Scottish Firm's 40 Years in Road Transport
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How a Single-vehicle Operator Expanded His Fleet to 22 Machines on Nation-wide Service
F'W firms can boast of such a Eromantic growth as that of Messrs. James Hunter and Sons, the wellknown haulage contactors and motorcoach pioneers. From modest beginnings, the business has made steady progress, until it is now recognized as one of the foremost of its kind in Scotland, maybe even in Great Britain.
People in remote villages and busy towns have seen the familiar name " James Hunter and Sons " as coaches and lorries have passed through their areas. From John o' Groats to LanTs End, " Hunter of Wishaw " has become well known in transport circles, more particularly, perhaps, during the early days of road transport, when the Jinn carved a niche for themselves as one el the most progressive 'of pioneers.
Since those early days, and in the face of ever-growing competition, Messrs. James Hunter and Sons have stuck fast to their. motto : "Anywhere, at any time." ,
But to go back to the beginning; The firm were founded in 1905 by the late Mr. James Hunter, whose stock-intrade, at that time, consisted of one
horse and one rnoior lorry. A shrewd and calculating Scot, Mr. Hunter worked hard, and gradually built up a successful contracting business.
The advent of the . motor lorry did not find Mr. Hunter at a,disadvantage. He struck out in the purchase of a vehicle and followed this with the acquisition of several of the old-fashioned chars-à-bancs. His two sons. Andrew and James, who later took over the firm, helped considerably in the development of the business and spent their apprenticeships in a hard-working 16hour day. There was no easy road to success in road transport in those times.
With a reputation for reliability and fair dealing, Messrs. James Hunter and Sons pursued an active career. Their lorries and chars-a-bancs became eonimonplace on the roads, and father and sons began to realize that their work had not been in vain. They had been accepted as a firm of integrity and repute.
Quite apart from the more sober business of road haulage, the firm were among the first to realize the importance of road-passenger transport. They inaugurated a service of buses between Wishaw and Glasgow, and maintained a highly efficient time-table, until, several years later, they sold their rights to the General Omnibus Co.
Round about this time, too, the public demand for pleasure trips became insistent Once again., Messrs. James Hunter and •Sons foresaw the possibilities, and built up a fleet of luxurious motor coaches, which travelled over an extensive area.
One . of their most popular innovations was the inauguration of weekly trips to the illuminations at Blackpool. For a modest all-in sum, the ordinary man and woman, to say nothing of the children, were not only transported, hut meals and hotel accommodation were also provided. Thousands of people in Lanarkshire, and farther afield, took advantage of these pleasure trips, and so extensive was the call for transport that the firm were unable to cope with the demand.
The outbreak of war, in 1939, put an end to pleasure runs, and " Hunter of Wishaw " set themselves the task of switching over to the more serious busi • ness of the war effort. During the past six years the firm have undertaken and carried through a succession of important contracts. Well served -4:4y a fleet of E.R.F. lorries and trailers, they have carried thousands of tons of essential materials by road, and hold the proud distinction of never once falling • down on an assignment.
Several outstanding contracts have been accepted during the war period. Perhaps the most interesting was the transport of a Junkers 88, on an exhibition tour, in 1941. This job called for careful handling. The size of the machine and its awkward shape made things very difficult, but the tour was completed without mishap Of any kind. Then; again, there was the haulage of a 25-ton dredger beam from Motherwell to Paisley, and the transport of 29,000 tons of steel from Motherwell to Aycliff, in England.
These were only a few of the many and varied tasks undertaken during the war years. Suffice it to say that the firm, with their fleet of '22 lorries ard six trailers, played an important part in the war eflort.
Needless to say, the enormous volume of work necessitated the utmost dependability from the vehicles employed. Unhesitatingly, the firm pay tribute to the worth and reliability of the E.R.F. machines, upon which they have now standa rd ized . They were purchased through James Bowen and Sons, Ltd., the sole distributor for E.R.F. machines in Scot land. Indeed, Messrs. James Hunter and Sons are among the oldest E.R.F, operators in Scotland, and the first vehicle, supplied. in 1935, has covered approxi mately 350,000 miles. .
With the return of peace, the firm are ready for future development Goods-vehicle operation will, as always, form an essential part of the work of the firm, but an early return to the roads. of Britain of the fantiliar Hunter, coaches is eagerly anticipated by those who, • in the past, have enjoyed many happy hours in pursuit of scenic beauty.
The business built by the late Mr. James Hunter is now in the safe keeping of his two sons, Messrs. Andrew and James Hunter, who can be relied upon to maintain and enhance the Nationwide popularity of an old-established firm.