ADDINGTON MOTOR PREMISES EXPANDED AGAIN

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 8

ADDINGTON MOTOR PREMISES EXPANDED AGAIN

The recently-expanded motpr premises of Blackwell Motors, Ltd, Addington branch, provide a modern complex of services for motorists in four sectors of the Christchurch area.

The branch, on the corner of Dalgety and Princess Street, just off Blenheim Road, lies in the middle of a growing industrial area, and is within easy access of the Addington saleyards. It also offers service for the residential areas of Riccarton and Addington and serves the outlets from Christchurch to the south and Banks Peninsula.

The additions to the premises, the administration block, used car sales area and new car salesroom will be officially opened today by Mr D. B. Rich, the chairman of the Waimairi County Council, in which county the branch lies. The manager of the branch (Mr E. J. Butcher) said the company could now give quick, light mechanical service to the area. As a special sex-vice, the company will pick up and deliver vehicles free of charge, within a radius of three miles of the premises. The branch has grown from a paint and panel department opened in 1963. There was a small staff with a small service shop and the new cars for the company were cleaned and polished for display. The paint and panel division progressed so well that in May, 196-1, tenders were called for to extend this section. J. and J. Construction Company, Ltd, won the tender for $13,246. Lt provided an extra 75ft in length to the paint shop which already covered 24,000 sq. ft. This department did all the work on vehicles for Blackwell Motors at other branches and in town which needed repainting or repairs to bodywork. Before the branch was opened, there was just an open area of land with a residential house on the corner. The house was pulled down in 1966 to make way for the latest developments. Last year tenders were called for the new extensions and J. W. Jamieson and Company, Ltd, were awarded the tender for $59,819. This extended the service, lubrication and spare parts area, built the administration block and showroom and provided parking for customers, a used cars sales yard and new car parking lots. The whole area of the workshops and service station now covers more than the area of the main workshop on the

corner of Kilmore Street and Durham Street, which is about one and a quarter acres. The branch is now complete with a paint and panel department, steamcleaning and undersealing bays, used car workshops, the main workshop for repairs, spare parts and accessories, used car and new car lots and an administration block. The covered area is about 38,000 sq. ft. The paint and panel section has a foreman in each section and 12 panel beaters, one chassis operator, and seven car painters.

There are two sealed booths for spray painting. Modern chassis straightening and wheel alignment machines have been installed. Behind this section there are two bays for steam cleaning and undersealing. Two cars can be serviced at once, one on the hydraulic hoist for undersealing, and in front of it is an area for steamcleaning. At the back there is a leased building which the company use for preparing used cars for resale. The building was originally used by D. R. Mantell, Ltd, a cabinet and joinery company. In January, this year, Blackwell Motors, Ltd, leased the building with right of purchase. Besides the foreman of the department there are two

mechanics, and two cleaners preparing the cars for all branches. The main workshop is supervised by Mr I. A. Rathgen, who has been with the company 18 years. Mr D. Curry is the foreman. There are three mechanics and two apprentices in the section, but the numbers will be increased soon. There is a 60ft long mechanics’ pit with space for eight cars at a time. At the head of the main workshop there is a full tyre-servicing bay, with retreads, new tyres, and wheel-balanc-ing equipment. In the main workshop three women cleaners clean and polish the new cars and provide a cleaning and polishing service for clients. The new lubricating bay has space on the

one pit for two cars. Both cars can be driven on and with two men working on the greasing and mechanical servicing, the two cars can be serviced much quicker. The spare parts section lies between the paint and panel departments and the main workshop. Above it there is a mezzanine floor for the storage of panel parts and beading for damaged vehicles. The manager’s office is just in front of this section. The new administration building has offices for the sales manager and the salesmen downstairs and a showroom with space to display four new vehicles. In the display area there is a carpeted customers waiting area with an automatic coffee machine for self service. Above the showroom is the main office and a staff meeting room.

A MESSAGE Over the last seven years, many of you will have observed the growth of our Branch and its three main stages of development A complete service is now available to you under the one roof. We look forward with confidence, to a continuation of our mutual • interests, and warmly welcome new clients, especially in the area which we seek to serve. Please accept this as a personal invitation to call at our new Branch and inspect the facilities and services which we can now offer to you as a motorist. We will be pleased to show you around the building, and we can assure you of high quality workmanship. Yours Cordially f