Commer Introduces New 25-cwt. Van
Page 25
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A RECENT .addition to the Commer rtrange of vehicles is a 25-cwt: van the body of which has the generous i.apacity of 300 cubic ft.The forwardcontrol chassis, in which no departures from conventional practice are to be found, embodies a four-cylindered petrol engine, four-speed-and-reverse gearbox, fully floating spiral-bevel rear axle, self-energizing four-wheel brakes, a nd 12-volt electrical equipment.
The engine, which is a side-valve unit, has a bore of 75 min. and a stroke of 110 mm., the total displacement thus being 1,944 c.c.Rated at 13.95 it -gives 40 h.p. on the brake, with a torque of 950 lb.-ins.
Removable liners are used in the cylinder block, and it is interesting to note that the pistons are in cast iron, which should make for longevity of the liners. Three 58 mai, precision-type, steel-backed, white-metal-lined bearings support the Crankshaft, from which the camshaft is driven by a 'duplex.
roller chain. •
A Solek self-starting, .updralight type carburetter is responsible , for supplying the mixture, the fuel being red to it by an A.C. pump from a 10-gallon tank located on 'the of side. of the chassis. The distributor used with the Lucas coil-ignition system lias fully automatic control.
: The drive from the engine is taken -by a 9-in. single dry-plate clutch to the'
gearbox, which provides. the following ratios: top, direct; third,. 1.66 to 1;
second, 2.88 to 1; first, 4.785 to 1; reverse, 6.575 to I. Provision is made in the box for a power take-off, or for. driving a mechanical tyre pump.
A tubular propeller shaft, having two needle-roller-type Hardy Spicer universal joints, takes the drive to the rear axle, which, as previously mentioned, is fully floating, , with.. spiralbevel gears, of which the standard ratio is 7.00 to -1. .
The main members of the frame, which are 5/32, in. thick, with a maximum section of 5 ins. -by 2/ ins., are braced by suitably disposed pressed steel cross members. , The semi-elliptic springs at the front are 36 ins, long by 2 ins, wide, and those . at the rear 47 ins. by 24 ins. '
With the fitting of Bendix duo-servotype brakes, which are self-energizing. in both directions of travel, the vehicle should show high braking' efficiency. The shoes are housed in Millenite cast drums, the brake dimensions being, front, 11 ins. by li ins., and rear, 14 ins, by 2 ins.
The pressed-steel wheels are fitted with 32-in. by 6-in. tyres, and the spare wheel is carried horizontally beneath the frame at the rear.
So far as the body is concerned, this has a length of 10 ft. 31 ins.—measured from the partition—a width of 5ft. 6 Ins., and is 5 ft. 6 ins, high at its centre. It is, constructed throughout of hardwood, with exterior panels in 20 s.w.g. steel, protected up to the waist-line level by slats arranged longitudinally inside the bodY..
Pull-length doors, so hung that thee can be swung back to lie against the body, are provided, and to assist drive visibility to the rear, glass is fitted above the waist line. When the doors are swungfully back they can be held in this position by suitably disposed spring clips.
The weight of the chassis, less fuel. oil, water and spare wheel, comes out at 21/ cwt., and the maximum permissible. gross laden weight of the complete machine is 63 cwt.
This new Commer van is, of course, available, only against M.O.W.T. licence to acquire. ". The Maker is Comma. Cars, Ltd.. -Luton, Bedfordshire.