AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

£12,000 for £2

4th January 1957, Page 49
4th January 1957
Page 49
Page 49, 4th January 1957 — £12,000 for £2
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

WAR. G. J. LOFTS, who has made philatelic history by In buying from Dartford Post Office a sheet of 240 unperforated 2d. stamps thought to be worth £12,000, is managing director of an 81-year-old removal and storage business. He took control, in 1915, of what is now styled Geo. J. Lofts, Ltd., of Dartford, and now, at the age of 70, he leaves the day-to-day management to his son and fellow-director, Mr. D. C. Lofts.

Their fleet consists of five Austin, a Jensen and a Commer, and their vehicles made a good impression when they competed in the Portsmouth commercial vehicle rally.

Silk Worms on the Move

THE company's motto, "Castle and cottage—we move them all," is literally true. Recently they achieved a great deal of valuable publicity in moving Lady Hart-Dyke's silk farm from Lullingstone Castle, at Eynsford, Kent, to Ayott St. Lawrence, Hems. The job involved seven vanloads of furniture and equipment. I am told that Lady Hart-Dyke's silk worms arc in great demand at Coronation times for producing Royal robes and Mr. D. C. Lofts shepherded them safely into their new home.

Work Study Pays

WORK study could usefully be applied by many operators to control transport costs. It has certainly repaid St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Association, Ltd., Edinburgh, who engaged work-study consultants to survey the distribution system used in the bakery department_ Drastic changes were made in the layout and organization of the dispatch department, vehicles were re-routed, and some of the less economic routes were adjusted to become more efficient. Within three months of the installation of the new system, sales of bakery goods had risen by 12 per cent., whereas over the previous two years they had declined by about 7+ per cent.

Then a new bonus scheme was introduced. In the first 20 weeks of its operation sales rose by 15 per cent, and over

the first 12 months were 12+ per cent. higher than they had been during the previous year.

An integral part of the scheme is the recruitment and training of driver-salesmen. This work is undertaken by a supervisor who has been specially appointed to carry out these duties.

Began in 1889 AN old-timer who is still going strong is Mr. Rowland Taylor, who, in 1889, with his father and brother, began a horse-drawn bus service from Llangennith to Swansea.

In 1910, he took over the first bus service from Rhossili to Swansea and two years later amalgamated with his brother, the late Mr. George Ernest Taylor, who was running the Llangennith service. They formed the Gower Vanguard Motor Co., Ltd., and in 1922, purchased the Swan buses from the late Mr. Tom Coach. These were operating between Swansea and Bishopston and later extended to Pennard. Then in 1925 the brothers formed the Swan Motor Co. (Swansea), Ltd., which operated until November, 1950, when, with a fleet of 26 buses, it was taken over by United Welsh Services.

Mr. Taylor and his wife received a telegram of congratulation from the Queen on their diamond wedding celebration on Boxing Day.

Executioner-operator

nEPUTY public executioner was the curious office that Mr. Stephen Wade combined with the operation of Wade's Motor Coaches, Waterdale, Doncaster. Mr. Wade, who died recently at the age of 67, was greatly affected in his youth by a particularly brutal crime that led him, when he was about 21, to offer his services to the Home Office. He was not accepted until 1938, but he then worked first as deputy to Thomas Pierrepoint and afterwards to Albert Pierrepoint. During the 1939-45 war he attended the execution of nine spies.


comments powered by Disqus