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Branch factory Efficiency Dependent Upon Road Transport

5th May 1933, Page 140
5th May 1933
Page 140
Page 141
Page 140, 5th May 1933 — Branch factory Efficiency Dependent Upon Road Transport
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Two Distinct Classes 9f Transport Undertaken by the Fleet, Consisting Mainly of Guy Vehicles, of the Ever-Ready Co. (Great Britain), Ltd.

IT can accurately be stated that much of the sueeess of any large Amufacturing concern depends upon prompt service to wholesalers and retailers, and in this connection road transport plays an important part. Efficient motor vehicles must be available to carry urgent consignments, sometimes at short notice over a wide area, and careful organization is necessary to avoid delays and overlapping.

The road distribution system of the Ever-Ready Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., Hercules Place, London, N.7, meets these requirements and, under the management of Mr. W. P. Banbury, carries out the ideal expressed in the title of the company.

The Ever-Ready concern, which . is well known for its large range of batteries for various purposes, accumulators, electric torches, cycle lamps, domestic bells, electric gas lighters, etc., has widespread ramifications, including some' half-a-dozen factories in London and two in Wolverhampton. It can well be imagined that heavy calls are made upon the transport organization, and the fleet of motorvans, mainly Guys, is giving' notable service.

The vehicles covering London and district are garaged at Ashley Road, N.17, there being 22 of Guy make and two Morris 8-ewt. vans. Of the Guy machines, there are nine BA-type tonners; eight of these vehicles were delivered in 1929 and one in 1931. There are two ONA-type vans, one of which was purchased in 1930 and the other in 1931. In 1932 the company took delivery of five T-type 3-4-tonners, whilst during the same year four K-type 21-tonners were purchased.

At Wolverhampton one T-type 3-4tanner is employed, in company with two UW-type 30-cwt. vans. These were delivered during 1931 and 1932.

In addition to these three vans, the Wolverhampton factories make use of an Austin 10-cwt. six-cylinder 12 h.p. vehicle with a body built by the chassis maker, and decorated, to secure the maximum publicity value, to the design of the Ever-Ready Co. There are also six other similar vehicles in commission, two being employed at the Bristol depot of the Ever-Ready concern, two at Leeds and two at Edinburgh.

Guy and Robson Bodywork.

Of the Guy units, 17 are equipped with bodies built by Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, whilst seven were constructed by W. and T. Robson, Ltd., 60, Farringdon Road, London, E.C.1.,

Two of the Guy BA-type lorries have, we understand, • each covered approximately 90,000 miles. One of them is now receiving its first complete overhaul, comprising athorough stripping down of the chassis and the renewal of parts where necessary; the other van

will be brought in for overhaul within the next few days. We have inspected various components of the former machine, and there appeared to be no undue wear—a remarkable achievement. The remaining BA models have not covered such a great mileage ; three of them have been overhauled this year and are back on the road.

'The transport organization of the company is of more than usual interest, in that .there are two distinct spheres of operation. Regular transport is required between the concern's various premises in London, these being situ

ated at Holloway (headquarters), Stoke Newington, Harringay, Finsbury Park, Edmonton, Walthamstow and Bow.

Raw materials and finished products have to be dealt with, and it is necessary for Mr. Franbury to keep himself fully acquainted with the state of production at the different factories, so that there is no delay in delivering materials and in clearing stocks of manufactured goods. This circumstance naturally complicates the situation.

In the normal course of events, four vehicles are daily employed on supplying the needs of the London factories, but sometimes this number has to be augmented. Circular journeys are made, and the vehicles are usually fully laden throughout the day. They are dispatched from the garage at 8 a.m. each day, the previous half-hour having been devoted to lubrication, warmingup, etc.

On most occasions the vehicles travel light from Ashley Road to their starting points—an average of 2i miles— but sometimes they are required to transport erppty trays, which are used for carrying batteries and cells.

As an example of the journeys involved in meeting the needs of the factories, one vehicle covers, five times daily, a circuit from Stoke Newington to Finsbury Park and Holloway, dealing with a total load of some 20 tons a day. The other circuits are more complicated and cover a wider area, but each, embodying five picking-up points, is completed twice a day, the total tonnage handled in each case being 20-30. The batteries and cells are made at one particular factory and, in the van, are carried in the trays referred to earlier. At the works the trays are run along roller conveyors, and are} stacked on a portable raised platform. A lift truck is then placed beneath this trolley, which is elevated, its legs being lifted clear of the ground. The stack of trays can then quickly and easily be moved to the van for loading by hand.

Each driver engaged on an inter-factory circuit is provided daily with a sheet ruled into ft number of vertical columns. At the head-of each pair of columns is printed the name of a factory, and, when a call is made, a member of the dispatch department enters, in the appropriate column, the times of arrival and departure of the van. Any abnormal .delay in loading is explained in -a column on the right-hand side of the sheet.

The second class of transport is concerned with deliveries to wholesalers and retailers within a radius of about 25 miles of London. One factory has a standing order for four vehicles this number being augmented when required. Calls for vehicles are put through from three other factories at 8 a.m, each day, whilst the other depots have also to be supplied with transport, but at not such regular intervals.

Transport Needs Vary Daily.

It will thus be gathered that the transport requirements of the vafious premises vary from day to day, arrangements for meeting their needs having to be made between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

In London, two of the Guy K-type

21-tonners are used by travellers, who sell to traders direct from the vans. On each side of the vehicle are shelves, made up in the form of a case mounted on castors, so that it may easily be removed when the vehicle is required for other duties; the stock of each van is replenished daily. The two Morris vehicles are set aside for the transport of small parcels, accumulators, etc.

An innovation is the inauguration of a daily service from London to,Wolver

hampton, one journey in each direction being made. On this route two Guy 4-tonners are employed.

From the two factories at Wolverhampton, the vans stationed there cover a wide area, travelling as far as Bristol, Leeds and Manchester.

Each vehicle undergoes a thorough overhaul annually, other maintenance operations being carried out as required. The Ever-Ready concern itself undertakes most of the upkeep operations in connection with its fleet of vehicles, but, owing to the expense of the installation of re-boring plant, specialists are entrusted with the work of re-boring the cylinders, etc.

Next to the maintenance shop, at Ashley Road, is the stores department, in which spare parts are carried in racks, a card filing system being employed to show at a glance the stocks of components available.

Drivers are responsible for the cleanliness of their vehicles, but are not called upon to effect running repairs, all defects being attended to by the garage staff. Mr. Hanbury attaches great importance to the cleanliness of vehicles and the garage, for, as he remarked to a representative of The Conunerciai Motel., untidy vehicles and garage make for slovenly drivers. The garage is, in fact, a model in this respect.

Access to the premises is gained through roller shutter doors, and an electric petrol pump is conveniently situated nearby. On arrival at the garage at night, vehicles are re-fuelled and are washed ready for the morning. The garage floor is lined out in such a way that, when the vehicles are in position, there is ample space to walk between them. .


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