Novel Features at Vauxhall Exhibition
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LAST week we referred briefly to the particularly interesting and compact exhibition staged by Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., at its Luton works. Now we can deal a little more fully with the exhibits themselves.
Although not concerned directly with this journal, visitors should not miss seeing the early private cars, one dating from 1903. Standing by some later models downstairs, is a full-sized rubberized " blow-up " of a 15-cwt. Army Bedford, of which many were used as decoys.
Upstairs one sees, first, a series of pictures in the style of the Bayeux tapestry, which tells the story of a Baron Fulk le Breant, whose coat of arms bore a Griffin. His house, Fulk's Hall, gave its name to Vauxhall in Lambeth, where the Vauxhall Ironworks were established in 1857 by a Scot, Mr. Alexander Wilson, -and he adopted the present Vauxhall arms as a trade mark. When the company had to extend, the site chosen was Luton, and, curiously enough, it was, later, found. that this town was the original home of the Baron, whose castle had stood close by the present factory site thus the Griffin came home.
Next are models of famous Vauxhall vehicles, and a complete photographic record of the development and expansion of the company between the two wars. A central exhibit here comprises an interesting selection of appliances used for the inspection of materials and finished parts, also a testing rig for direction indicators.
First-hand Checks
Visitors may check the accuracy of such articles as gudgeon pins, and it is notable that these and other parts are arranged in sets for individual engines, with a variation between the members of any one set of something like 0.0001 in. Examples of parts tThrposely broken show the fine grain structure, and, where so treated, the depth of casehardening, indicating also the care taken in the selection of materials. Samples for testing are taken from every batch to avoid the possibility of anything inferior being included in a vehicle.
The section devoted to war products of the company is unobtrusive, but illuminating, and well worth studying.
We were pleased to note the interest paid to suggestions from workers, and how they are followed up. An example is shown where, following reports of the success of a device introduced on one machine as a trial and on others later, the inventor received three separate payments, totalling £120.
The parts and service section is of particular value to dealers, and here will be found the most modern ideas in service-station layout, with much of theactual equipment employed.
Then there is a complete system for pricing repair jobs, following them through, checking the hours involved in each, and comparing these with the average found by the company to be necessary.
There are test rigs for ascertaining the durability of certain parts or the energy required to turn a steering wheel. One machine which appealed to us is used for testing the ductility or " pressing " capacity of such material as the steel sheet used for bodywork. The sheet is slowly indented until a crack is shown under a strong light, the pressure required and the depth telling the story. There are numerous other features which will appeal to all classes of visitor.
As a whole, this exhibition is well worthy of the company's achievements.