EQUIPMENT FOR ALL-WEATHER BODIES.
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How a Well-known London Concern Facilitates the Coachbuilder's Work in Constructing Modern All-weather Vehicles.
EVOLVED from a lengthy experience of the coachbuilder's requirements for facilitating the construction of modern all-weather coaches, Beclawat body equipment may be said to embody the features of both simplicity and efficiency. The parts for the Beclawat method of construction are marketed by ,Beckett, Layeock and W atkinson, Ltd., which company has an upto-date works at Acten Lane, Harks den, London, N.W.16. As is well known, this particular equipment comprises. a -complete .set • of metal parts ready for erection by-the coachbuilder, who is, as the result of their special form, allowed plenty of scope for making variations in the design of the coach to suit customers'• requirements. Lightness and rigidity in an unusual. degree are claimed for the Beclawat type of body framework, and it would certainly appear, on close inspection of the parts and the manner in which they are manufactured, that this contention is well-founded. The basis of a body incorporating these fittings is, of course, formed by the side pillars, these being designed with an eye to simplifying the general construction of the body. The intermediate pilhars are made from pressings and are fitted with strong feet made from aluminium alloy, in which metal the door and scuttle pillars are also cast. The pillars, which are of the fixed type, are webbed for strength and are fitted with felt-lined channels which ensure easy and silent working of the
drop windows. These are of the Beclawat Monokver type and are equipped with a Special balancing gear,
which enables them to be or lowered and readily fixed in any position. Incidentally, it may he mentioned that the screen is of the f ourpanel, rake-back type with efficient weathering.
-To return to the framework of the equipment, the square-sectioned cant
rails which run from the screen pillars to those at the rear, at which point they are brought down to meet the hind wooden framework, are secured to the pillars by pressed-steel brackets so as to provide a thoroughly rigid•structure. A runway is provided inside the cant rails in which the metal hoop-sticks work, these being equipped with an interesting type of roller fitting, which is specially sprung so as to prevent it from rattling within the cant rail.
A mechanical winding gear of the worm type is provided for operating the hood of the Beclawat head. This gear is actuated from the rear of the vehicle by a detachable handle and the move ment of this part can be easily controlled by one man, the hoop-sticks running freely in their grooves on the pressure of a single finger.
A number of variations in this equipment can be obtained, the parts men tioned forming the chief portion of the standard outfit, with which, by the way, are supplied the necessary small fittings for the doors. We understand that the parts are adaptable to vehicles for carrying any number of persons.
The company is now also marketing a number of fitments which should be of interest to passenger-vehicle owners.
These include a new form of simplified horizontal-sliding window, suitable for
almost all buses or coaches of the saloon pattern. Likewise attractive are the concern's new • circular. , ash-trays for coaches, which sell , at the reasonable price of 3s. 6d. each. These, are neatly designed, having quite an artistic ap pearance,and can be supplied plated or in any desired colour to match it.teriot decorations: