Duralumin Body for Carriage of Steel
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A DURALUM1N body and spring PI hangers, reducing weight by 7 cwt. and enabling high average speeds to be maintained on return journeys, are fitted to a special steel girder carrier operated by John Cashrnore, Ltd., Eagle Works, Great Bridge, Tipton.
Based on a Dennis Pax chassis, the carrier was designed by Harold Goodwin (1944), Ltd., Wolverhampton Road, Bearwood, Birmingham, who also supplied the vehicle.
The driver's controls have been moved about 5 in. to the left, and the cab has a single-seat to allow 12 in. on each side for the girders, which are supported in front of the radiator by a steel frame.
Emergency doors are fitted at the back of the cab, and the off-side door is constructed in two sections so that the driver has access to the cab when the vehicle is loaded and can lean out of the upper side door to get an unobstructed view to the rear.
The pillars of the double drop-sides are detachable, and the sides can be quickly removed to allow the girders to be levered off when unloading on site. Used to carry girders up to 45 ft. long, the •payload. capacity of the• vehicle is over 6 tons. Loose steel
a24 capped battens placed across the vehicle support the load on the main platform. They are fitted with I-in. steel pegs to prevent side movement of the load.
Other girder carriers in the Cashmore fleet are based on Sentinel sixwheelers. These have 30-ft.-long bodies and can carry 11 tons 12 cwt. The location of the engine under the
floor is of particular advantage for this type of work as it allows the cab width to be reduced to the minimum.
To accommodate the load at the sides, the wood cross-bearers have been duplicated and fitted with steel inserts. Angle-iron members protect the fuel tank and power unit from the impact of girders when they are being unloaded.