Broadwoods are Satisfied.
Page 10
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The famous Pianoforte Makers give many definite facts.
The following experience of a motor van used by the wellknown pianoforte makers, Messrs. Broadwood, will be of interest to our readers. The van has been at work continuously from Midsummer, 1903, to the present time, and has now covered over 17,000 miles. Al the time when it was ordered little was known about the behaviour of such vehicles in actual work, and few makers had had experience in producing a van to carry from xi to 2 tons.
Messrs. 13roadwood, therefore, had to obtain experience which, though it might have been very costly, has been gained at a very reasonable expense, and they are now quite satisfied that with care and good management their work can be done better and at a lower cost with a motor van than by horse carriage.
The work to be done consists of daily running between the factory at Old Ford, near Victoria Park, and the showrooms at Conduit Street, W., and the warehouse in Marylebone Lane. The pianofortes made at the factory are delivered at one of the two West End addresses, and a number of instruments are returned to the factory. The journey, therefore, is always performed one way with a full load, and it is unusual for the van to return empty. The journey between Conduit Street and Old Ford presents peculiar difficulties on account of the cobble paving and severe gradients in the East End of London. The distance is seven miles, whereas from the old Westminster factory to Great Pulteney Street the distance was under i miles. The latter journey could be done four times in a day by a pair of horses, but not continuously ; whereas, though the motor can do the present journey to Conduit Street four times every day if necessary, a pair of horses can only do two journeys. Carefully compiled statistics as to cost show that in order to replace this one motor, two horse vans and two drivers would be required with an extra van in busy times.
The present van is handicapped, because in 1903 the legal width for a motor van was less than that found most suitable for their work by Messrs. Broadwood, and it therefore holds two grand. pianos only instead of three. Insurance is much heavier than upon a horse van. It was, moreover, found necessary to provide the vanman with a boy to prevent the van being tampered with when standing in the street. At the time when the van was bought horse drivers were very hostile to every kind of automobile, and every pretext was taken to collide with the van, so that it was soon found desirable to cover parts of the body with steel plates, which, of course, added to the weight of the van and also to its first cost. There has been a great change lately in the behaviour of horse drivers, and such a precaution wo:tld certainly not be necessary now.
The present van could be improved upon in the light of experience, but it has run extremely well, and in view of the fact that there has been no standby, and therefore no oppertuniLies for proper overhauling (a very uneconomical arrangement), its perforniance is very creditable. It is very unlikely that any other van of the kind can show a better record. It is at the present lime in excellent running order.
Tyres have been the cause of the only troubles experienced. Their cost has worked out at nearly 2d. per mile. This amount may, perhaps, be reduced in the future ; but should it not be reduced, it may still be regarded as satisfactory. Iron tyres have been tried, but are not suitable for the work on account of the vibration they set up. Plain solid tyres have done very well upon the front wheels—better, indeed, than other types which were tried, and which proved to be unsatisfactory with so heavy a load. The driving wheels have caused more trouble and expense on account of the weight upon them being considerable, but some of the solid tyres have done well enough to give reason to think it will not be necessary to use double tyres. The engine has given no trouble, and is as good as ever. The gear wheels have been completely worn out, and were replaced after running 16,000 miles, the cost of the new set being charged to repairs. All repairs, except to the body, have been carried out in the firm's own engineering shop, and to the care with which this has been done is to be attributed the regular running of the van and the low cost of repairs and replacements, in spite of the continuity of usage.