Olympia Reveals
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SPECIALIZED BODYWORK
THE specialized-bodywork exhibits at Olympia would, in themselves,make an interesting little show, for they are to be seen on some 20 stands and are widely varied in character. In the main, we exclude municipal vehicles from this review, directing our attention to the cattle carriers, horseboxes, tankers and other specialpurpose machines.'
Bodybuilders appreciate the fact that a cattle truck or horsebox is a costly item of a haulier's or breeder'3 equipment and that, to be an economic proposition, it must, in most cases, be used also for other duties. They have, accordingly, expended much ingenuity in designing specialized machines that are readily convertible to use at sided or platform lorries.
This forethought is well exemplified by the exhibits shown by J. H.
Jennings and Son, Ltd., Sandbach, on Stand 126. In the three-compartment horsebox body, mounted upon a Dodge 2f-ton chassis, all the horses face to the rear, the centre animal standing well forward. Comfortable accommodation for two grooms is provided at the rear, there being a door on each side of their compartment. Loading is effected from the off side and unloading from the rear. An extension over the cab provides accommodation for loose equipment.
By releasing half a dozen clamps on the body of the Dodge combined three-horse box and cattle truck, the whole superstructure may be removed, cpnverting the vehicle into a fiat platform lorry. Twin ramps are carried at the rear and a ramp at the front on the 'near side.
The three horses stand side by side, although, if two large shire horses are being dealt with, the partitions can be fitted in the centre to provide twin compartments. An upper deck can easily be fitted
when sheep and pigs are to be carried, there being further accommodation over the driver's cab. When the superstructure is removed, hinged side boards and a , tailboard may readily be fitted.
Particularly ingenious is the Jennings cattle-carrying body mounted upon a Reo chassis. The upper deck is in four sections, whilst spacers are provided for dividing up the loading cornpartment. A door in the front of the upper deck communicates with a box above the cab, suitable for carrying small animals. In addition to the main loading ramp, there is a subsidiary ramp on the off side leading to the upper floor.
After removing the roof structure and detaching a few pegs, the upper side cratches may be lowered, leaving the vehicle as a hinge-sided lorry. In turn, the remaining sides may readily be detached.
A Convertible Cattle Carrier.
The most notable feature of the Bedford long-wheelbase 3-ton cattle truck (convertible to use as a dropsided lorry), shown by Spurling Motor Bodies, Ltd., The Hyde, London, N.W.9 (Stand 31), is, perhaps, the Lake ball-bearing cantilever-action ramp. The ramp is hinged longitudinally in three sections and, when the side portions are folded on to the centre section, the last-named automatically drops an inch or two and, by raising it to a height of only 2 ft. 6 ins., the ramp can easily be slid under the floor.
Lake interlocking gates serve as side wings for loading purposes and, when closed, constitute a solid rear panel. The body sides are easily removable in sections.
Vincents of Reading, Station Square, Reading (Stand 91), show their latest
type of Favourite Three horsebox body, mounted upon a Bedford 3-ton chassis. The three animals face to the rear, in which direction the Centre horse is un-
loaded ; the two other horses are unloaded from the side. There is accommodation for four grooms at the rear, their compartment having a door on each side. The stall fittings are easily removable.
Features of Horseboxes.
A striking Curtis horsebox, incorporating caravan features and mounted upon a Reo 2i-ton chassis, is exhibited by Strachans (Successors), Ltd., Wales Farm Road, London, W.3 (Stand 119), It has accommodation for two horses, the centre detachable partition being equipped with spring-loaded tubular pillars. Recessed hinged beds are fitted in the stalls and, when not required, are concealed in special compartments. A . sofa-type seat and two cabinets, one embodying a wash basin, Primus stove, etc., are provided in the grooms' compartment.
On the Stand 35 of Diamond-T Motors, 414, London Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, is to be seen a wellappointed three-horse box having a body by Perfects. Bodies, Ltd., Woking.
Notable for their glittering finish are the two tank wagons displayed on Stand 117 by the Aluminium Plant and Vessel Co., Ltd., Point Pleasant, London, S.W.18. The Albion 41-ton 1,200-gallon three-compartment tanker, having an aluminium body, weighs under 24 tons unladen.
The Dodge 4-ton 1,200-gallon four
compartment aluminium tanker also falls below the critical limit of unladen weight. In the latter exhibit, foot valves and the usual type of outlet and outlet piping are discarded. The shell constitutes a sealed container and the liquid cannot escape, even if the tanker
should overturn. A siphon arrangement is provided for the discharge of the load.
The only milk tanker in the Show is exhibited by the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., Phoenix Wharf, Uxbridge, on Stand 86, The elliptical single-compartment stainless-steel tank has a capacity for 1,400
gallons, and is constructed from 10gauge stainless steel, all seams being electrically welded. The whole body is lagged with Alfol insulation to a depth of .14 in., cOvered With alinninium sheeting 'th enAtire that the telnOtature. of the milk dOes not rise Or tall by More 'than 5 degrees F. The aluminium sheeting is separated from the tank by means of hardwood framing, shaped to the tank and secured Cy brackets.
Tankers of Distinction.
Two striking tank wagons, one incorporating an A.E.C. Monarch Mark if chassis and the other a Leyland TC9A chassis, are also available for inspection on Stand 41 of Thompson Bros. (Bilston), Ltd., Bilston. The former is a 1,650-gallon machine, having an elliptical body for oil fuel. It is constructed from light-gauge steel plate, electrically welded. A 16-in. manhole is fitted towards the front of the tank and has an aluminium hinged lid. Lifting eyes are fitted on the top of the tank, so that it may quickly be removed from the chassis. The tank is insulated with Alfol to a depth of 2 ins, and covered with 18-gauge aluminium sheet, all joints being encased in aluminium moulding.
' The other tanker has four compartments, one accommodating 300, gallons, another 200 gallons and two 500 gallons each.. The tank, which has --.-been designed for the transport of 1.500 gallons of motor spirit, is mounted on the chassis by the Thompson patent detachable method, by means of four light-gauge bearers, together with Dural bands, chassis clamps, etc.
A Butterfield. tank body is to be seen mounted upon a Dodge 4-ton longwheelbase chassis on Stand 85.
Public-address vehicles are now finding favour with fire-brigade and police authorities, as they facilitate the direction of operations at fires and the marshalling of crowds. Designed with the requirements of fire brigades well in mind is a Morris 8-10-cwt. van, displayed by the Cunard Motor and Carriage Co., Ltd., Talbot Road, London, W.13, on Stand 16.
Carried on the. roof is a streamlined loud speaker,. which may be turned through 360 degrees. The electrical apparatus is of G.E.C. make, has an undistorted output of 14 watts and is operated by a rotary converter off the battery. A hand microphone and twin turntables for gramophone records are included in the equipment. There is 'ample space for fire-brigade apparatus, whilst painted on the side of the body is a life-like portrait of the chief officer of Ealing Fire Brigade, carried out by Mobilicity Van aDisplay.
Fine Pictorial Display.
Incidentally, the remarkable pictorial scene, depicting racehorses and jockeys, upon the 1,000-cubic-ft. pantechnicon shown by the Cunard concern, is a Mobilicity achievement and a similar design could, we understand, be carried out at a cost of only £30. The body of this large vehicle, which is extensively panelled in Plymax, weighs only 141 cwt.
Another specialized Cunard exhibit is a Morris 5-cwt. van for the demonstration and distribution of electrical and wireless goods. Recessed behind a glass panel on the near side is an electric fire, whilst on the other side is a radio set.
Moving-floor vehicles are to be seen on four stands. The Principality Wagon Co., Ltd., Cardiff, shows, on Stand 136, a Thornycroft platform lorry suitable for the transport of goods in
sacks. At the front, a triangulated structure, mounted upon. a substantial wood base, stands upon the floor and the sacks are lashed to it. The superstructure moves with the floor.
Other exhibits are a Leyland dropsided lorry and a Scammell mechanicalhorse unit with a hinge-sided body.
Dennis Brothers, Ltd., Guildford, displays on Stand 157 its own type of rubber moving floor, incorporated in a refuse-collection body mounted upon a Dennis forward-control chassis. Loading is effected over a movable steel barrier and the floor is carried on a series of sherarclized steel rollers, provided with carbon-impregnated bushes.
Sockets are provided at the forward end of each body side to receive a crank handle. The handle is affixed to a cross-shaft, ea nipped with a sprocket engaging the operating chains. The last-named, it should be noted', are ccinnected, not to the rubbtr floor, but to the barrier.
n38 Two other sockets are provided and, when the handle is inserted into one of them, it engages a low gear ratio for winding the floor 'backwards. The insertion of the handle into the other socket raises the lower part of the rear door, by means of a cable and winch.
Another exhibitor of moving-floor vehicles is Transport Engineering, Ltd., 561, Old Kent Road, London, S.E.1 (Stand 155). On this stand is to be seen the new Transport lightweight moving-floor unit, described in last week's issue. Moving floors are also incorporated in a Bedford 2-ton lorry, suitable for general haulage as well as refuse collection, a Dennis low-loading refuse collector and an Albion 4-tonner for the transport of builders' materials.
Scammell Lorries, Ltd., 52-54, High Holborn, London, W.C.2, has incorporated its moving floor in a 12-cubic-yd. refuse collector on view on Stand 29.
Amongst the other specialized vehicles at the Show may be mentioned the Morris 8-10-cwt. traveller's brougham, displayed by Messrs. Bonallack and Sons, Cable Street, London, E.1, on Stand 57. Two comfortable seats, with a central arm-rest, are provided in the cab, whilst at the rear there is a large compartment for samples, which may be carried in fabric-lined containers on each side and on roof rails. This company also shows an impressive Guy 4-ton van which, with a 1,200-cubic-ft. body, having a duralumin bottom frame and aluminium panels, weighs under 21 tons unladen.
In order further to increase the efficiency of its dealer organization, Kennings, Ltd., Clay Cross, Derbyshire (Stand 17), has designed a vehicle, incorporating a Morris-Commercial 2-ton chassis, for carrying drivers daily to Oxford and Birmingham to collect vehicles for delivery to customers. Separate tip-up seats are arranged in staggered formation along the sides, whilst the hack rests, set at an appropriate angle to the seat cushion, are mounted on hinges so that they may be flattened against the panels. On the return journey, the vehicle will carry spare components.
A gas-sales van, having a body by G. Scammell and Nephew, Ltd., Fashion Street, London, E.1, mounted upon a Thornycroft 2i-ton chassis, may be inspected on Stand 88. Rings are mounted along the side panels for lashing gas cookers, whilst a locker is provided behind the driver's partition for the storage, of accessories. A Parker roller shutter is provided on the near side at the front, whilst a tailboard and curtain enclose the rear.
One of the most impressive exhibits at the Show is, perhaps, the A.E.C. Mammoth Major Mark II eight-wheeler, to be seen on Stand 124, carrying a body by the Duramin Engineering Co., Ltd., 23.24. Hythe Road, London, N.W.10. Although the body is 19 ft. 6 ins. long, 6 ft. 11 ins, wide and 2 ft. 9 ins, deep, it weighs, without tipping gear, only 21 cwt.
The body, which is tipped by B. and E. three-way gear, is framed up and plated in Vickers cluralumin. An interesting device is employed for locking the sides, which are in two sections, and tailboard. At the end of each section is a special hook, upon a shaft. The operation of a handle attached to the rod causes the hook to turn and to engage or disengage with a projection on the body pillar.
The other Duramin body exhibits are mounted upon a Thornycroft Dandy chassis (for brewer's work) and upon a Leyland Beaver oiler.
Mobile Canteen for Firemen.
During recent years, marked improvements have been made in the working conditions of firemen by the provision of limousine-type coachwork on fire-engines. As is evidenced at the Show on Stand 157, Dennis Brothers, Ltd., Guildford, has taken a step in another direction by building to the specification of Major C. C. B. Morris, chief officer of London Fire Brigade, an elaborately equipped 40-45-cwt. forward-control canteen van.
The equipment includes two 10gallon and two five-gallon boilers for tea and coffee, and a warming cabinet for food, with shelves heated by means of hot water. Paraffin burners supply the necessary heat. There are also a cabinet for supplies, a 40-gallon water tank, which can be replenished through a hydrant connection, and a copper-lined sink. An automatic cutoff valve prevents the tank from being over-filled. Counters are provided along the near side and at the rear.
We cannot close our review of specialized body exhibits without making a reference to the unusual Leyland tower wagon, with tower apparatus by the Wood Hydraulic Hoist Co., Ltd„ shown on Stand 166 of Leyland Motors, Ltd , Leyland, in the Municipal Section. The vehicle has a van-type body, with a roller shutter at the rear and a staircase with removable hand rails up the near side of the roof.
The three-section ram provides a maximum height of 24 ft. and enables the inspection platform to be swung through an angle of 360 degrees and locked in any of four positions.