At the Liverpool Show.
Page 15
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The eleventh annual Liverpool motor show is now open, at the Tournament Hall, Edge Lane, Liverpool, but we regret that only two examples of commercial motors are included in the exhibits, as one small chassis, upon which a light van body has been fitted, does not, strictly, fall within that category. We understood, at the exhibitions of 19°5 and 1906, from conversations with several manufacturers of steam wagons who supported the Liverpool Show in those years, that there was very little evidence of local demand, but the experience at the present show, in respect of the Arrol-Johnston chassis, which is exhibited by the local agents, the Liverpool Motor House, Limited, of 7, Peter's Lane, Liverpool, has been much more satisfactory. It is not unlikely that Liverpool merchants, manufacturers, and cart owners allow the failure of the steam-wagon. plant of the old Road Carrying Company, Limited, to weigh with them rather unduly, and we would point out that the indifferent performances of those machines, which were built to comply with the original 3-ton limit of tare under the 1896 Act, and which were overloaded, seriously, at most times, is no fair criterion of that which is possible to-day. The interval of five years, which has elapsed since the machines in question were constructed at Leyland and Preston, has allowed of enormous advances in construction. Manchester appears to have recognised this fact, and it has, completely, outstripped Liverpool in its application of self-propelled vehicles to utility purposes, so that, unless the Mersey port wakens up to the changed conditions under which heavy motoring may now be conducted, it will he left, still further, behind by its rival. The Arrol-Johnston 24-3oh.p. ornnibus chassis, to which we have made reference above, is one of two purchased by the WooIton Motor Omnibus Company, of 41, Castle Street, Liverpool. Machines of this type have been on the road for some 14 months, and Mr. John S. Napier, the Managing Director of the New Arrol-Johnston Car Company, Limited, of Underwood Works, Paisley, has been able to satisfy himself, and his critics, as to their satisfactory running under severe working conditions. Each of the four cylinders is
cast separately, and the cylinder heads and valve-chests are -attached to them by six studs, an arrangement which allows of easy replacernent in case of accident. Forced lubrication, by means of a gear pump, is adopted, and the engine runs, normally, at gso revolutions per minute. A Hele-Shaw multiple-disc clutch is fitted, and the gear box provides four speed ratios, the mass of the first motion shaft being kept very low. Roller bearings are employed throughout, and the gear-box lubrication is, also, automatic. Attention is directed to the special universal joint of the gear-box end of the cardan shaft, which coupling is so designed that all driving efforts act in one plane, so as to avoid lack of uniformity in the angular speed of the shaft during a revolotion this joint is protected by an
aluminium, g-rease-retaining cover. The other end of the cardan shaft has a combined spring and universal joint drive, and is so arranged that no trouble ensues if a spring breaks. Other points in this chassis are : the tubular radius rods, which support the transverse dif ferential shaft; the casings of the side driving chains, with their slotted inside bearings, which allow any slackness of the chains to be taken up properly; the arrangement of the transverse, parallelmotion, radius rods, which extend from a suitable bracket on the back axle to the side members of the chassis, for staving and anti-sway purposes. The only other vehicle exhibit which calls for mention in our pages, is, the new steam car exhibited by Fawcett, Preston and Company, Limited,of Lydia Ann Street, Liverpool : we publish two views of this chassis (one on page 477). It is likely to come to the front, hereafter, for inotorvan purposes.
Visitors to the show ought not to miss the Opportunity to inspect the Critchley-Norris engine, which is on the stand of Messrs. Wooler Brothers.