• Lancashire Operators' Long Transport Service to Industry
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NIEARLY 60 years ago, a Mr. T. Patton (of Bury) set up in business as a caxrier, his spec:ality being the delivery of goods from Manchester textile warehouses to the various retailers in Bury and district: Thus it happened that his son, William, obtained his first experience of road transport over half-a-century ago, for be started the job of driving into Manchester at a very early age.
Actually, the founder of the business had six sons and', at one time or another, all were associated with the family's carrying operations. -However, it was Mr. William Patton who became head of the business which -is now known as Messrs. T. Patton and Sons.
For a lengthy period he has been a keen supporter of the Amalgamated Horse and Motor Owners' Association, Ltd., and the C.M.U.A. South-Ea.st Lancs. Area (joint organization), and since 1931 has been .chairman of the C.M.U.A. locally, as well as being a member of the National Council. Since the beginning of the war be has played an active part in the transport defence organization as sub-district manager for Bury and an extensive surrounding area. His brother is associated with him in the haulage business.
The story of the operations provides ono of those instances which prove that by no means all road-transport traffic has been won from the railways, merely by the advent of the motor vehicle. So long as 50 years ago traders were transferring their custom to a carrier who, even with his horses, could offer them economy and, often, quicker transit. In doing this work Messrs. Pattorts frequently made journeys of over 50 Miles in each direction, going from Lancashire into Yorkshire, to the southern end of Derbyshire, into Staffordshire and elsewhere, all with horses. Quite early on, they extended their facilities by opening up in Heywood and Rochdale and, about the beginning of the present century, they were carrying yarn from the Oldham and Royton districts into Bury, a type. of traffic that had previously gone by rail.
In 1913, they were convinced that experiments with mechanical' road transport would be well worth while and in consequence, they purchased a Mauclsiay lorry. They had only a brief period in which to gain experience of its value, because, in 1914, it was commandeered for GOvernment purposes.
However, they had tasted the advantages of mechanical traction and, as a result, decided to procure a steam wagon in January, 1915. This was operated successfully, and during the course of the war two more steamers were acquired, so that they were able to provide what were, for those days, good service.
Only one horse still reraained on the establishment in 1920 and, as he was getting on in years, he was transferred to spend his remaining days in the green fields. The existing fleet was supplemented by the acquisition of two Leyland W.D. lorries.
• The fleet was now fully mechanized, but, from time to time, additional accommodation was needed, and Mr. Patton claims to have been, the first operator in this district to put a trailer behind a Leyland R.A.F. machine.
Various changes of machine took place, but there was no notable step forward until 1933, when the first Foden oiler was purchased; this machine is still in service and has covered over 400,000 miles. During 'that time the engine has only twice been out of the chassis_ • Success Achieved With Oilers •
Success having attended the use of the original oiler, it was decided to discontinue running steamers and, early in 1934, two Foden Gardner-engined machines were added to the fleet. Since then various exchanges and modernizations have occurred and the firm is now using three Foden oilers, two Leyland Beavers and four trailers. In each case an eight-speed gearbox is used, this feature being particularly valuable when heavy machinery is being dealt with.
Difficult places are often encountered during the collection and delivery of such loads but, by reason of the low gears available, it has always been possible to negotiate the various situations without trouble. Among orders of this character, boring plant and electrical equipment provide heavy loads that demand all the power of the eightspeed eight-wheelers.
The various runs that are covered are rather in the nature of " tramp " services, because, owing to the class of work done, regular time-tables to specific points are impracticable. Some SO per cent, of the loads are consignments of paper, sometimes for export and sometimes for home trade, so that the demand may be for deliveries to London, Dundee, to ports, or to anywhere in Great Britain.
As already recounted, cotton was carried for a number of years, but the heavy rate-cutting that occurred in this class of business made it impossible for the firm to secure their usual remuneration, so they determined to relinquish the traffic rather than assist in bring ing down the price level. Various opportunities have, in recent years, occurred for expansion, but they have not appealed to Mr. W. Patton, the decision to keep the business of a size suitable for his entirely personal control has been largely a result of the death of his younger son, who was killed in an accident seven years ago at the age of 21 years.
The firm's vehicles are maintained with great care, most of the work being carried out by the Foden agent at a depot only eight miles away, or by the Leyland depot in Bury. This arrangement obviates any necessity for carrying heavy stocks of spares, and it is estimated that a complete overhaul, by the expert workers at the appropriate depot, occupies only half the time that would he needed were the task to be
done by staff mechanics, Machines go in for periodical inspection and adjustments, and every two years there is an overhaul from end to end.
In this connection it is interesting to observe that a Foden, which was overhauled recently and brought into first-class condition is now running 1,000 miles on less than a quart of lubricant. Drivers are not allowed to undertake major repairs, but are responsible for their own oiling, greasing and routine adjustments, • Regular Oil Changing Pays •
No machine is run for more than 4,000 miles without the crankcase being drained, washed out and filled with new oil; Falcon and Dicks' Ilo are the lubricants favoured. It is a tribute to this care that, in the whole history of the firm, no vehicle has ever had a bearing failure. Back-axle and gearboxes are drained, cleaned and refilled, every six months. A good stock of tyres and tubes is maintained, and records show wide variations in the results obtained, sometimes no more than 33,000 miles, . but sometimes as many as 90,000 miles have been covered by a tyre on ari. eight-wheeler, whilst trailer tyre mileages run up to 130,000.
After well over 50 years' carrying for industry in south-east Lancashire, Messrs. T. Patton and Sons are still providing all the services expected from a modern and efficient fleet. How the facilities are esteemed by the customers is obvious from the fact that each vehicle covers at least 40,000 miles a year and practically always they have full loads.