Approved Depots.—Article XIII.
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Heath's Garage, Ltd., Birmingham.
A striking indication of the trend Of the agency business was afforded us on the occasion of a recent visit to Birmingham, when we called on Mr. G. Heath, at the John Bright Street depot of Heath's Garage, Ltd. Of the four vehicles displayed in the window, three were conamereial, two being Overland vans, the other one a Seklen two-toe chassis. We thought surely there would he few who, eight years ago, when these premises were opened, would have expected eventually to see the window space almost monopolized by business vehicles, touring cars being represented by a single specimen. By this, it must not be inferred that we are ignorant of Mr. Heath's long experience as an agent for commercial vehicles. It is a fact that heavy chassis sold by this concern six Or seven years ago are still doing good service in and about Birmingham, and Mr. Heath has long appreciated the essential requirements of an '` Approved Depot." He is at present agent, on the heavy side, for Pierce-Arrows, Solder's, Guys,Austin's, Conners, Napiers, Garfords, and Daimlers, and for Fords and Overlands amongst the smaller fry.
An Old-established Business.
The establishment in John Bright Street is the original one of the four which are new associated under the same management. It was opened nearly eight years ago, and faces the much smaller premises previously occupied by the same concern. At that time it was considered by many. that Mr. Heath had, to use a colloquialism, "bitten off more than he could chew" ; the, premises were deemed much too large, and an early failure of the enterprise Was predicted. No one with any knowledge of the industry now but knows the name of Heath's
Garage, Ltd., and its importance in the trade. The doleful prognostications of wise men were early discredited. The John 'Bright Street premises have long ago proved too small for the business transacted by
this company. Heath's Garage, Ltd., now occupies a further large building much bigger than the John Bright Street one, in Bristol Street. A luxurious showroom occupies the corner of Lower Temple Street. In Yardley, occupying some disused hut comparatively modern tram sheds, is situated the garage and depot belonging to the Motor
Traction Co., Ltd., which concern is, as a matter of fact, under the same-directorship as Heath'e
Garage, Ltd.
Uses of the Four Branches.
We will enumerate the uses of these four branches, commencing with what* appears now to be in a. fair way to usurp the claim of John Bright Street to be the headquarters, the showroom in Lower Temple Street. This depot falls almost without our jurisdiction, since, beyond the exhibition of an occasional demonstration chassis, it is notsclosely coenected with our scheme of agencies. All four, of course, are available as places of call for supplies of all kinds, although, perhaps, since Lower Temple Street and John Bright Street are so close together, the company will be justified in eliminating this section of the buds ness from the former.
An Equipment and Delivery Station.
The John Bright Street depot is at the moment utilized occasionally as a delivery station, and as an establishmentsfor minor repairs and overhauls of touring cars. All new chassis of any kind are here fully equipped with lamps, horn, tools, etc., and, after a final inspection, are delivered from here. Bearing in mind the extent of this company's business of all kinds, it will be appreciated that the staff finds plenty to do in this regard. This depot also provides space for garage of touring cars and vans. Systematic provision for entrance and exit of vehicles, and the care that a straight run through is always possible, except in extreme cases when the garage room might be overcrowded, is well known to every visitor to Birmingham. In addition to the first floor, which is 80 ft. wide by 150 ft. long, there is a basement of the same area. A hydraulic lift, with a capacity or almost any unloaded commercial vehicle, provided that its length does not exceed 20 ft., connects the two floors. The equipment here includes a 1000-gallon Bowser petrol storage tank, and a complete changing outfit for accumulators.
In Bristol Street.
From John Bright Street a run of a few minutes brings us to Bristol Street, and here, occupying the site of an old cab-horse sta.ble, lies the third of Heath's depots. It is on the main road from Birmingham to Worcester, only a fewl,minutes run from the centre of Birmingham itself, and thus fully satisfies the condition of accessibility which we have laid down as essential in the case of a depot which may be approved. The accommodation here, as in Bristol Street, covers two floors, each 54 ft. by 126 ft. ; there is a wide passage down one side, 15 ft. by 126 ft., which at present affords open-air storage space, and which it is intended, as opportunity offers, to cover, thus making it
weatherproof. In case of need, both the upper and lower floors may be extended towards the city, an extra width of 40 ft. by the same length, 126 ft., being thus gained.
Accessibility of Entrance.
Both the main floors are accessible from the road by a straight run in. The upper floor is gained by vehicles entering the main door and running up an inclined gangway. The side entrance already mentioned drops from the level of the main road to that of the basement. No straight run through is possible in either case. On the top floor wagons must enter and leave by the same door. The basement is divided into several compartments running at right-angles to the side passage. Each compartment has its special uses ; one as a spare parts stores,another as a machine shop, and one for the smith, etc.
All Heavy-vehicle Repairs.
This depot is complete and selfcontained in itself. It is devoted almost entirely to heavy vehicle repairs, and to the garage of heavy vehicles and provision for their equipment. Little is provided in the way of machinery, the opinion of the company being that, positioned as they are in the centre of a ring of motor manufacturers. practically no difficulty at all should be encountered in procuring, at short notice, whatever may be required in the way of renewals. One or two essential machines are, however, gathered in one of the departments of the basement ; they are supplemented by a tire press. and a powerful blowlamp. A. breakdown lorry, carrying powerful shear legs and crowbars is kept in attendance ready for urgent need.
The Motor Traction Co., Ltd.
We now have left for considera,Lion the pre.mises of the subsidiary concern, the Motor 'fraction Co., Ltd. This company has bought up the tram shed at Yardley, on the main Birmingham-Coventry road. The area occupied, exclusive of outer offices and yard, is covered by the two main sheds, each of which is 27 ft. wide and 266 ft. long, and the machine shop 31 ft. by 85 ft. long. Besides being a centre for the activities of the traction company, the depot provides ample
space for accommodation for all classes of vehicle'. Weight and. size is no object at all, and the space available is such that facilities for running in and out are naturally of the best. Electric power is available for driving the machines.
Clever Heating Apparatus.
As might be expected, situated in the country, in a soraeyvhat open and exposed position, and also bearing in mind the size of the building, some provision for adequate heating is essential. This has been arranged in an unusual manner. Along all the walls are run horizontally galvanized iron pipes of about 4 ins. diameter. At intervals, vertical branches from these, pointing downwards, and of about 12 ins, in length, occur.At the bottom of these vertical branches gas jets are provided. There is a gradual rise in the piping from one end to the othei', and the upper end of the branches end in a, vertical flue. The consequence is that, when the gas jets are lit, these pipes are full of hot air, and ventilation is assisted by the radiation of the piping affecting contiguous air which rises as it is warmed, making room for cool air, and a continuous current blows in at the bottom of the vertical branch pipes and out at the top flues. The amount of heat varies with the number of gas jets which are lit at any one time, and also
according to the degree of opening Of the taps of each jet. The arrangement is a most satisfactory and efficient one, we understand, although at the time of our visit, on an extremely hot day of last month, there was naturally no facility for making any test.
10,000 Gallons of Petrol.
In a corner of the machine shop and near the entrance is situated the stcires and the offices. The gatekeepers cottage is situated just within the yard, as also are the two 5000-gallon Bowser tanks, and the 5-gallon pump.
Very Complete Accommodation.
On the whole, we think it will be agreed that Heath's premises form a notable addition to the list of "Approved Depots." We can think of little in the way of accommodation which is not provided either at one or other of the four branches which we have above described.,