supervision of the general manager, Mr. G. Holland, A.M.Inst.T., P.I.M.T.
There is a well-filled stores of spare parts for most makes of commercial vehicle, and, of course, a very comprehensive section devoted to the Chevrolet, but there are good stocks alim for such vehicles as the Albion and Peerless. Incidentally, Chevrolets with various types of body are always in stock ready for immediate delivery to buyers. Accessories are also available, a full range of horns, etc., being kept in stock. There is a battery of seven tanks of oil, and there are never less than 700 to 800 gallons in stock in bulk, as well as proprietary brands :in tins.. The oil tanks have self-measuring pumps.
With regard to the plant, the machine
shop is equipped with two gaptbed screw-cutting lathes of 71-in. and 61-in. centres respectively, a Brown and Sharpe universal milling machine, a plain miller, several drilling machines, including a 2-ft. 6-in. radial and renalfive pillar drill, and a 4-ft. 6-in, radial drill which is adapted as a boring head for dealing with crankshaft bearings in situ in the cranks, thus ensuring accurate alignment. There is a handoperated press of an unusual type, embodying worm gearing and capable of giving a pressure of 30 to 40 tons ; this
is intended for gearwheels, bushes, etc. Then there are ordinary grinding machinee, anA an internal and external grinding adapter for use in the lathe, a power hacksaw, and a complete oxyacetylene welding plant conclude this portion of the equipment. For garage use there are Weaver and G.E. highlifting jacks, an Eagan two-gun carwasher and a Tecalemit large-capacity high-pressure gun mounted on a trolley.
A special electrical department deals with magnetos, dynamos, and accumulator charging, and there is free air ser
vice from two separate pumps with air lines leading to different points in the garage.
The company has a bodybuilding department and paint shop, and undertakes a lot of commercial work of this kind. Those examples which we inspected showed the work to be excellent.
Although on. the south side of the river, the station is quite accessible. By motor vehicle it is five minutes from London Bridge and Smithfield Market, and three minutes from the City and Covent Garden.