Containers Cut Delivery Costs
Page 53
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WHENEVER possible, road vehicles vY are employed in preference to the railways for the transport of cycles by the Coventry Eagle Cycle and Motor Co., Ltd., Tile Hill, Coventry, to avoid damage and delivery delays. Return of the cycles to the works for repairs and repainting adds to manufacturing costs and is prejudicial to dealers' sales.
Cyltles for delivery within an area of I00 rniles are carried by Fordson 10-cwt. vans drawing two-wheeled trailers built by Castle Bodies (Coventry), Ltd., Kenilworth, on caravan chassis supplied by Messrs. B. and B. Engineering -(Coventry), Leamington, the Capacity of each trailer unit being 32 cycles. Of these, 28 are carried in the trailer, which has body measurements of 14 ft. 6 in. long by 6 ft. 4 in. wide.
The cycles are located longitudinally in two rows on a ramped floor, so that a part of their weight is taken by bars, at the lower outer ends of the ramps, against which the tyres rest. These effectively cushion the cycles, and in conjunction with wheel-location slats and lashing straps provide a secure mounting. Two. doors on both sides of
the trailer body simplify unloading the cycles in small numbers.
For long-distance deliveries, vans are being progressively replaced by allwood demountable containers, built in the workshops, to avoid body distortion when travelling and consequent scratching of the cycles. A container carries 52 cycles, which are located in slots and held in position by felt-covered spacing bars and straps. The vehicle chassis are Thames 3-tonners, powered by Cost-Cutter petrol engines, with conventional platform bodies.
Another advantage of using containers is that, after removal by pulley blocks for loading or unloading, they are supported on racks and the vehicles can be employed for other work. Removal occupies about 10 minutes.