Sidney Straker and Squire, Limited.
Page 31
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Exhibit:—One 30-cwt. Chassis; one Wagonette; one Tilt Van; latest and “Boltless" Gear Box for Motorbuses; and one Ilnotorcab.
An interesting exhibit on the stand of Sidney Straker and Squire, Limited, of Nelson Square, Blackfriars, SE., is a four-speed and reverse combined gear box and differential shaft, which has been removed, for the purpose of this exhibition, from a StrakerSquire bus which had been in the service of the Great Eastern London Motor Omnibus Company, Limited. The condition of the teeth on the gear wheels of this box, after 17,429 miles of running,. is remarkably good; in fact, the condition is practically the same as when the box left the maker's works. We reproduce a photograph of this box, taken shortly after it was opened up, and the sharp condition of the teeth will be noted. This gear box is remarkable in its design, inasmuch as not a single bolt or nut is used in the change-speed portion of the gear case; in fact, the only bolts which are used within the casing are those which secure a large bevel ring to the differential-gear housing. The tilt van which is shown on this stand, and which has been constructed to the order of Carter, Paterson and Company, Limited, is mounted on one of the company's three-ton ch-ssis, and a gear box, similar to the one we have described, is therein embodied. The Straker type of engine, with its overhead cam motion, requires no further description in our pages.
One of this company's 2o-cwt. van chassis is also exhibited, and this was fully illustrated and described in our issue of the 22nd August last. This machine has a pressed steel frame, and the general arrangement of the component parts is extremely simple, The 16-20h.p. engine has four cylinders, cast en bloc, and the low-tension magneto make-and-break gear is mounted in the most accessible position at the top of the cylinders. The adjustment of the trip levers is ex tremely simple, and the whole arrangement is neatly enclosed by an aluminium cover. A similar chassis, stir
mounted by a polished, natural-wood, wagonette body, is also shown on this stand. It is arranged to seat 12 passengers, and has a side entrance,
whilst it is provided with dust and wind screens, and a canopy extending forward over the driver. The vehicle is capable of running up to speeds of zo miles an hour.
The latest introduction of this company is a 12-14h.p. motorcab chassis, simultaneously with the unique steam wagon which is described in Part I of our report, and one of these is exhibited. The chassis is constructed to conform to the regulations of the Metropolitan Police, and the leadingwheels permit of a very large amount of lock. There are three forward speeds and reverse, and the drive is direct on top gear. The four-cylindcr engine is governed by the thermosyphon principle, and the ample radia tor is of the gilled-tube type. The power is transmitted to the gear box through a leather-faced coneclutch, and, between these two units, is a short shaft, fitted with double universal joints. The final drive is by means of a propeller shaft and bevel gearing.