THE UBIQUITOUS MOTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 112, 13 May 1926, Page 8

THE ÜBIQUITOUS MOTOR.

ASSEMBLING OF CARS. A PARNELL INDUSTRY. A visit of inspection was paid this morning to the Colonial Motor Company's works at Fox StTeet, Parnell, by a party which included the Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon), Messrs. J. S. Dickson and W. E. Parry, M.P's., members of the Auckland City Council, the Auckland Industrial Association, and other local bodies. On arrival the visitors were met hy Mr. R. M. Rickard, general manager of the Universal Motor Company, and shown over the works. Mr. Rickard explained the operations of the Colonial Motor Company in New Zealand, and said that all Ford cars for use in the Auckland province were built there. There was a staff of IGS employed, and at the peak period —during the summer months —it numbered 250. The visitors then made an extended tour of the premises and saw the various operations in connection with the assembly of a ear until it reached the stage where it could be driven out the front door. It was stated that thirty cars could be assembled in a working day. Throughout the works the latest machinery is in use, including travelling cranes and pneumatic drill*. One particularly interesting operation was the painting of cars, which is done by means of a spray, and it was explained that after a coat, or priming, seven coats of paint were applied to each car to set the neeessarv finish.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Mayor made some brief remarks. He said that he was surprised at the magnitude of the works, and realised their value by reason of the large amount of labour employed.