Delivering Fragile Fittings
Page 50
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
over long distances
How 27 Lorries Employed by a Group of London Companies Cover the Country, Carrying Signs, Fronts and Interior Equipment for Shops
AN exceptional degree of flexibility is required in the transport system of a _shop-fitting concern. Decorative fronts, signs and interior equipment for shops are, of course, not installed until the building is completed, and often only a small margin of time is allowed between the date of placing the order and that on which delivery is required. Late delivery might delay the opening of new premises and cause serious loss of business to the trader. Consequently, vehicles must always be available to deal with urgent consignments.
Furthermore, the fragile nature and high value of shop fittings, in which much costly wood, metal and glass are used, make it desirable for the goods to be transported, so far as possible, in the maker's own vehicles. This factor prevents the establishment of specified radii of delivery by the manufacturer's fleet, and involves a considerable amount of long-distance work.
Vehicles engaged in this class of business have to be specially equipped to deal with awkward, as well as delicate, loads, whilst efficient suspension
is an essential feature. Shop equipment is bulky, rather than heavy, and calls for large capacity, although not necessarily high-powered, vehicles.
The road-transport organization of a big concern dealing with shop fittings more closely resembles that of a longdistance jobbing haulier than is usually the case with ancillary users, for it is impossible to arrange regular runs, and vehicles are required almost at a u36 moment's notice to. travel to extreme points of the country.
These facts emerge from an investigation of the transport system of the Brilliant Sign Co. (1907), Ltd., 131, 1.Txbridge Road, London, W.12, which, with its subsidiary companies, employs a fleet of 27 goods vehicles. The group of companies, which includes also Stanley Jones and Co., Ltd., Godolphin Metal Fronts, Ltd., and Brilliant Neon, Ltd., is able to meet all requirements in connection with shop fittings and signs, and possesses elaborate equipment for dealing with a wide variety of materials. Metal work for the motor and other trades is also "supplied.
Most of the vehicles are of the Gil ford normal and forward control passenger types, on which the management is, we understand, in future standardizing. These machines are regarded highly, not only on account of their performance and suspension, butir also their durability. We are informed that the only replacements required on a Gifford vehicle that has seen three years' service were: two gaskets.
The Gilfords are 4-tonners, whilst other makes represented in the fleet are Bedford (2 tons), Dennis (3 tons), Morris-Commercial (30 cwt.) and Reo (2i; tons). In addition, the company uses' Vauxhall service vehicles of a special design, referred to and illustrated in our issue dated April 26 last. The chassis is of the private-car type, and upon it are mounted a flat platform body and a half-width cab, there being space on the near side for carrying a 50-ft. three-part extension ladder, which can be handled by one man. A side board is fitted only on the off side, and there is no tailboard. On the near side there is a locker for transformers and cables below the platform. ' Neon signs are maintained for 12 months after installation; consequently there is ample work for special service vehicles.
The operating concern builds its own bodywork, in which are incorporated various novel features proved by practical experience to facilitate safe load, ing and transport. A Gilford platform lorry carries a pair of slat-sided skips, to which cross-bars may be fitted to provide an additional loading "deck." The open construction provides many points at which the load may be tied.
Most of the vehicles have highpanelled sides with open-work extensions. An item of equipment that has proved itself to be most valuable is a double-folding tailboard, which, when lowered, forms a ramp.
Arrangements are also made for attaching slatted upper "decks," by means of studs and bolts, to the top of the body sides for the transport of glass and lengthy loads. A shop front 25 ft. long and 8 ft. high is not an unusual load for the company's vehicles, whilst, on a recent occasion, a consignment 50 ft. long was handled.
As already intimated, many of the deliveries are effected over long distances, Plymouth, Hull, Newcastle and Glasgow being :typical destinations. So far as possible, journeys are arranged so that deliveries can be made at intermediate points en route. The company's policy is, however, to deliver goods as quickly as possible, and the matter of expense is, not allowed to stand in the way of maximum service to customers.
In addition to what one might term the irregular. deliveries, a daily service between London and, Manchester is maintained, the vehicles running to a time-table. Where possible, loading is completed overnight, so that the vehicles may leave at 8 a.m. There is a loading bay for several vehicles, whilst others draw up at the doors of the various departments, such as the metal shop, joinery shop, etc., from which goods are to be dispatched. On the long journeys drivers are often changed en route.
The Brilliant Sign Co. carries out the tradition of its name in its vehicles as well as its signs, and its red lorries are maintained in an exemplary condition. Every two years each vehicle is repainted and revarnished, and in the intermediate years revarnishecl.
The drivers are not permitted to make adjustments, but submit daily reports on the condition of their vehicles, and any defect is rectified by the maintenance department. Every vehicle is examined over the pit once a week, and it is a striking testimony to the efficiency of the maintenance system that no breakdown has, we are informed, occurred for four years.
Special care is taken of tyres, and the walls are whitewashed weekly, so that careless treatment by drivers, who allow them to contact with the kerb, can immediately be noticed. Each tyre is .numbered and its position on the vehicle noted, and is moved from wheel to wheel to obtain the maximum mileage. We understand that excellent results are obtained, some of the tyres of Dunlap and India makes having a life of 70,0004)0,000 miles.
The costing system is rather unusual, in that expenses are assessed on an hourly basis, according t6 the size of the vehicle.