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WHAT TO SEE AT

15th October 1937
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Page 56, 15th October 1937 — WHAT TO SEE AT
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FHE FORD SHOW

A Survey of the Commercial Motor Exhibits at an important One-make Show in London at Which a Standard Range of Products and Specialized Bodywork are Prominently Displayed

THERE are usually a few surprises at the Ford Motor Exhibition each year, but at this year's .event, which opened at the Royal Albert Hall, London, yesterday, and closes on October 23—dates coinciding with the Motor Show at Earls Court— the organizers have, so far as the 'commercial. side is concerned, kept little up their sleeves. Not that the Exhibition lacks interest on that account, because certain new models make their first public bow and the range of Ford products so well covers the light and medium-weight fields that operators whose requirements are met by vehicles with pay-load ratings from 5 cwt. up to 3 tons will find a wide range. available for their inspection.

'Not only are the standard products of the manufacturing company on view in the different forms in which they are available, but a number of specialized bodies, produced by well-known concerns, is to be seen.

Attractive " Action " Demonstrations.

Added interest is given to the Exhibition by the demonstration of raanufaturing and servicing methods, " action " displays taking the visitor behind the scenes, so that one gets a true mental image of the daily tasks enacted at the Dagenham works. To the mechanically minded, the demonstrations. of gear quietness, crankshaft balancing, foundry work, brake testing and other important operations are certain to attract, whilst many will certainly be intrigued by the speed and ease with which two mechanics dismantle an eight-cylindered engine in six minutes and reassemble it in a further nine minutes.

Commercial users faced with operating or other problems have an information bureau to which they can take their transport difficulties for discussion and elucidation 538 The Exhibition covers an extremely wide field, from commercial vehicles and cars to trailers, industrial power units, farm machinery and accessories. On the commercial-vehicle side the new 3-tonner, which was fully described in our issue dated September 17, is the chief chassis of note. It is a forwardcontrol product and several examples are on view, including an hydraulic end-tipper in which the wheelbase of 1311 • ins, compares with a standard figure of 1433 ins.

Available with a 30 lep. eight-cylindered or a 24 h.p. four-cylindered power unit, its 'features include a big loading space and luxurious driver's cab. Following a certain trend, the Ford concern guarantees the new 3tonner for a 50 per cent. overload, so that it virtually comes within the 4-5-ton class. For taxation purposes it scales 2 tans 6i cwt., so that ft enjoys the benefit of the 30 m.p.h. limit. Its main components are welltried units, but in respect of detail design it has features that are entirely new.

Lower down the scale in pay-load capacities is the Fordson 2-tonner, which is to be seen in van and lorry forms. This is a forward-control model of smart and modern appearance. It is planned to give accessibility to those details requiring regular attention, thus making for ease of maintenance. Its _wheelbase is 118 ins, and its turning

circle 38 ft. The driver's cab is comfortable and well ventilated, its proportions being particularly liberal. The standard van has a body of shapely proportions, its capacity being 340 cubic ft.

The 2-tonner is also available with normal control and, as a lorry, has a wheelbase of 131f ins. It has optional power units—a four-cylindered or eight-cylindered engine.

The 25-cwt. model is also displayed as a van and as a lorry. This chassis has semi-forward control, 'which enables generous loading space to he provided on both types. Its wheelbase is 106 ins. and its turning circle 39 ft. The van body has a capacity of 230 cubic ft. I3oth models are excellent examples of their type.

Next we come to the 15-cwt. van, which is ideal for fast and efficient transport, its lines being stylish, and, with suitable wording and panel decoration, it should have a decided publicity value. The body space is generous, the loading area of 120 cubic ft. being accommodated on a wheelbase of 112 ins. The loading height is under 2 ft., a feature which helps to speed up delivery work.

The smallest delivery unit in the Ford range is the 5-cwt. van, which, it is claimed, can, in the average business, be run from 6s. to 7s. per day. It is a handy little unit, with a body 4 ft. 3 ins, long, giving 50 cubic ft. of loading space.

On the commercial-vehicle side, the Ford company's exhibits are completed by examples of the Fordson-Surrey and Fordson-Sussex six-wheelers, Both are marketed with forward and normal control, but the former has only one driving axle for the bogie, whilst, in the latter, both axles are driven. The Sussex is particularly suitable for cross-country and similar arduous duties.

On the tractor side are to be seen examples of the standard agricultural model, the row-crop model, the land utility machine, and some modern implements for use with them. The industrial tractor equipped for road haulage and for use in factories and depots is also to the fore.

In addition to the Ford company's exhibits, many independent concerns are taking the opportunity provided by the Exhibition of bringing their products to the public notice.

Allan Taylor Engineering and Mann lecturing Co., High Street, Wands. worth, London, S.W.18, has an 8 h.p. Coronation model tractor on view, , embodying the Allan Taylor patented method of final drive. This machine is designed for the maintenance of golf courses and sports and recreation grounds, whilst it has a distinct sphere of use in connection with private estates for mowing, rolling, harrowing and general-cartage purposes.

A 25-cwt. De Luxe Van.

The 25-cwt. chassis is to be seen with an example of the de luxe van bodywork produced by Arthur E. Gould, Ltd., 290-292, Regent Street, London, W.1. This is a smart-looking outfit, which has a fully domed front and curved top sides. The single-panelled sides are fully skirted and carry a flared mahogany moulding. The inside is fully slatted and the wheel-arches are boxed in.

This company also has on view outside the Hall a 3-ton forward-control chassis carrying a 1,000-cubic-ft. pantechnicon body, which has ash framing and sides of steel-faced Plymax. The floor is unobstructed by wheel-arches, and there is a well at the rear. The interior dimensions of this body are 14 ft. 7 ins. long, 6 ft. 9 ins, wide, and 8 ft. 3 ins, high, and there is a capacious Litton section above the driver's cab.

Multiplex Van Displays, Ltd., of Willesden, London, N.W.10, which specializes in van painting, lettering and pictorial designs, has a number of artists at work on its stand, the decorative effects which can be obtained by its processes being clearly apparent from the vans on the company's stand, as well as those in other parts of the Exhibition.

A van body, built by W. V. Radford, Ltd., Percy Road, London, W.12, is shown on an example of the 25-cwt. chassis. It is constructed of ash framing. Plymax being used for the panels. The cab is of spacious proportions. A half roller shutter, in conjunction with a tailboard, encloses the rear of the body which measures 8 ft. 6 ins, behind the driver and is 5 ft. 4 ins, wide and 5 ft. 6 ins. high.

The Lawson overtype body, which is available in two sizes, is to be seen on the stand of Wallace Carr, Ltd., Acre Lane, London, S.W.2. The example on the forward-control 2-tormer, fitted with a 3-ft. T.T.A. frame extension, has a capacity of 1,100 cubic ft., whilst a similar body mounted on the 25-cwt. chassis, with a 2-ft. T.T.A. extension, offers 450 cubic ft. Of loading space. In each case, to obtain the necessary length, the frame is extended in the middle by pressed-steel channels which are 7 ins, deep. The larger body is 9 ft, high, 7 ft. 2 ins, wide and 16 ft. long behind the driver's cab, corresponding dimensions in regard to the Junior model being 6 ft. 6 ins., 5 ft. 6 ins. and 11 ft. 6 ins. respectively.

Harold J. Willett, Ltd., Colchester, has long specialized in the production of bodies for Fordson chassis, and displays an example of its 20-seater de luxe coachwork on a normal-control

chassis. A sliding roof is incorporated in the design. The body has a handsome exterior appearance, and its interior is well furnished, the equipment including chromium-plated brackets carrying highly polished walnut racks, mirrors, opal lamps and an attractive scheme of upholstering. A 26-seater coach of similar design is on • view outside the I-fall. In this case the Willett body is mounted on a forwardcontrol chassis, A fire trailer set is shown by Gwynnes Pumps, Ltd., Hammersmith, London, W.6, in which a Ford 24 h.p. four-cylindered engine is direct coupled to a water pump having a capacity of 250-400 g.p.m. at a pressure of from 90 lb. to 150 lb. per sq. in. A small header tank forms the cooling system when the engine is off load, and when under load the cooling water is bypassed from the pump delivery and runs to waste. The pump is adapted to draw its supply from a hydrant or river as may be found necessary.

No fewer than 50 vehicles are on view. The Exhibition is open daily from 10 &tn. to 10 p.m., admission being ls. 3d.

Tags

Organisations: Earls Court
People: Allan Taylor

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