The Supply Department.
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Selected Information which is likely to be of 'Merest to Makers, Owners, and their Buyers.
An Old Tool in a New Guise.
Markt and Co. (London), Ltd., of 6, City Road, E.C., has, no doubt, been prompted by a keen appreciation of many of the practical difficulties with which the garage mechanic is confronted, in placing upon the market such a practicable tool as that which has been christened "Crane's WheelPuller." We are not quite convinced that this is the most-suitable name which might have been selected for a contrivance which has in cruder shape, long existed as an indispensable accessory in most workshops. Not only for the purpose of pulling a road wheel away from the shaft of a gear-driven back axle, to which it has become tightly affixed, but also for such purposes as the removal of universal-joint ends, brake drums, and other similar components from their corresponding shafts, is a force clamp of this class an absolute necessity. The wheels of locomotives and of other rail rollingstock, which are always forced into position on their respective axles under very great pressure, are only removable when a force clamp of this nature is brought into play. In the ease of such large components, however, the forcing screw is replaced by a powerful hydraulic ram. Many of our readers may have seen a similar clamp in use for the purpose of bending tramway rails in situ ; for such use, the tool is often called a" bending bear." Suffice it to say that Markt and Co., Ltd., has realized that some form of appliance of this description is a necessity to all those who have anything to do with motor vehicles, and the necessary arrangements have, therefore, been effected which will enable the ordinary repairer or user to secure a well-finished and strongly-constructed forcing clamp, ready made, at a moderate outlay. The general shape of " Crane's Wheel-Puller " is well indicated in the photograph, of which we include a reproduction on this page. As will be seen, a massive bridge houses the forcing screw, and a number of holes is provided for the adjustment of the different lengths of arms.
Petrol Measurement and Storage for the Small Owner
To many of our readers, the elaborate storage and measuring apparatus which has perforce been installed in most of the existing large garages, for the proper service of liquid fuel to motorcabs, motorbuses, or motorvans, as the case may he, is, no doubt, quite familiar. The complete control, which is thus ensured over the distribution of such a relatively-expensive commodity as petrol, is an asset of considerable value, but, hitherto, the use of plant of this description has been confined to the larger owners. It is none the less important, however, for a small maker to arrange for the economical handling of his fuel. Up to the present it has, in such cases, generally been necessary to rely upon the careful filling and emptying of small cans and other packages. To enable the owner of a small fleet, or even of a single machine, to secure a reliable check upon his " consumptions," The Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., the welding specialists, of Uxbridge, has recently designed a simple self-contained apparatus, which is claimed by its maker to save petrol, money, labour and time. At present, it is found that the five sizes, ranging from 60 to 250 gallons capacity, meet all the requirements of small users. The equipment consists of a storage tank, which is made on the well-known weldless principle of construction that has been adopted by this make r. Mounted upon this tank, is a small semi-rotary pump of the usual patter n, together with a measuring gauge and tank. A short length of flexible hose completes this useful plant. There is, of course, nothing complicated in the employment of this arrangement ;
petrol is pumped up into the small measuring tank, whose capacity is indicated on the gauge, and this measured quantity of spirit is then allowed to run through the flexible hose into the reservoir of the motor vehicle. Cleaning holes and strainers are provided at useful positions, and the gauge glass is protected from the results of careless handling by its partial enclosure in a brass tube which has a long slot through which the height of the liquid can be observed. A small vent pipe is necessary in order to allow the tank to be filled or emptied, and this is bell-mouthed in shape, and covered with fine, brasswire gauze, to prevent any risk of "firing back" if petrol vapour should happen to be expelled. The reputation of this firm amongst users of commercial-motor vehicles is of so considerable a nature, that it is almost unnecessary for us to offer any further
evidence in support of the utility and reliability of this latest ingenious application. It is, however, of interest to notice that, amongst the users to whom the Steel Barrel Co. has supplied large-fuel storage and measuring installations, are the following : Harry Lebus and Co., Ltd., William White ley, Ltd., General Motor Cab Co., Ltd., Coupe Co. and Motor Cab Co., Ltd., Spiers and Pond, Ltd., Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., W. and G. du Cros, Ltd., and William Hancock and Co., Ltd. (Cardiff). In some cases, these installations have a capacity of 8,000 gallons.