A Comprehensive Service Station
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Every Class of Commercial Vehicle Repair can be Carried Out at this Convenient Depot R.ENTLY we paid a visit to the well-equipped service station and garage of W. R. Wood (Motors), Ltd., 100-102, Walworth Road, London, S.E.17, the managing director of which is Mr. W. IL Wood, ni.m.T., whom we have known for many years and who has built up an important business from small beginnings.
To the comm&-cial-vehicle operator this station is particularly interesting, as the repair or overhaul of any vehicle can be carried out by day or night, and it is self-contained for service to the user, the work performed on the premises including reboring and honing, bodybuilding and repairing in wood and sheet metal (the latter, incidentally, requiring the services of skilled welders), whilst there is a finishing shop for &HU lose, equipped with electrically driven polishing machines, etc. Particular attention is given to cab work, four complete vehicles of this type being overhauled and repainted weekly, whilst the capacity of the works is about eight complete overhauls in the same period. The machine shop includes lathes, grinders, vertical drilling machines, millers, etc., and there is a magneto and battery section where magnetos are remagnetized, armatures rewound, and, in the case of batteries, these are completely rebuilt with new plates.
The trimmers' shop can deal with all kinds of npholstery and undertakes repairs to Weymann bodywork.
Easy access to the units upon which work is being conducted is permitted by proper engine and axle stands made by Ratcliffe Bros., valve refacing and grinding being performed by Black and Decker tools, whilst a Weaver press is installed for dealing with bushes. The blacksmith's shop includes an electrically blown forge, and two smiths are permanently occupied in setting up springs and other work.
Before inspection, engines and chassis are thoroughly cleaned by a paraffin pressure-washing outfit.
The overhaul shop is on the first floor, access being afforded by a long ramp. This limits the headroom of vehicles to 9 ft., but bigger machines can be tackled in the capacious bays opening from the main garage_ The premises include a filling .station and oil stores, and we noted that in the oil store room there are eight Bowser tanks supplying oil and a B.E.N. compressor which forces the lubricants to the draw-off points, also supplying pressure to a Curtis 2-ton lift and to the cellulose spraying guns.
Full attention has been given to light
ing, both natural and artificial, and the care given to the building is shown by the fact that the partitions and doors ate hollow and lagged for silence. The whole premises, including the oil stores, are centrally heated. '
A washing system with overhead leads is carried throughout the extensive garage on the ground floor and supplies nine guns. The petrol station has six electrically operated pumps for general use, and one for works use.
As an example of what is thought of the future, there is a 2,000-gallon tank and connections ready for supplying oil fuel when the anticipated large demand occurs.
One of the interesting devices used is an Ego Tyrefiator, which is set to the correct pressure and rings a bell at short intervals until the highest pressure suitable for the tyre being inflated is reached.