The Future of Commercial Vehicle Bodywork.
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A Brief Discussion of the Probable Trend, with Special Reference to the Recent Expansion of the Wigan Motor Bodies Co.
The wealth of a country lies in its capacity for the production of useful commodities. This is a truism. The actual realization of the capacity of this or any of the principal manufacturing companies has come to us only as a direct result of war conditions. A most hopeful augury for our future prosperity may be gathered from the preparations being made on all sides and by all trades to perpetuate, and even in many cases to improve upon, today's output. By these means the maximum of good may be derived from the evil, in the shape of war, which we are now experiencing.
Ordinary Coachbuilder Not Always Competent.
A department of industry which has hitherto not been deemed of first importance, except in one or two instances, is that of bodybuilding for commercial vehicles. Some chassis manufacturers make their own bodies ; the majority, however, have arrangement with three or four principal coachbuilders in the district, and from these bodies are bought in various styles as orders are received. Again, in some cases, the customer himself, perhaps desiring to favour a tradesman living in his own neighbourhood, may purchase the chassis and have the body built by the local man. This condition of affairs is a little unfortunate, as not a few coachbuilders lack that close acquaintance with the needs of the user when he begins to utilize power for his transport instead of horses, and although several ingeniously-designed superstructures for commercial vehicles have been made, the question of scientific body design on lines more applicable to the requirements of the mechanically-propelled vehicle has been more or less shelved. There is room, moreover, for several establishments with intention and capacity to manufacture standard types of body on a quantity basis. e are confident that both these points, of design and of production, are being considered, and 'receiving their meed of attention.
The Best Combination.
It seems obvious that the best possible combination with a view to effecting this end would be that of a chassis maker, agent and coachbuilder, since these three together have a thorough understanding of all sides of the question—the chassis maker of the limitations of his machine, the agent of the requirements of customers, and the coachbuilder of practical construction. Just such a company is that of Wigan Motor Bodies' of Mariebonne, Wigan, which has recently taken over additional large premises with a view to extending its scope. The principals of this company include some of the directors of Walker Bros. (Wigan) Ltd., makers of Pagefield commercial vehicles; Timberlake and Sons, the principal agent for commercial vehicles and touring cars in that district, and several prominent coachbuilders. It may be of interest to note that Lord Crawford, Minister for Agriculture, is a shareholder.
Extension of Existing Facilities at Wigan.
The new premises, which are on the site of an old-established but now defunct engineering concern, comprise a body-building shop of two stories, paint shop, garage, smithy, • and stores, the latter including ample space for the storage and seasoning ot considerable quantities Of timber ; a smaller building serves for the reception of finished accessories, such as lamps, tools, and also spare parts. The first-named constructional portion of the works is naturally the most interesting. As this extension of the Company's is a recent one arrangements for manufacturing here are not yet complete. The machinery fitted is ot the most up-todate, and from the arrangement of the upper story, where the main portion of the bodywork is put together, it is evident that the most efficient use of the space available will be made. Each body is erected on trestles, which are of a size and shape exactly to correspond with the chassis for which the body is intended. An inspection of the premises reveals bodies on these " stocks " in all stages of construetion. On the ground floor of this building, hoods and canopies are being erected on the actual chassis. As each body is finished, it is lowered by means of a hoist from the first floor down on to the chassis, which is on the ground floor.
Twenty Bodies a Week.
Altogether the capacity of the company is now approximately a score of finished bodies per week. This number varies, of course, somewhat with the style of the work ; it will be greater when several bodies of one kind are passing through ; less when different types are under construction.
Present Work Mainly for War Service, and on One Type of Body.
The limitation of our chassis makers to one market and to one style of body has tended rather to give an impetus to the development of the production side of the business, that of design meanwhile marking time, and oil the occasion of our visit the company was engaged upon the execution-of a large order for transport lorries for" the Itussion Government. Our illustration shows a body on the stocks, a sufficient number, in various stages, was available to give an excellent idea of the method of building. The question of design of bodies, suitable for special classes of work is receiving attention, and from a personal knowledge of the chairman of directors, Mr. W. D. Williamson, who is also manager of the motor department of Walker Bros., we should say that progress in this direction will be rapid and sure.