Bodies and Wheels.
Page 43
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All users of commercial vehicles have from the commencement realised one of the most important features of every car is the wheel, and these have received considerable attention at the show. Many interesting examples of body-work have been dealt with in the description of individual stands, of which we may quote fine creations from the works of J. Liversidge and Son, Limited, and of Chris. Dodson, Limited. A few wheel-makers fall, too, under our tire section, such as Liversidge's, the Shrewsbury and Chal, liner Tyre Company, Limited, and the Sirdar Rubber Company, Limited (see pages 42 and 43). There arc, however, one or two exhibitors who make a speciality of particular types of wheels. Smith, Parfrey and Company, Limited, of Rannock Street. Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, W., has a large show of wheels of every type. This company enjoys a large share of the trade in London, and its products are noted for their excellence, and some excellent examples of heavy wheels suitable for motorbuses and lorries are shown, as well as axles, springs, and forging-s of various forms. An important section of the Pimlico Wheel Works is set apart for the production of standard motor parts ; gears, and gear-shafts can be made to the buyer's own design.
At the stand of Messrs. G. Scammell and Nephew, of Fashion Street, Spitalfields, E., are an assortment of dished and other types of wooden wheels specially made for all classes of heavy vehicles, and these include patterns fitted with " Steevens " and " Hartridge "tires : these are dealt with later. It is worthy of note that this firm makes all the wheels for the latter type of tire, examples of which are doing so well in the trials of the Automobile Club Hydraulic pressure is used for putting all Scammell's wheels together, as well as for putting in the hubs and for tiring, the result being that the solidity of the wheel is greatly increased. Nothing but well-seasoned English ash and oak is used, and the firm holds large stocks of these woods, which happy position allows it to adhere to this good practice. In addition to wheels, the firm supplies springs, internal and other gear wheels, hubs, etc., and is, also, a maker of bodies ; but so great is the demand for the latter that one was not available for showing with the rest of the exhibit.
Tangent Wheels, Limited, of Grove Road, 13alham, London, shows a number of the " Gare " tangent wheels, for which it is claimed that they are not only resilient but stronger than those of ordinary types. These advantages are obtained by the construction of the wheel itself. Al the hub the spokes do not point directly to the centre, but are set at a tangent to it, and overlap one another. It is thus impossible to carry a shock from the road directly to the axle and, therefore, the spokes are not subjected to a hammering shock, whilst the strains are distributed through the whole of the spokes round the hub. At the felly end also the spokes are wedgeshaped, and the wood comes grain to grain, nearly end on ; there being no tang set down, there is no bruising of the felly section, and a consequent wear and loosening effect, whilst the spoke is materially strengthened. A dowel-plate in the felly prevents the spokes from becoming displaced. On this stall there is, also, a " Gare " wheel with its special non-slipping tread this has
been in use on a Wallis and Steevens, steam, 3i-ton tractor for over two. years, and still is not worn out. It is. owned by Pickford's, Limited, and it isclaimed that, owing to.the non-slipping qualities of this wheel, this tractor has frequently drawn loads of I, tons. The exhibit is important and interesting. The "Shock Shifter hub" is exhibited by Messrs. John Muir and Son, of Granville Ilouse, 3, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C. Between the hub and the axle. itself is a chamber loosely filled with steel balls. The axle floats on these balls, which form a semi-fluid method of transmitting or absorbing the shocks set up by the road wheels. It is claimed that the vehicle fitted with those hubs rides more smoothly and easily, and that the shocks are taken up in the balls.
Although not dealing with bodies or wheels only, the exhibit of Joseph Owen and Sons, Limited, of 199a, Borough, London, S.E., and Liverpool, Cardiff, etc., is of considerable interest, as on it are all classes of wood such as ash, birch, white wood, oak, mahogany etc., adapted for all classes of motorcar work. Examples are shown of spokes. and fellies for heavy wheels, wings, drivers' seats, matching for canopies, and the like. As is recognised in the trade, there is a great scarcity of thick, dry, well-seasoned, ash planking in this country, and this company has, aftel considerable trouble, patented a process of desiccating which produces a perfectly reliable wood after to days' treatment. This is a matter, of very great importance as, if wood of inferior quality be used, serious results may , occur ; we congratulated Joseph Owen and Sons, Limited, upon the success
attending its efforts.