SPECIAL BODIES FOR THE MORRIS.
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What Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., is doing to Meet the Individual Requirements of Many Trades.
THE sole London distributor for Morris cars and Morris-Commercial vehicles, Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., has extensive showrooms for the latter class at 371372, Euston Road, London, N.W.1, and ihere is always to be found a number of different models Of Morris-Commercial and Morris 12-cwt. chassis both with and without bodywork. But the company has
B26 gone a long step farther than by acting erely as agents, for it has developed a series of most useful types of body to suit the different models, these being in addition to the extensive range marketed on behalf of the maker.
The bodies thus provided are known as the S. and A., and they range from Normandy carts to neat buses.
Perhaps the most popular of the Morris-Commercial chassis is the light tomer, which is doing much to uphold British prestige in this class. It is taxed at £16 only and appeals particularly to the man in a small way of business to whom transport costs are of even greater importance than to a big user. Large numbers of these chassis are coming through the works. Incidentally, while on this question of costs, we may mention that every Morris-Commercial vehicle sold by Stewart and Ardern, Ltd. is accompanied by a special book of running-cost charts, each book containing sufficient to last for three years for a single vehicle, together with oiling diagrams for the various models.
As regards the 1-ton model, this averages 22-25 m.p.g. of fuel, 9001,000 m.p.g. of oil, whilst tyres should average between 12,000 and 15,000 miles per set.
One of the S. and A. bodies for which there is .a big demand is the shooting brake. This has a door at the back and two folding steps are provided on an angle-steel frame. The side and end curtains can be rolled up in fine weather, but the roof is permanent, being canvas lined with matchboarding and with ash hoops. The seats are arranged along the sides so that the occupants face each other, and by removing the cushions and folding the seats up against the sides, where they are held by clips, the body can be used for transporting goods, luggage or even animals. When the curtains
are down, ample light is afforded by celluloid windows. The price of this useful little vehicle on the ton chassis is £295. Another handy vehicle is the Normandy type with a varnished-wood finish and a tailboard which lets down to expose a hinged step with an aluminium tread. The longitudinal seats fold up against the sides of the body, as is the case in the shooting brake, but in this vehicle only the squabs are removable.
The forward portion of the body for the driver and another person , is panelled in metal, and the whole contents are protected by a Capecart hood, a curtain with an oval celluloid light protecting the space above the tailboard. The rear portion of the body will carry four passengers or two passengers and luggage, and when the seats are folded up it can be used for carrying goats, sheep, etc. this vehicle embodying the 8-cwt. chassis, is £225, including four-wheel brakes.
The S. and A. one-ton laundry van at £250 is another model which is making good headway. It has a metal-panelled body, the interior having close-boarded sides. The roof is of stretched canvas. Although we have referred to the body as being panelled in metal this does
not apply to litu, lower panels, of which there is a narrow and broad, each being in one piece of satin walnut.
Amongst other standard S. and A. bodies for Morris Commercial vehicles are a 25-cwt. platform truck, a 25-cwt. drop-sided lorry with particularly high sides, and a standard de luxe van on the 30-cwt. chassis, Reference has already been Made to the special dog-carrying van, which is also mounted on the latter chassis. • • The standard laundry van which we have described is mounted on the one-ton chassis, For general carriers there is a W.D. type truck with detachable canvas tilt. This alsd is on the 1-ton chassis.
Aifother useful exathple is the Covent Garden with rave sides giving a total height from the platform of 4 ft. 4 ins. In fact, it may be said that there is a body for every• trade, even the coal merchant not having been neglected.
For municipal users there is a rural fire tender with hose lockers, gantry for ladders, etc., and two S. and A. ambulances with single and double stretchers respectively.
For passenger work, there are five types of bus, one ,being equipped with a roof rail and ladder to facilitate the conveyance of luggage.