A New Articulated
Page 49
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Five-wheeler
HEN the Lister Auto-track was produced in 1927 it was described in The Commercial Motor as a petrol utility truck of remarkable mobility. This has proved to be the ease in actual service, as is evidenced by the fact that the Lister truck is a familiar sight nowadays on the platforms of many important railway stations. We have been informed by R. A, Lister and Co., Ltd., of 5, Tothill Street, London, S.W.1, that the Dursley factory of this company has just placed oil the market an articulated five-wheeler, the object of the design being to afford a tractor-trailer outfit with a quick-acting coupling.
The general layout of the machine is virtually explained by the accompanying illustration. The trailer is a twowheeled vehicle having brakes on both wheels, which are operated by means of a hand wheel and gerew mounted upon the trailer chassis in such a position as to he within easy reach of the driver. The tractor is a modification of the CS-type Auto-truck which, as our readers are aware, has the complete power unit and driving wheel carried in a turntable mounting, so that steering and reversing are extremely easy, and manoeuvring is possible in very confined spaces. To prevent the trailer taking up such a position, when reversing into awkward corners, that its longitudinal axis is at an angle of less than 90 degrees to that of the tractor, a triangulated
steel bracket is bolted to each of the main frame-members of the tractor. This is necessary, as otherwise the driver's legs or the power unit mien be injured. The truck is able to carry a load of 30 cwt on the level and up easy gradients.
An important advantage over the smaller vehicle made by this company is that the new machine is suitable for bulky loads, the width of the platform being 4 ft. 6 ins., and the length from the rear end to the step being 8 ft. 3 ins. The loading height is only 1 ft. 9 ins.; the wheelbase of the tractor is 3 ft. and the overall length of the outfit 14 ft. 11 ins. Naturally, maChines of special dimensions can be built.