Progress Maintained

18th September 1964, Page 164

18th September 1964

Page 164

Page 164, 18th September 1964 — Progress Maintained

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CLOSE co-operation between representatives of the health authorities and the various manufacturing interests ensures that constant progress is maintained in ambulance design. Each Commercial Motor Show sees new features introduced to the public and this year will be no exception. Good use has been made of the B.M.C. innovation, the LD5W special ambulance chassis, which incorporates long resilient phased springs with variable-rate shock absorbers which can be controlled from the driving seat by the Selectaride system.

Wadhams (Coachbuilders) Ltd. (Stand 113) use this chassis in conjunction with the Wadham Series ID, Mark III, the newest version of a plastics ambulance range that was introduced six years ago. The body to be exhibited will have the Wadham-Morris stretcher gear with selfelevating bed on the nearside and the Wadham combined seat and stretcher rack on the offside. It will be seen that the new twin headlamps give a changed aspect to the front end.

An East Riding County Council unit, also using the B.M.C, LD5W chassis, will be shown by Cravens Hornalloy Ltd. on Stand 131, the specification including automatic chassis lubrication, body heating by copper piping from thecooling water system, and fluorescent lighting in the saloon. Bench-type seats are being fitted on both sides, these having folding arm rests and being readily convertible for the carriage of stretchers.

With good riding qualities in mind, Herbert Lomas Ltd. (Stand 10I) mounts a Type B body on the Bedford JI ambulance chassis. The latter has a suspension system designed by Vauxhall Motors Ltd. specially for ambulance work. The interior of this exhibit will be fitted up for one main stretcher case ,.on the nearside, plus a seat and instan taneous stretcher platform on the offside. Lomas will also use the Austin LD5W for a dual-purpose design.

Appleyard of Leeds Ltd. (Stand 28) will use the Morris FGK30 with Dunlop Pneuride air suspension, the body which is to be exhibited being built to the specification of the Bristol Ambulance Service. The front end assembly and roof will be of moulded glass-fibre, with the remainder of the external panelling in stucco aluminium sheet. The interior panelling will be colour impregnated glass-,fibre with aluminium cover moulds. Window surrounds will be in Darvic plastic and the floor will be covered with Plastaline. The Appleyard light alloy stretcher trolley unit will be fitted on the offside and a bench seat with foam rubber upholstery on the nearside.

In the ambulance which will be shown by Routes Ltd. on Stand 130, the basis will be a Commer 1-tonner in which the roof line has been raised by 6 in. The main roof panel is of glass-fibre, lined with plastics-faced hardboard, thermal insulation being sandwiched between the two. In this model there is a false floor or 3+ in. above the main floor, this space housing an aluminium ramp with a sliding extension for loading wheel-chairs.

Martin Walter Ltd. (Stand 62) is to show an attractive model on the Bedford I I Z ambulance chassis, the fittings includin g Martin Walter stretcher gear with rigid aluminium frame, tubular, stretcher with adjustable head-rest, and a pole stretcher.

There will be no representative of the ambulance range on the stand of Dennis Bros. Ltd. (Stand 73), but one of the newest designs will be available in the Demonstration Park.