When Users Will Get What They Want
Page 25
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By R. P. Bradley, A.M.I.A.E. (Bonallack and Sons, Ltd.) _
I HAVE read with great interest the contributions in your 1 issue dated September 24, under the title "Letthe " Operator Advise the Maker." I think this is a very good idea and I feel sure that the manufacturers would like to hear what the operators want—when the operators them, selves know.
A few years ago the I.A.E. had read before it a paper devoted to this subject and several of the largest bperators were invited to take part in the discussion. The practical result was nil.
Operators can say whether they want a large engine with good top-gear performance or a smaller engine and more gear changing. We shall find in practice that there are buyers for each. Take our three friends nanied ant' ask how the manufacturer can produce a 'vehicle to suit such different requirements as—
(a) Mr. Shearman, whose vehicles average 20 miles a day 'with numerous stops; .
..,(b) Mr. J. S. Nichol], whose vehicles do long-journey work;
(c) Captain Roberts, who has to deal with heavy loads on lorry and trailer for three orfour deliveries per. trip. Again, they are not agreed on standardization. Perhaps should say that they are not agreed on the -use of standardized components.
Many years ago I initiated a long correspondence in your columns when I advocated the use of standardized components in an assembled vehicle, At the time ',was ridiculed; but how Many makers are doing this to-day, and some of the units employed are amongst the best grodects in the country.
To take a eonctete case in the private-car field, the Wolseley 14 was designed to fulfil the requirements of a large body of :users who said what they wanted in .a motorcar.
When operators can say what they want in,a.truck or van, they will quickly get it, but manufacturers will not quickly forget the one• or two machines -which were specially built to fill users' stated requirements, but did not prove to be saleable propositions-.