FLEET MAINTENANCE ON A LARGE SCALE.
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One of the Largest General Engineering Shops in London is Prepared to Deal with the Repair of All Kinds of Commercial Vehicles.
THEQUESTION of the repairing of their motor vehicles is • one of the most difficult problems which has to be tackled by users of either large or small -fleets of machines. Many concerns running large fleets believe. they are justi
fled in laying clown extensive shops and installing a certain number of machine tools, so that they can cope with most of the overhauling and repairing which has to he done,. but few have any idea as to what this work actually costs them, and in many cases, if the cost were accurately calculated, the results would he. very surprising.
With the smaller Users the relation of the cost of repairs to the total value of the machines is even more surprising. In most Cases the staff of mechanics and fitters that has to be kept cannot always be fully employed as the work is not regular, and thus the establishment charges-are usually far too high. Many users would do far better to have their vehicles overhauled and repaired. in some convenient workswhere: the repairs could be executed much more/ rapidly, and where the machine equipment is such that even the most difficult work can he tackled without difficulty.
Users in London are, however, often chary of trusting •their vehicles to an outside firm, as they are afraid of being charged at excessive rates for unsatisfactory work, end there are remarkably few larget repair shops in London or its immediate vicinity which can deal with a considerable number. of vehicles.
In this connection the Projectile and Engineering Co., Ltd., New Road, Wandsworth Road, London, S.W., have brought to our notice the fact that they have a most fully equipped works, covering six acres of ground, capable of dealing with the complete overhaul of several hundred commercial vehicles at the.serne time. Wo must admit that we had some little doubt regarding these C20 statements until we were afforded an opportunity of visiting the works, which are within 10 minutes' run of Westminster, and certainly form what are probably the largest central. • motor repair works in,London.
The company originated some -.55 years ago and won a very fine reputation in general engineering work, and particularly in hydraulic work. During the war many new buildings were put up, and there are now some 580 machine tools, including presses, installed in seven machine shops. We were surprised to note the won
derfully.complete equipment for rolling, stamping, pressing, etc. Frames were in course of construction for several of the best-known commercial-vehicle makers, and the presses are capable of dealing with uork requiring pressures up to 1,200 tens. There is ample accommodation in And around the buildings for some 400 •vehicles, and there is no jeh which may have to be done on petrol lorries, agricultural tractors or steam tractors which is not capable of being finished outright in these shops.
Apart from frames, many other .cornponents are being manufactured, these including steel axle casings made of pressed steel halves welded together, steel disc wheels for ferries and tractors and • numerqus small parts. As an example of the range of work which can be dealt with, the lathes range from the diminutive 3 in. to the giant which will Swing articles 9 it. in diameter.
In connection with the use of hydraulie forges it. is interesting to note that this company were the first to possess a large capacity forge of this type. Much of the .machine tool equipment was 'installed for shell making and the hydraulic shell presseS have been arranged to work :n batteries of three for long articles, such as frame side members. '
The company are prepared to do their utmost to meet the wishes and requirements of eommercial-vehiele-users. They are willing to make arrangements for the maintenance of complete fleets at the lowest possible figure consistent with the finest workmanship and the use of high quality materials. Where there is any difficulty in the obtaining of spare parts, these can quite easily be nianufactuned in the works—a service which may proveextremely useful in casey where, for the sake of some very small part, a vehicle may be kept off the road. •
The making of parts, of course, applies also to those vehicles or which spares are practically unobtainable. We receive frequent requests from oWners of foreign vehicles, the makers of which are not now .represented in this country, for particulars as to where spare parts can be obtained; and, in many eases it is quite introssible for us to give them much assistance.
Apart from the actual carrying out of repairs, the company are prepared to report on the condition of vehicles and to give estimates of the cost of any work which may be required on thdre. The only charge made in this connection is that for dismantling the units for inSpection and reassembling them if the repairs reported as necessary are not ordered to be carried out: for instance, the cost of taking down and reassembling the engine would he in the neighbourhood of £5, whilst dealing with the gearbox and rear axle together would probably amount to the same figure.
lithe owners like to limit the cost of the repairs to a certain figure, the vehicles will be, made as serviceable as possible at the price given, and if the company consider that. further repairs are essential these would not be carried out without the consent of the owners.