THE PALLADIUM 15-cwt. VAN UNDER TEST.
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A London-built industrial model of medium loadcarrying' eapacity which has been on the market for some considerable while past, and of which we have frequently heard good accounts as regards its satisfactory service, is the 15-cwt. van manufactured by Palladium Autocars, Ltd., Normand Road, West Kensington, London, W. We recently took the opportunity of selecting, haphazard, one of the completed models from the company's works for the pur'pose of making ourselves acquainted with the behaviour of the machine, under, as near as possible, actual service conditions.
The model selected had a general tradesman's box-van body mounted, and we subsequently had the superstructure loaded to its full capacity, in addition to the driver and a passenger. Starting from this publishing house the machine was directed through some of London's most congested traffic with the view to giving the engine as much work as possible, particularly in the matter of stopping and starting, slowing down and accelerating with its full load. We found that the power developed is quite ample to meet any emergency on the road, and the speedy manner in which the engine picks up, following the depression of the accelerator pedal, is noteworthy. It was also ascertained that the van was remarkably easy to steer, and, indeed, the provision for the control of the machine is all that could be desired, and should call for no undue exertion on the part of the man at the wheel.
About 25 miles of running was covered during our short test, which, under the conditions laid down by us, represented such a round of deliveries as the machine would be likely to be called upon to execute in its ordinary service. The main springing is good ; the three-quarter elliptics fitted at the rear afford a, flexibility which should enable the user to run the machine either with a partial or full load, without any compunction with regard to possible excessive vibration.
A brief specification of the model is as follows :— The bore and stroke of the four-cylinder engine are ai ins. and 5 ins., respectively. The cooling water is circulated by the aid of a pump ; a suction fan is also embodied in the cooling system. The conventional type of leather cone clutch transmits the engine-power 'to a four-speed gearbox, and the final drive in the rear live-axle is by worm-gear, the worm component being placed on top.
The side-channels of the frame and all the crossmembers are of pressed steel. The road wheels are of the artillery pattern, and take pneumatic tires of 815 mm. diameter by 105 mm. cross section. The principal dimensions of the equipment are as follow : wheelbase, 10 ft. ; track, 4 ft. 8. ins. ; length behind dash to rear of frame, 8 It.; overall length, 13 ft. The chassis, complete with tires, is priced at £271. For £25 extra, the company fits a self-starting and lighting set, which includes dynamo, accumulators, switchboard, and five lamps.