Covent Garden Converts.
Page 12
Page 13
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
An Account of How a Small Florist Spent gum and Made a Saving of Nearly £50 in Six Months on Transportation and Delivery Costs.
By the invitation of the Girling Motor Manufacturing Co., a representative of this journal was enabled during the week to inspect a Girling motor carrier going about its business under actual working conditions at Covent Garden. The machine in question was purchased early in September last by Minhinnick, Ltd., a firm of floral experts, carrying on a successful business as florists in Woolwich, Blackheath and Plumstead.
Rising well before the world was aired, our representative arrived at the famous centre in time to witness the loading up of the ma
chine, and to note the facility with which it was handled under arduous and trying conditions. Not at all sure as to the actual location of the Minhinnick business stand, query was made of a porter staggering along under a towering pile of the well-known circular baskets.
" Little three-weeled motor ? Yaas, guy. Stends at York Street corner it do. Hi, Bill, 'ere. Tike this cove dahn to York Street corner."
In such manner was the " cove " conducted to the scene of operations. Minhinnick, Ltd., was busy at the moment. of arrival in " buy
ing." Pending the completion of this business, note was taken of the road space occupied by motor, horse and hand-barrow respectively, in -these narrow and congested areas. The little motor carrier occupied less road-space than even the humble coster's barrow. With the increasing use of the motor in Covent Garden, more t)f the ancient practices of yet another world-famous London institution will slide into the limbo of things that have been.
The Opinions of the Garden.
As the loading was proceeding, opportunity was taken to approach neighbouring traders with a view to eliciting their opinions on motor transport. " When Minhinnick first brought. that confounded thing in here," said one well-known man, " he was laughed at. 1 went over and had a chat with him. 'A horse may be slow,' I said, 'hut. it does get there." So does this.' said Minhinnick confldentally. ' When you've had that thing for a week, you'll go out of business for a while until it's mended,' I retorted.
But the beastly thing came running in every morning without fail, until it was no use maintaining the attitude any longer. We next urged that he would never get through the traffic with the machine. He didn't try to—he just slipped round it. No, it's no use growling, that twopenny-halfpenny little motor has made good, and we'll all have to follow the lead." He broke off to give directions to several of his porters. " If these men aren't kept up to the scratch " he said, resuming, " and the goods miss the train,. it means I've lost all my morning's business at home, and have stock left on my hands."
" So you think the motor is a success in the Garden ? " we pursued. " Undoubtedly," he au swered. There's only one thing makes me mad-1 wish I had done it at first."
The Carrier Itself.
By the time buying was finished nine o'clock had struck, and the Ai oil; of loading was commenced. The machine used was the 6 h.p. Cirling, which we fully described and illustrated in our issue of 22nd June last, pages 332-3. All the heels are interchangeable, and when the machine is intended solely for the commercial transport of goods the " K.T." tire is fitted to the rear ; the wheelbase is 7 ft., and the track is 4 ft. 8 in.
The front axle is entirely displaced by two transverse springs, which carry the front wheels.
From Covent Gardcri to the Suburbs.
The well of the machine, on the occasion of our visit, was quickly filled with plants and shrubs in pots, and then box after box of delicate flowers was loaded on to the body. The size of the load drew a query from our representative. He was quickly reassured. The weight was only about 7 cwt.: During the busy time at Christmas the loads often exceeded 10 and 12 cwt., and, although making two or three trips a day, breakdowns were unknown. The load was securely corded, the engine started, and the tortuous course of the market environs negotiated with hardly a warning hoot from the horn. Across the Strand, and over Waterloo Bridge, and along the London Road was the set course, and the ease of manipulation and ready response of the machine in traffic yielded a valuable lesson in control. As the Elephant. corner was rounded the traffic became thinner and the surface worse. Despite the greasy roads, the heavy load and the rain, which by this time was pelting down, the machine ran smoothly and sweetly.
Saves the Early Trade.
" And so you are pleased with your departure? " asked our man of Mr. Minhinnick, during a lull in the rain. " Absolutely delighted " was the reply. " Did you notiee the c we left the market at 9.10
We shall be in Woolwich by 9.40 a.m. If I had to rely on trains, these flowers would not have left London till 10.20. That would have meant that my shops would not have been supplied with fresh flowers until 12 o'clock—too late for the early trade." How a Florist Bene.it
Before the introduction of the ea trier, minhinnick, Ltd., was forced to put in an appearance at Covent Garden at the earliest hours in order to buy supplies in time to send them off by the early deliveries. It is now possible to arrive at the market later, and to leave later. This means that the buying of the stock can be left until the last moment when prices have dropped considerably, and this alone accounts for a considerable saving in the running of the .business. The average bill for railway freight was estimated at 25s. per week, and to this must be added porterage costs for the removal of the flowers from Covent Garden to the station, and further s:milar costs for the removal of the goods from the station to the shops. Delivery from the shops t.o the customer was also a heavy charge. Porterage, including pourboires to the checkwayman, amounted to 28. a day.
One porter at 6d. is now sufficient to load the van, tips are abolished and the expense of a season ticket to town is saved to the head of the firm, The carrier makes the journey from Woolwich to London in 25 minutes, accomplishing in times of pressure three visits a day. The flowers are taken from Covent Garden to the door of the shops direct, and, later, the van is used for carrying fresh flowers to customers at their own houses.
Since the motor has been in service, over 4000 miles have been run without a breakdown, or the removal of a tire. During the weekend the commercial body is removed from the vehicle, and a pleasure body, for the carrying of a third passenger, is fitted, and week-end runs of 100 or 150 miles are a common occurrence. The cost of transport before the acquisition of the motor and afterwards, to Atinhinniek, Ltd., for six months is set down as follows :— BEFORE. £ S. d.
Season ticket 8 0 0 Railway rates 42 16 0 Porterage at Covent Garden ... 10 0 0 Porterage at shops 10 0 0 Tips, sundry ex penses 3 0 0 Two box's at Ss. a week for delivery 20 16 0 £94 12 0
AFTER. s. d.
3000 miles at 3d. per 37 10 0 (this includes private delivery and collection costs, depreciation, in terest, and driver's wages.
The work done
has also increased.)
Porterage ... 3 10 0 £41 0 0 Since the introduction of the motor the business of minhinnick, Ltd., has increased to a great extent, and this is put dawn by the firm very largely to the better quality of its supplies, to the cheaper rate at which goods can be bought and sold, to the rapid and effective delivery, the increased area to which delivery can be given, and to the advertisement which the little vehicle and its smart appearance has given Minhinnick, Ltd. In the words of the head of the firm " It makes people talk." Several good orders have been secured from customers who have had a ride in the carrier.