SPECIAL MOTORS FOR PROPAGANDA USES.
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Two Interesting Vehicles Designed for Well-known Concerns, One Being a Sample-distribution Outfit and the Other a Well-equipped Showroom.
I N our issue dated April 5th of last year, we published brief details of an interesting scheme inaugurated by Huntley and Painters, Ltd., for distributing samples of its various brands of biscuit. This scheme involved the use of light-capacity vans drawing specially equipped trailers and, judging by the fact that the company has now adopted a somewhat more ambitious method, this experiment would appear to have proved eminently successful. •
There is little question that the modern method of distributing samples as adopted by Huntley and Palmers, Ltd., Possesses distinct advantages over the old arrangement under which an agent usually preceded the arrival of the samples in order to arrange for their distribution by local men. The new way also calls for the employment 04 an advance agent, but his duties are very much different. He is provided with a motorcar, and it is his task to find suitable pitches for the travelling outfit, interior and exterior views of the latest type of which are shown in accompanying illustrations.
The outfit comprises a capacious caravan hauling a fourwheeled trailer, the saloon body of the former being mounted
on an Associated Daimler Model 416a chassis. In passing, we may mention that this model incorporates in its design a 35-50 h.p. four-cylindered engine, having a bore of 108 mm. and% stroke of 140 mm., an inverted cone-type clutch, a fourspeed gearbox and a worm-driven rear axle in which the worm is carried underneath.
The boys who are employed for distributing the samples from house to house are accommodated in the caravan, whilst the samples are carried in the trailer. Five boys are carried, in addition to the driver, and these come under the supervision of a charge-hand. Wherever the vehicle travels the staff is carried, and sleeping and other accommodation is provided. The body of the caravan and the trailer outfit were built by the Eccles Motor Caravans, Ltd., of Birmingham.
In the design of the caravan everything possible has been done to ensure that ample comfort is provided for the crew.The beds take the form of. six spring-mattress bunks whieh, when not in use, fold easily and become three useful settees. Tables which, when not required, can be carried in a folded
position below the roof, can be quickly mounted on the floor. Private lockers and drawers are provided for each member of the staff, in addition to a wardrobe for common use, which is intended to accommodate personal belongings. Bevelled glass mirrors are placed in the doors of the wardrobe and in three of the locker doors. In the main gangway there are two wash bowls, placed side by aide.
A clerestory roof gives a gangway headroom of 6 ft. 3 ins. :Natural light finds its way into the interior, through the sidelights of the clerestory roof and through six windows proper,
of which there are two on one side and four on the other, two o: the last-named being in the doors on the near side. For lighting at night an extra large battery supplies current for the necessary head and tail lamps, as well as for two interior lights in the caravan and one in the trailer.
Cooking arrangements have received proper attention, and two Valor Perfee4ion stoves are included amongst the equip ment. Above them is a locker in which dishes and plates can be warmed: whilst another locker takes the form of a meat 'safe. Knives, forks, plates and other essentials are accommodated in other lockers, being held in racks by spring clips in order to overcome rattle. The charge-hand acts as cook, and he purchases provisions in the towns where the samples are distributed. A menu for the week, which is supplied from the head office of the company is, we are told, rigidly adhered to.
Some details of the method of working will be of interest. On arrival at a town in the evening the pitch selected by the advance agent is located and a halt called for the night. The driver has his own bed in the van body, which, like the others, folds up to leave room for the accommodation of samples. After breakfast in the morning the driver takes one or two of the staff with him on the van to the local railway station, where supplies are collected. The work for a day consists of delivering 2,000 samples, and this is considered a fair day's work for one man and five boys. •
The caravan and trailer are usually kept to the main thoroughfares in each town, from which the side roads are readily accessible. After the boys have distributed samples at the houses in them they return to the outfit, which moves on for, say, a quarter of a mile to the next suitable distribution point. -At the end of the slay, or when the -2,000 samples have been distributed, the complete._outfit either remains in the same town if the whole of it has not been. canvassed, .or it is driven on to thenext town ready for the following day's work.
The itinerary which is followed is -mapped out by the head effite Staff, and arrangements are made for the supply' of petrol and oil from concerns' having depots or branches alongthe route to be traversed. .
This:method of distributing the samples has been arranged under, the supervision .of Major A. W. SChite, -the twinsport manager of the Associated 'Biscuit Manufacturers, Ltd. This•cdmpany has also recently had constructed a special travelling saloon for the use of its chocolate-making branch, Meltis, Ltd. The basiS of this particular Vehicle is the,Clny 25 h.p,,..dropped-frame. chassis, having 'a wheelbase of 14 ft. 1 in. The body isa special type and is choicely decorated. It is the work' of W. and T. Robson, Ltd:, 60, Farringdon Road, L-ondon, E.C.1; and is of the enclosed saloon type havingfixedlightsat ,-the sides and the rear. Full-depth doors are. fitted-lir•the centre of each sideof the bbdy, -as well as at, each: side of the driver's compartment. All the doors have' frameless drop lights which are operated by mechanical winders.
The front portion of the interior of the body is fitted with a plate-glass mahogany counter along each side, as well as across the front, sets of polished mahogany drawers also
being fitted. These drawers are used for accommodating the mangy varieties of chocolate and other goods produced by the company and can be placed below the counter so that the contents can be clearly seen through the glass. Several sloping shelves are fitted above the counter, these being intended for the display of fancy boxes of chocolates, etc.
The rear portion of the. interior is equipped with a polished mahogany oval table, around which comfortable armchairs upholstered in leather are disposed. The floor is covered with a pile carpet. The driver's compartment is fitted with a well-upholstered cushion and squab in leather. A spare wheel is carried in the interior at the rear on a special carrier iron, which has a leather cover so that it harmonizes with the finish of the interior. The vehicle is painted in a special shade of blue.