Smart Handling of a Mexican Order.
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We were only six months ahead of actual events, when we gave space, in our issue of the 4th June last, to a consideration of the demand for commercial motors which was to be expected from Mexico City. Straker-Squire omnibuses have been ordered, and now comes news of a purchase of vehicles for the transport of merchandise— carcases and other chilled meat. This order has been
very expeditiously completed by Milnes-Daimler, Limited, of 221, TO11ellhalll Court Road, W., and we are indebted to the managing director of that company, Mr. H. G. Burford, M.1.Mech.E. M.I.A.E., for the photographs from which the accompanying illustrations have been prepared. The order was placed on the t4th January, through Messrs. E. R. Calthrop and Partners, consulting engineers, of 3, Crosby Square, E.C., the chassis selected being of the maker's standard 2211.p. type, with four-cylinder engine and pressed steel frame. It was executed, including the construction of the special bodies, packing for shipment, the selection of eight , men to run the vehicles, and the placing F.O.B. of everything ordered, inclusive of certain spare equipment and stores, by the 17th February. Peter Union tires are fitted to all the wheels.
The Milnes-Daimler chassis are well known to readers of this journal, and are deservedly popular with owners in all parts of the world. This particular model, the two.. tonner, won one of two R.A.C. gold medals in its class, during the public trials of September-October, 1907, but the bodies call for special mention, the combination of an
insulated van and a motor being still something of a novelty. Two such bodies were, to our knowledge, employed by the Road Carrying Company, in Lancashire, in the year 1902, but their use was then found to be very uneconomical, owing to the fact that loads were irregular, and to the necessity for frequent interchanges of bodies to allow the conveyance of general goods. This difficulty will not occ u r where the Owner provides the loads, or where reasonable contracts can be made.
The seven bodies for this order were executed by Christopher Dodson, Limited, of 45, Horseferry Road, S.W. The specification, as is usual for high-class work of the kind, required the walls to be constructed thus : (a) tongued a n d grooved boarding; (b) insulatingpaper; (c) air space; (d) tongued and grooved boarding ; (e) insulating paper; (f) nonpareil cork;
(g) insulating paper; and (h) 3-16-inch Uralite. The splendid external finish of the vans is in keeping with the excellence of the materials and workmanship.
Thousands of tons of chilled and frozen beef, mutton, pork and " offals " arc moved about, in this class of insulated body, by our great railway companies, each week, but little has yet been done, either at home or abroad, to extend the system to road carriage. The Mexican climate, and the less frequent occurrence of railways in that country, should render the unique qualities of such motorvans invaluable there. We see, however, no good reason why their special features—the combination of high point-to-point
speed, low working cost, and absence of handling— should not have due effects over here. The market value of meat of all kinds becomes less each time hand. ling in transit occurs, and a van of the type we illustrate can be worked at an inclusive total cost of not more than yd. per mile run, provided from so to 65 miles of travelling per day can be arranged. We commend the claims of the motor vehicle with insulated box-body to our large carriers, existing and intending motor haulage contractors, and to the large importers of foreign meats.