HELP FOR THE SMALL TRADER.—A USEFUL 10 CWT. VAN.
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The increasing scarcity of labour, brought about by the enlistment of all eligible men and which has had an effect on all branches of transport from the commencement of the war, has now spread to the small trader, both town and suburban. The boys and youths hitherto available for running errands and carryin(' goods by cycle carrier or hand cart, and in some cases with a small one-horse van, are now, owing to the shortage of men, filling more important places in this country's industry. Although the lighter van may not at first sight appear to be a solution of this difficulty, it is an undoubted fact that, owing to the possibility of its being driven by a girl, also since the use of a motor in some case releases stable hands, but more particularly on account of the time saved by reason of its speed, and the facilities for quick starting, the adoption of some such vehicle is worthy of serious consideration.
The Columbia. Light Car Construction.
The advent of the 10-ewt. Columbia, a van of American make, which is being sold here by Messrs. Markt and Co. (London) Ltd., of 98-100, Clerkenwell Road, London, E.C., is therefore to be welcomed as helping our small traders to tide over the present crisis. This machine is built on light-car lines with a fourcylinder en bloc engine, three speeds and reverse gearbox and
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sin.gle plate clutch all combined to form one unit. The engine itself is 31 ins. by 4 ins, bore and stroke respectively, R.A.C. rating being 17.2 h.p., and, as we were able to prove by means of a trial run in a hilly district with a partly-loaded machine, it provides ample power.
Neat Appearance. Bevel Driven.
Externally, as our illustration shows, the complete vehicle has a neat appearance. The radiator is of the honeycomb type, and the bonnet tapers up slightly to a neat dash. Semi-elliptic springing is adopted for the front of this chassis; for the rear, the cantilever system is used. The rear axle is a bevel-driven one, of the full-float
ing type, roller bearings are fitted throughout, and the torque is taken through a triangular framing, the front end of which is carried by a cross member of the chassis. Both of the brakes take effect on the rear-wheel drums, one being external and the other internal, and the control gear is centrally placed in the chassis.
Equipment.
The equipment includes a pair of oil side lamps and a tail lamp, with a mechanically-operated horn of the Klaxon type. Wheels are fitted with detachable rims for 30 in. by 3?; in. pneumatic tires, and these, with a spare rim, are included for the price of £175.