7 What Users Tell Us Interview 28
Page 18
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A Birmingham User says: "We Won't Go Back to Horses."
In a recent interview for this series we were enabled to give our readers the impressions of a wellknown user in Birmingham, Lewis's to wit, who utilize a motorvan as a ready means for delivering household goods of a non-perishable nature. Following that interview we paid a visit, in the same city, to Hurrells, Ltd., particularly for the purpose of hearing what the management of that wholesale provision_ establishment eeuld tell us on the matter of delivering goods of a more or less perishable nature by motors, in order that tradesmen who are would-be users can draw their own conclusions as to the advantages of mechanical transport in general.
The headquarters of Hurrells Stores, Ltd., is situated at 100, High Street, and on the day of our visit we had the pleasure of holding a long conversation of a very interesting nature with Mr. Norman Hurrell, who, in addition to other managerial duties, supervises the delivery side of this old-established business house.
Mr. Harrell himself is a very enthusiastic motorcyclist, and, when we informed him of the reason of our call, he entered with zeal into the various questions which we asked.
" We have three vehicles," he replied in response to our first question as to the constitution of the concern's motor department, "two of which are vans of the Belsize make ; one carries loads up to 5 cwt. and the other 15 cwt., whilst the third machine is a somewhat larger model and can take 20 cwt. loadings."
"What are the particular duties of each vehicle, Mr. Hurrell?"
"Well, the chief commodities which keep all the vans in commission are the distribution of consignments of hams., bacon, cheese, butter, eggs and tea ; we are recognized for many miles round as importers of high-class provisions, and it is only through the motorvans that we are enabled to keep in touch with our numerous customere. We deliver to Pour Oaks, Solihull, Castle Bromwich, King's Norton, Northfield, etc." "Well, you certainly seem to have a good share of the trading round about the Midland metropolis," was our comment.
"Oh, quite," he responded, "and it is directly due to the motors that the business standing 1)2 of our firm has been placed on such a substantial basis, for when we had horsed vehicles, which was until about two years ago, we could not cover anything like the area we do now."
"Which was your initial purchase ? "
" We bought the lb cwt. Belsize first. We were surprised at the number of calls we were enabled to make each day after a. little reorganization in the delivery—"
" Yes, that is an impression we often hear expressed," we broke in with here. Some users fail, however, to make those little rearrangements, and so do not gain all that they should.
"Consequently," continued Mr. Herren, "we soon decided to do away with horses altogether, and the purchase of the two other machines soon followed ; now we are enabled to make as many as 200 calls a day with any one vehicle."
"So you have done away with horses altogether ?"
"Oh, rather, and what is more, we shall not go back to that oldfashioned mode of transit."
"How many horses did you employ originally?"
" Five ; which, of course, entailed much Sunday work on the part of the drivers at that time."
"Let us now compare the delivery by motor with that by horsed vans. Are you in a position to make any statement as to the advantage of the former method?"
With but a very little amount of consideration Mr. Hurrell informed us that he is quite sure "One motorvan does the work of two horse-vans.”.
"Are there any special fittings about your machines1 " "Nothing beyond the provision of detachable body shelves."
"Have you gone into the fuel consumption at all "
" Well, yes, I must say that I have, and I find that our drivers look after the machines in a very satisfactory manner, and get every ounce of power out of the engines with every consideration for the fuel consumption. With the 5 cwt. vans we get as much as 25 m.p.g., and the consumption of the 15-ewt, vehicle comes out at about 20 m.p.g. Not had at all, eh?"
"A very excellent performance when all is considered," we commented.
"Did you find it necessary to obtain the services of trained mechanics when you 'changed over to motors?" we then asked.
"Indeed no, we simply got a. man along to give the drivers of the horse-vans a, few lessons, and we retained their services, and as I told you previously, they give us entire satisfaction. You will see if you come out to our garage that the machines are kept in very good condition, and altogether we are very well satisfied. Should business demand it, we shall certainly add to our fleet."