A Steam Wagon of Many Parts.
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MI-IERE are many commercial vehicles, and chiefly those of the heavier types, which are employed in spheres of activity for which they were not originally designed, and there are also other vehicles which, having completed a term of useful service in connection with ordinary transport operations, have been adapted an converted to do duty in another distinct guise. Such a machine is illustrated on this page. It is an oldtype Foden steam wagon in the service of Garlick, Burrell and Edwards, Ltd., cartage and haulage contractors and forwarding agents, of 28, Ohapel Street, Liverpool, which has been converted for use as a general-utility tractor and crane Wagon.
The wagon has been modified in several respects, and incorporalcs various interesting details in its design. In the first place, the arrangement of the steering has been altered somewhat. in order to enable the driver's seat_ to be placed inside the cab, where he Is given full control of the vehicle. At first sight this new arrangement of the cab gives the vehicle the appearance of the latest, form of Folders 6-ton wagon. A 'heavy-duty crane has been fixed on the original platform of the wagon, and, when lifting a 30-curt. load, • it can readily be swung to any desired position. It is so constructed, however, that when the lifting tackle is disposed over the rear of the vehicle the crane can be locked in position, and it can then be used to lift loads of 3 tons. A, windin.drunk has been fixed on the rear axle, and t•his can be used. while the vehicle is stationary.
So that the machine can be of the utmost utility for acting as a breakdown wagon, supplementary water tanks have been fitted on each side of the chassis, and these can either bused for IrDplenishing the main tank of the wagon itself or can simply other vehicles with water when their stocks are undniy low and not stifficient to enable them to travel to the nearest convenient source of supply.
The vehicle really has a three-fold purpose, in so far as it can be used for towing trailers from place to place, as a breakdown wagon, or the crane can be used for loading or unloading • heavy packages.
As a breakdown wagon, the vehicle has rendered assistance to many drivers whose vehicles have been in difficulties on the road. Quito recently, when a fully laden steam wagon sustained a broken axle at a spot 30 miles out of town, the Ryden wagon conveyed spare axle and wheels to the place at which ,the accident occurred. It tackled the journeywithout the need for replenishing its water supply, and, moreover, the water it carried in the supplementary tanks was esed for replenishing the tank of the broken-down vehicle. By using tho crane in the fixed position the rear portion of the damaged wagon. was lifted clear of the hind axle without the use of jacks, a new axle subsequently being run underneath and fixed in position, after Which the lifted part was lowered into its normal position. The vehicle performed this particular task in loss than nine hours, this time including that occupied on the outward journey from Liverpool. and the homeward trip to the garage.