Big-mileage A.E.C.s on Agricultural Haulage
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AMONG the familiar sights on the Winchester-London Road are the A.E.C. lorries operated by Messrs. S. and L. Bull Bros., of Winchester, which make daily runs between the two places. The oldest of the three Monarch petrol-engined machines now in service was acquired by the firm in 1936 and has now covered approximately 300,000 miles. In six years of continual work this vehicle " has never been on the end of a tow rope," although its big mileage has been accomplished with only one engine overhaul.
Similar excellent service has been given by the two machines purchased locally by the firm after they had done 20,000 and 25,000 miles respectively. Although the mileage of both these vehicles has now reached the 250,000 mark, neither has yet been given anything in the nature of a general overhaul.
All three Monarchs are primarily employed in carrying grain and agricultural produce from Hampshire farms to the metropolitan area, and, in bringing hack cattle foods on the return journeys. Although this forms an important part of the business, the firm are still, as they were in their earliest days, principally concerned in hauling ballast. For this purpose a large fleet of light machines has beers built up, many of the vehicles being formerly employed in the construction of the Winchester by-pass. The firm have worked their own quarries since 1937,
and possess one of the most modern allelectric gravel plants in the country.
No predetermined system of maintenance is followed for the road fleet, but Messrs. Bull Bros. have always believed in regular greasing which, in the case of the A.E.C.s, is now carried out at weekly intervals. Much of the good service they have obtained from their A.E.C. engines they attribute to the practice—only abandoned this year— of changing the sump oil weekly.
It is an interesting commentary on the reliability of the A.E.C.s that two of them are permanently provided with equipment for the fitting of snowploughs when required to operate under county council contract. In this connection they did outstanding work during the heavy snow of last winter.