A MOTORCYCLE TRACTOR-TRAILER OUTFIT.
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Details of a Combination in Which the Motorcycle is Held Upright.
AREAL novelty in passenger or goods-carrying attachments for haulage by a motorcycle is being produced by Mr. K. A. Hill. of 33, Upper Baker Street, London, N.W.1. It consists. of a trailer drawn through the agency of a special type of joint, constructed on the principle of a turntable or "fifth wheel," Mr. Hill, having been domiciled in India for a conaiderable period, has acquired a considerable amount of knowledge of the conditions in that country, and the outfit •he has produced is peculiarly adapted for rickshaw purposes, as the driver—who would usually be a native— would be seated well away from the passengers, which, as those with experience of the East know well, is a desirable and even essential feature.
For goods carrying, either at home or abroad, the flexible vehicle thus formed has the enormous advantage of being able to carry an adequate load of goods which are bulky but light. For instance, the standard box-carrier body for use in this country has a capacity of 18 cub. ft., although a body up to 30 cub. ft. can be fitted. The standard box incidentally measures 4 ft. by 2 ft. 6 ins..bk 2 ft.
For the purpose of comparison, it can be said that the average commercial box sidecar has a capacity of about 8 cub. ft.
As a light commercial box-carrier, Mr. Hill's outfit is almost the cheapest vehicle on the road, and there are sound grounds for saying that there must be a tremendous scope for its use both in this country and overseas. Its advantages in this connection are not confined exclusively to first cost, as in this country a machine normally taxed at only 30s. per annum suffices quite adequately for haulage purposes ; in fact, the demonstration vehicle Mr. Hill has on the road is actually coupled to a 2i h.p. Douglas motorcycle costing £42 10s. It should be noted, however, that used in this manner it becomes taxable at £2 10s. Similarly, the maintenance costs will be lower than that of any other vehicle judged on a cubicfoot carrying-capacity basis.
Not the least interesting point in the design of this carrier is the patented method of attachment, which, although it allows an adequate range of movement in a vertical direction, and permits the vehicle to be turned in a 10-ft. circle, stabilizes the motorcycle and holds it upright when stationary, whilst the danger of skidding is, of course, obviated. Prices vary In accordance with the type of body fitted, but we may instance the standard 18 cub. ft. carrier, which sells at £28, including tyre.s, wheels, patent drawbars, joint and attachment. Sorbo filled, non-puneturable tyres are included in this vehicle, although pneumatics can be fitted if preferred. A matter to which Mr. Hill attaches great importance is that motorcycle agencies already iocist in nearly all the big centres of population overseas, and for that reason the question of repairs and service will be very largely simplified.