1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168 
Bringing Furniture Showrooms to the House Door
Page 96
Page 97
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Travelling, Exhibition Vans Supplement Service Provided by 52 Branches of facksons Stores, Ltd., and its Exten
sive Delivery Fleet
MOTOR vehicles that do more than merely transport—they assist materially in selling the goods—form a valuable section of the fleet run by jacksons Stores, Ltd. (and subsidiary companies), the well-known furnishers with headquarters at Leeds and 52 branches which extend as far afield as Plymouth, Preston, Hull and Swansea. Ordinary delivery services are carried out by vehicles stationed in the various districts, the busier shops each keeping a motor fully employed, whilst smaller branches are, in several cases, paired off with a single vehicle for transport operation.
An ]mportant addition to this routine work, however, has been the recently introduced travelling exhibition vans, the first two of which so quickly proved their value that their number has now been increased to four. bo long as nothing more than the ordinary range of custom from the neghbourhood around the branch is expected, normal shop services will suffice, but to take full advantage of the ever-increasing circle of population that lives at some distance from the heart of the towns, more intensive methods are required. It was with the object of bringing attractive goods to the doors of occupants of houses on estates or in the country, that these special vehicles were de c38 signed by Mr. N. T. Wren, the transport manager. An A.E.C. chassis was used in the first case and the imposing coachwork was executed by Messrs. Wilks and Meade, Leeds.
Salesmen-canvassers prepare the way before an exhibition van arrives in any district. Each branch manager is responsible for a set territory and, on the van being alloted to his area, for a period, he supervises the sales activities, the permanent driver being responsible only for maintenance and running. A crew of local salesmen accompanies the vehicle and a round is made of prospective customers, with whom contact has been made by means of the earlier canvass.
Large curtained windows, steps and double doors at the rear, giving a pleasing effect and, so that the goods shall be shown up to the best effect, a 48-volt system is used for interior lighting, with a separate dynamo for regulation lights. Measuring 21 ft. by 7 ft. 3 ins., with a height of 8 ft., the interior is furnished as a complete room, typical contents being curtain materials, easy chairs, tables, dining suites, carpet, pottery, clocks and sundries. Every opportunity is given for the customer to examine and test the goods and, as they are quite close to the rooms wherein they may be used, comparison with decorations or space available is a simple matter,
Being fitted with public-address equipment, a programme of musk can be given and announcements made while the rails are I being paid. This feature also proves useful when the vehicles are, from time to time, entered in local carnivals. As befits motors thathave such duties to perform, they are maintained in perfect trim and return to the headquarters, at Leeds, at monthly intervals ' for docking.
Creation of a good impression is further ensured by the smart appearance of the remainder of the delivery fleet. This , numbers 30.. vehicles, being made up of 17 Comnier forward control 20-25-cwt. vans, the rest comprising A.E.C. pantechnicons a n d ,Morris Commercial 2-tormers. The standard finish is representative of the shop transom that is a feature of all branches and is finely worked in blue and silver. All bodywork has been built to Mr. Wren's designs, which• are chosen with a view to obviating mmecesSary-bandling and maintaining the cleanliness that is so important a feature in the carriage of furnitUre.
Low-loading floors are employed, so that the goods can be carried straight into the van, whilst roller shutters have been introduced. White sheets are carried for packing purposes and in no circumstances is loading on tailboards permitted.
So as to encourage a sense of responsibility, each driver is given a vehicle to regard as his own, and it is part of his duty to maintain • it in good condition, careful records being kept regarding the performance of the individual machines. However, otherwise than driving, the men's work is, to all intents and purposes, confined to greasing and cleaning, a.s-actual repair work is centralized at the Leeds headquarters.
The main garage staff consists of three mechanics, washer, greaser, boy and clerk, and, under the supervision of Mr. Wren, they deal with the major work on no fewer than 57 vehicles, there being two dozen private cars for inspectors and salesmen, in addition to the delivery fleet. Of these, six commercial and six private vehicles a.ctu
ally operate from Leeds, the former including the heavier vehicles that distribute goods from the factory to the branches.
So soon as a vehicle has covered 10,000 miles, wherever it is situated, it is returned to Leeds for docking and a thorough overhaul, similar attention being given at corresponding intervals throughout its life. Spare vehicles ensure that no district shall ever be short of a delivery service; when one is in for docking, another is available to carry on the work.
Considerable time is saved by the operation of a spare-unit system at the headquarters garage, so that, whilst a change-over can be effected with a minimum of delay, it is possible to make an unhurried job of reconditioning. So far as normal foresight can provide, spare parts are ready, a substantial stock of components and tyres being ranged in racks adjacent to the office.
Largely as a result of the consistent attention they receive, it is an extremely rare matter for a breakdovvn to be experienced with any of the vehicles, but, following systematic tests, coil ignition has given way to magnetos, it
having been found that the latter offer better all-round performance. .
By the efforts of the transport departrnent; a high standard of mechanical fitness is inaintained, whilst, in order that consistently bright outward appearance may be preserved, the upkeep of all coachwork, including repairs, .has been placed in the hands of Messrs. Wills and Meade. Repainting is carried out at yearly intervals.
The development of dependa.ble motor delivery, we are informed, has materially aided' relations with and, from a' publicity' point of view, the bright appearance of all units • of the fleet has undoubtedly been instrumental in directing the thoughts of potential customers throughout the areas served towards visiting their neighbouring branches.
Most notable, however, appears to be the introduction of exhibition vans, which have been responsible for establishing direct touch with the most promising "prospects "—those who have removed to new estates or who live in the country.