"ALBION " MOTOR LORRIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 32

"ALBION " MOTOR LORRIES.

AN ECONOMIC INVESTMENT. No-one who has travelled and has exercised the ordinary powers of observation can fail to have noticed • the wonderful development which has takea place in traction vehicles during the past two or three years. And to note that one' does not need to travel far to see the change that is so swiftly taking place. The days of the horse as the chief means of haulago aro numbered, and those of the motorlorry havo come in England and America, and aro coming even in New Zealand. Of all the motor-lorries and wagons now on the market, none holds a higher place than tho "Albion" lorry, which may bs seen in actual working in any of the principal towns of New Zealund. It is the lorry favoured by tho Government for

carrying bulk mails between the railway stations, steamers, and post offices in Wellington, and the New Zealand Kailway Department hi:3 half a dozen "Albion" char-a-baacs running in connection with its railway services. The Union S.S. Company employs a 1(1 hor.~e-power "Albion in connection with its stores and laundry department in Wellington, and Messrs. Wardeil Bros, have selected tho "Albion" from amongst a host of competitors for delivery work. To thoso of conservative ideas, who still run horse-wagons, some facts respecting the motor idea might be of real economic value. The expense of motor upkeep, provided always that the car is rightly constructed, is a much less serious item

than is popularly -supposed. In the of an "Albion, the construction is su simple, and breakdowns of the mechanism S'j rare, that items which come under the heading of repairs are reduced to a minimum. Petrol, which represents a .la r K° proportion of expenditure, is rigidly economised by the use of a patent device in carburetter and ignition. The mileage per gallon of a well-maintained "Albion" will compaTß more than favourably with that of any other motor vehicle. Whilst discussing petrol economy, it may bo pertinent to mention that in the 1909 Scottish trials an "Albion" motor was awarded the Scottish Cup for the lowest petrol consumption por ton mile of i 3 vehicles entered. Yet another economical feature of the motor is the reduction in tho number of employees required to cover a given territory. One motor driver _ replaces three to six drivers of horse vehicles, and tho simplicity of the "Albion" is such that you aro under no necessity to pay u higher rate of wages than before. Any employee of average intelligence can learn all tliero is to know about the "Albion" control after two days'' tuition. In comparison with the cost of stabling ,and maintaining six horses and vans, and paying several drivers, tho upkeep of all "Albion" presonts a very modest figure, .and reveals a definite reason for its adoption. In many eases whole fleets, tho chassis of which are of "Albion" manufacture, have been purchased after comparison under working conditions with Qther makes. The averago life of a liorso naturally varies according to the amount of work it does, but six years may be considered a fair average, and, assuming that during that period it covers a mean distanco of 20 miles a day, tho total distance covered during its normal working life is 37,560 miles. There are many records of "Albion" juotors which have . covered considerably over 100,000 miles, and are still running as satisfactorily as aver, and there is ample justification in estimating the average working life of tho "Albion' as being from 120,000 to 150,000 miles. To clinch tho argument as to the proved quality an economic value of tho "Albion," it only needs to be mentioned that so nip of the largest firms in. London arc .wedded to tho "Albion." Among them are J. Shoolbred and Co. (48 vans); Harrods, Ltd. (37); J. Lyons and Co. (2G); Will. Whiteley, Ltd. (22); Carter. Patterson and Co. (12)"; Spiers and Fond (12); Maple and Co. (IW. The Now Zealand agents are Messrs. A. T). Riley and Co., of Lambton Quay, Wellington. A line to them will put prospective buyers in possession of the fullest information respecting "Albion" motorlorries nnd cars, suitablo for all kinds of ' general and special work. •