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Carter, Paterson and Co. and Motor Wagons.

4th May 1905, Page 9
4th May 1905
Page 9
Page 10
Page 9, 4th May 1905 — Carter, Paterson and Co. and Motor Wagons.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Four "Straker" Vehicles at Work ; Three more on Order.

Londoners and visitors to the metropolis are never allowed for many minutes together to move about without seeing a Carter, Paterson van. " C.P. and Co." is probably better known in town than the symbols for any railway company, and the existence of this huge carrying business i$ taken as a matter of course in the everyday life of our great capital. We have on many occasions noted the passing of heavilyladen steam vans and trailers bearing the company's name, and it was not a difficult matter to persuade the manager to furnish the following information as to the departure which was entered upon some IS months ago. A member of our staff prefaced his interview by a preliminary walk round the several large sorting platforms at the central depots which cluster round the head office in the Goswell Road.

" The first machine," began the manager, " was purchased_ in November, 1903, a second one in January, 1904, and two more in July of the same year. All were supplied by the Straker Steani.Vehicle Co., Ltd., and there has been no occasion to regret the choice. The four wagons are employed for the transfer of 5-tan loads between the various outlying depots in the London district. Three tons are taken in the motor body and two tons in the trailing van, the daily journeys of each vehicle averaging 48 miles. The motor wagons and trailers work side by side with the pairhorse vans and take the load of four horses on each trip, in addition to which they cover at least twice the mileage of each horse-drawn unit in a day." The member of our staff was unable to obtain exact figures as to the saving in haulage costs, although that the company is satisfied with the results may be gathered from the fact that three additional Straker wagons are on order for delivery this month.

Passing to the question of management and drivers, our representative put questions as to the trouble and degree of attention that motor wagons call for in their supervision. It was an agreeable confirmation of the reports that are now forthcoming with some degree of consistency from users, to gather that this company trains its own drivers, some being van men and others being taken from various departments, and to find that one good fitter is able to look after the machines without undue pressure. The principal repairs have been to steel wheels having steel plates on the treads, but wooden wheels with weldless steel tyres are now being used, and these are giving good results. It is very seldom that a wagon misses its regular work ; certainly not more often that one day a month, unless when the streets are slippery through frost and snow, but a good reliable wheel to overcome skidding and lack of adhesion under these conditions is much needed. The success that has attended the use of various forms of " winter" wheels was pointed out to Messrs. Carter, Paterson's manager, and he agreed that probably the most serious disadvantage in mechanical haulage would be overcome by the adoption of wooden or other non-slipping treads. He added that not only were earnings lost through stoppages, tar, the day's work was upset and there was considerable risk of accident at times. Possibly a non-skidding tread on one of the four wheels would prove sufficient. They, however, in point of fact, had experienced very little trouble from claims for third panty damage, whilst the various parcels and packages were carried without any increase of risk for claims as compared with horse-drawn vans.

At the present time Messrs. Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., own about 3,000 horses and 1,250 vans, and they intend gradually to replace a considerable proportion of the dep8t to depot horse-drawn vans by motor haulage. About 600 pair-horse van loads of goods and parcels leave the company's central sorting platform daily for the suburban depbts, where they are re-sorted for delivery, but this gives only a poor idea of the magnitude of the work involved. "Do

you consider that tractors are inferior to motor wagons, sh and do you use any tractors?" was the next question, put in of view of the wide use being made of tractors by a well-known by firm of London haulage contractors. The reply on this point an is of particular interest. " We are of opinion that the motor wagon and trailer is more economical than the tractor, because practically two van loads are taken each trip; but is not always easy to get two loads ready for one destination at the same

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Again it was granted by our informant that the motor can climb every hill without assistance, whilst a third horse is oftentimes needed.

The difficuky of securing the necessary loads appealed to our representative as being a matter for organisation and selection, in which matters we are sure nothing will be lacking at the hands of Messrs. Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd. The company is about to experimetk with a light petrol delivery van to carry 11 to 2 tons of load, and that will be used at an outside suburban district depiit for distribution. This is a departure that will be watched carefully, because it is generally held that it is not possible to effect any saving over horseflesh in such work.

It will be observed that no trailers are own in our photographs, but this was for the convenience our photographer. Trailing vans are invariably hauled 'each motor van, and a photograph will be published in early issue showing a complete unit on the road.

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People: Carter
Locations: London

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