FOR MOTORISTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 12

FOR MOTORISTS.

PROGRESSIVE LOCAL FIRM; [By Chassis.] There is no denying the fact that the motor-ear reigns supremo in the servico of society and of commerce, and this Dominion is emulating the example of the leading countries of tlio world in catering for those who have joined tho motoring movement. This movement owed its inception to that portion of the middle classes with a little mechanical instinct, a little money, and much enthusiasm, but. it rapidly spread until it had entered more fully into everyday_ life than ever the horse had done during the long centuries of its work in the service of man. Not only do peoplo to-day keep motors who yesterday kept horses, but thousands of pcopl-o run cars of their own who n few years ago never hoped to do so because of the greater sphere of usefulness provided by the ear, because they aro more reliable, and because the prices are more reasonable. That movement, which has advanced so rapidly at Home and on the Continent, has readied this Dominion, and each year sees a marvellous inereaso in'the value of imports of complete motors, chassis, bodies, and parts, whilst the coining season is likely to approach the high-water mark afid" partake of the nature of a boom. Commercial Progresslvcnsss. That being so, it was incumbent on those firms who cator for motorists to keep paeo with tho industry, and that thtfy have endeavoured successfully to do so has been demonstrated time and again. The latest example of this commercial go-aheadness is that of Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson, and C-0.,' Ltd., mote engineers, who -have just rojnoved from their premises in Lower ' Cuba Street to a new block of buildings erected specially for the purpose opposite Messrs. Smith arid Smith's, Wakefield Street, ana which will be open to the public on Monday next;. This palatial three*stoty block of buildings, which has been erected in almost the record time of Seven months, the contractors being Messrs. M'Milian and Sons, lias a frontage of 40 feet and a depth of 2-30 feet, the warehouse and show-window having a depth of 100 feet, the - garage behind being 90 feet by 13?) feet, aad having access from Opera Avenue, The main entrance is in Wakefield Street, from which one steps into the show room, where half-a-dojsen show cars will bo on view, whilst in the show-window, or showcase, the contents of which can bo inspected from three sides, there is accommodation for a couple of cars, two or three motor-cycles, and tho usual accessories. The offices occupy the space to tho rear of the show-window, and on the opposite side, a staircase leads to the rooms above, and a corridor runs the full length of the showroom, on either side of "which are receptacles for the storage of the thousand and one motoring requisites for which there is always a demand. Tyros and Accessories. Special facilities are provided _ for handling these goods, 'ana two sliding ladders, hooked on to the top shelf, and running on 3-iiich pulleys along tho top of tho protruding bottom shelf, aro not .the least of tho innovations which will save time and trouble. lii the bottom bins, tyres arc laid in their natural positions, and consequently it is only necessary to give an occasional turn to tliem, so as to give them a different "lay" and keep thorn to tho best condition- Tho tyres are thus keptoif the floor, and comparatively speaking, in the dark, so that purchasers can. depend upon getting tyres of the _ beat quality ijnd i:n tho primest condition. Behind the showroom, and between ' that and tlio 'garage ill tho rear, is a large open space used for packing. The whole of tho ground floor is brilliantly lighted, there being no fewer than 30 electric sky-lights in tho garage alone. From Wakefield .Street an asphalted passage runs alongside tho building, to tlio back of tho now Opera House, and when this building is completed about Christmas time, it is proposed to continue this passage right through into Manners Street. This passage will be : continuously lighted by electricity, and visitors will be able to drive their cars : into tho garage and step straight into tho Opera House. Just outside the garage is a largo petrol store, built away i frem the rest of the premises, access to which is gained by a heavy iron door. The Garage. A glimpse of the lofty extensive and splendidly-equipped garage prepares olio for the justifiable statement that this is one of the largest and best garages in the- Dominion. On each side of the wide entrance—which has an easy access —is a ladies' and: gentlemen's waiting-room, fitted with lavatories, tables, chairs, and every possbile convenience, and these should prove a great boon to patrons driving some distance into the City. Those rooms are warmed by means of radiators and arc as comfortable as ,any tlieatre-goer could desire. Ltickers aro ranged round tho walls for .the use of private owners, and the floor space of 90 feet by 130 feet is absolutely clear, with tho exception of three tliin supporting pillars down tho , centre. Tho two turn-tables, which aro on ball-bearings, run almost- as l'reo as- a joy-wheel, and can he turned with a push of one foot. The garage provides, storage for from 70 to 100 cars, and the dozen cars lodged there yesterday went, in ono corner, and were almost unperceived at a first glance. Tlioro is a wa.sh-down on either sid® of the garag<s for washing down' ears, and tho special ventilating sky-lights should reduce the usual garage smell to a minimum. The place is as near firo-pjoof as possible, bat to make assurance doubly sure thoro is an abundant supply of fire-extinguishers in order to cope with any incipient fire which may start in any of the cars in tlio garage. The only wood about; the garage is a partition dividing it from tlio workshop. Costly Machinery, The latter has been, fitted up with machinery which has ,cost over £'1000, and other machinery is oil onkr which will bring the total to well over £1500. This includes vertical drills, gear-cut-ting, case-hardening, and grinding lathers, milling machines, grinding tools, shapers, key-slotting machines, saws, and various other tools and appliances, whic-Ii only tho most up-to-date firms aro supplied with. Tho two stories abtrve are equally well equipped, tlio middle floor being' used as a warehouse and the -top floor for bulk. Access to these is gained either by the staircase, already mentioned, or by a lift which is conveniently placed. Altogether Messrs. Magnus and Sanderson's new buildings must bo classed as amongst tlio most convenient and modern in the Dominion, providing showrooms, offices, stores, repair shops, receiving and dispatching garage, and all the other facilities necessary for such a large and important business, which has been carried on during tho seven years since tho partnership was converted into ft company.