Agriculture in Top Gear
Page 52
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
DURING the past quarter century, as a result of the rapid development of road transport, a vast change has come over the major agricultural shows of Great Britain, and whilst horses still have their place, it is motorized transport on which the bulk of these organizations depend. The commercial-vehicle industry was strongly represented at Blackpool last week when the annual show of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society was staged.
A striking display of 'vehicles for many facets of the agricultural world was put on by Leyland Motors, Ltd., a notable exhibit being a Beaver Power-Plus articulated outfit having an 8-ft.-wheelbase tractor with a 140-b.h.p. diesel engine, seven-speed gearbox and a Scammell 25-ft. tandem-axle semi-trailer with stakeside body. A tanker, specifically designed for fuel delivery to small fSrms and built for the Earl of Lonsdale's company, Lowther Oil Supplies, Penrith, was shown. It had a Leyland Comet chassis and a 1,500-gal. three-compartment tank made by Universal Boilers, Ltd., of Burnley. Comets were also shown with livestock containers and in the 'Super Comet form with a pole trailer.
Albion Chieftains were featured on the same stand, one in tipper form, and another carrying a bulk-grain container. An Albion Myer bulk-grain carrier was also displayed.
A new design of three-seat . easyentrance cab was exhibited by Holmes (Preston), Ltd., this being mounted on an Austin 7-tonner with platform body. An articulated vehicle for the Ross Group was shown with Holmes refrigerated bodywork, and examples of products by Holmes-Alexander, Ltd., of Dumfries, were to be seen, including the new Scot trailer. Two versions of the Thermo King portable refrigerator power pack were shown. and several Four-in-Line trailers were featured by the British Trailer Co.. Ltd., in conjunction with Morris, E.R.F.. and Leyland tractive units.
H. Woodward and Son, Ltd., Formby. fielded quite a comprehensive selection of vehicles, comprising Atkinson, Seddon, Commer. Austin, Albion and Leyland chassis. As is natural the six Land-Rovers exhibited by David Rosenfield, Ltd., came in for much attention from the farming community.
Commer vehicles were presented in various forms by Kirbys, Ltd., Blackpool, a particularly attractive unit being a retail milk delivery truck,
Thames commercial vehicles, with emphasis on the Thames Trader, constituted the offerings of 'llomas Motors, Ltd., Blackpool, and C. G. Skipper, Ltd., Burnley. Specialized bodywork in numerous forms was shown on Morris chassis by Loxhanas Morriservices, Ltd., and William Bras. (Blackpool), Ltd. A further focal point was the Renault Estafette high-roof van, the merits of
which were being stressed by R. and Gradwell (Preston), Ltd.
Several types of Volkswagen cornmerciaI vehicles formed a display .oi F. Hodgson and Sons (Morecambe), Ltd Rice Trailers (Barnes and Winder, Ltd.) exhibited an attractive series of light units including twin-axle double-horsebcia models. Standard vehicles were shown by Kings Road Garage Co., Ltd.