DESIRABLE ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT.
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Brief Details of Some of the Accessories, Fittings, Tools, and Other Devices, which will be Marketed in the Coming Year.
N our special "123 Outlook" MumI her, which was published on Thursday last as an issue distinct and separate from our ordinary weekly edition, we deal at some length with the intentions of commercial-vehicle makers for the coming year, and it was our original plan, in conjunction with this matter, to devote Certain /pause in that issue to a brief résumé of some of the principal accessoriesaind fittings to be marketed for the benefit of heavy vehicle users in 1923. Pressure of space at the lase moment., however, necessitated the complete exclusion of these particulars, and we have, therefore, taken the earliest opportunity of dealing with the intentions of some of the prominent accessory makers and factors in the issue following this special number.
This procedure has been adopted in order that-our readers may be provided with a fairly representative summary of what is being done in the branches a the industry, extraneous to the actual production -of chassis, and to assist users (and, in some eases, manufacturers) to secure the very best results from their machines.
Except in the very few cases in which a user or driver only takes a superficial interest in his machine, there canna he very many vehicles in use which have not, at some time or other, been embellished with supplementary accessories or fittings since they left the works of the manufacturers.
. Apart from accessories which may be deemed desirable on the vehicles them:selves, there are also many interesting tools and machine equipment for use in garages and the like, which enable maintenance and repair tasks to be satisfactorily and efficiently carried oat. It is not our intention in this article to deal, with any particular range of accessories and tools—the subject would require a volume in itself—but merely to indicate the class of equipment whims rail be eecured. It must be understood that all the leading factors of repute are ill a position re supply, these lines to commercial users.
A New Drilling Machine.
No repair shop or garage is complete without a drilling machine, and for this reason the new design of sensitive radial drilling machine made by Drummond Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, should intereet those on the look-out for up-to-date plant. It has been designed to meet the wants of repairers, although it is equally useful for general shop use, since its capacity for quick drilling is greater for ordinary work than that of any vertical drill of about the same spindle (biller). siuns. The large table, which can be seen in our illustration, with its sideslotted wings, enables awkward pieces of metaltto be drilled,easily. An important feature is net this tool has been designed
for foot or power drive. . .
Other tools which the company will market for 1924 include the hand bench 1342 drill, garage mill, hand bench shaper, a sensitive drilling machine, 3k-in., 5-in., 6-in., and 7-in, centre lathes, an A-type' lathe designed to meet the wants of model makers who require a tool capable of varied and accurate work, as well as special ailaoliments for use on the lathes with 5-in., 6-in., and 7-in, centres. •
Another tool of value in. workshops is the Egoh truing device sold by George Kingsley, 46, Alderborough Road, Seven Kings, Ilford. This tool is made for the purpose of truing unevenly worn crankshafts and pins of every description. The tool is spring .coiriperiaated, which cell€tractiou allows it to pass over the low and high p-arts of a worn bearing without chattering or becoming loose.
A four-cylinder engine crankshaft can be trued up in about two hours, and the surface left after the use of the tool is perfectly smooth and round to 3-1,000ths of an inch. Two types of cutter ere made—one being priced at £6 and the other at, £8 5s.
So satisfactory have the carburetters made by the Zenith Carburetter Co., Ltd . 46-42, Newman Street, London, W.1, proved in service during past years that the actual construction Of this wellknown make of carburetter will be unchanged for 1923 so far as the type best tented to commercial requirements is concerned. The company are at the present i'itite supplying carburetters with special ;Mines for the following types of corn snercial vehicle (C.B., C.C., arid Y types), Dennis (subsidy type), Albion, Pierce-Arrow I 'eecl e.ss, F.W.D., Locornobile Riker and ,thers.
Another make of carburetter which has
given good service amongst commercia, vehicle users is the Solex, the product of S. Wolf and Co., 115, Southwark Street, London, S.E. The latest model. is known as the D-type, and it is, broadly speaking, identical with the earlier models. It only differs in certain points if detail which, are the outcome of experience extending over a period of years. During 1923 the eximpany will be making a speciality of complete sets of fittings to enable the Solex carburetter to be fitted to all the leading makes of commercial vehicles.
The varied requirements of steam wagon users have long received attention at the hands of W. H. Willcox and Co., 38, Southwark Street, London, S.E.1, and the principal lines upon which the company have tonitteap a.reputation will he offered to users in 1923. Til2se include the 1-)enberty automatic indicators, wire. bound suction and delivery hose, semirotary pumps, double-acting filunger pumps, and a host of useful devices. The Periloerthy automatic it:ea:tor is claimed to be a perfectautestiatie restarting machine, by which is meant that, when the injector is working and forcing water to the boiler, if the current of water be suddenly broken by any cause, such as a sudden jar or jolt, as in the case of a traction engine or road roller, the injector will pick up the water and reestablish the current to the boiler automatically
Fiske's lubricants, which are defined in the United States, will also figure on the company's sales programme during the coming year.
Spring Specialists.
The name of Herbert Terry and Sons, Ltd., of Redditch, stands well to the fore in connection with the manufacture of all types of spring, although the company also produce other lines which are deservimg of attention from commercial vehicle users. A list of "Ford-aids" merits the consideration ef users of this ubiquitous vehicle, and it. includes a cable set, which sells at 10s. 6c1., a set of six spanners for the reasonable sum or 4s. 63. or 7s. 6d., according to their quality, brake bands and a box of assorted necessities which containa springs and washers of various types and sizes, and is marketed BA, the price of 10s. 6d.
Although the Avon India Rubber Co., Ltd., of Melksham, will market in 1923 many types of tyres which are already well known, attention should be particularly directed to the new superresilient tyre for Ford ton trucks, and the new solid • non-skid for provincial fire-engines. The former tyre is made• of high-grade rubber of softer an more resilient character than the ordinary solid, and has been designed specifically for service on the rear wheels of Ford ton trucks, either to replace 32 in. be • 3!, in. solids or. 32 in, by in. straight'. sided pneumatics. The tyre is of deep section and has well-defned circumferential grooves, which have -been introduced to prevent skidding. The solid non-skid for use on provincial fire-engines has been designe4 to give a firm grip on the driving wheets when working On loose surfaces or on soft ground. Robust. bars of solid rubber which run obliquely across the tread are set at an angle which in service has
proved to be correct. The fire-engine tyre is available in two •sizes. Avon giant single tyres are now available up to those of 12-in. width, whilst a nonskid grooved tyre for lire-engines, similar to that on the engines of the London Brigade, will also be marketed in 1923. Avon tyres are backed by a well-organized and efficient. service system.
Winter Precautions.
With the advent of the winter one's thoughts will immediately fly to frostbound roads and greasy surfaces, and users who wish to avoid the delay brought about by such conditions will pay particular attention to their wheel equipment. In this connection they should not overlook the non-skids which are made by the Sheppee Motor Co., Ltd., Thomas Street, York. In making the non-skids thecompany do not now use steel split links for joining the strakes on to the chain, the strakes being made in a different manner and electrically welded. The cross-bars are, of course, made from high-grade steel stampings, the connecting plates being of spring steel. .
The question of lighting should also receive proper consideration now that the dark evenings are upon us. A lamp which has found considerable favour. among commercial vehicle users is the A.L. all-steel headlamp, made by Allen Liversidge, Ltd.. 106, Victoria Street. London, S.W. This lamp is made from a special quality steel, is of light and durable 'construction and has been expressly designed to withstand the vibration which is associated with heavy com
mercial-vehicle running. For this purpose the hinge is placed at the top—a distinctive feature of all Allen Liversidge lamps for commercial vehicles—experience having ahown.that in this Position it cannot be loosened. The gas supply recommended for use with this lamp is dissolved acetylene in cylinders contain
ing 40 cubic ft. of gas. The burner which is supplied consumes roughly half a cubic foot of acetylene per hour, so that one cylinder charge gives 40 hours' continuous lighting for two lamps.
One of the oldest-established names connected with the manufacture of chassis springs is that. of William E. Cary, Ltd., of Manchester, and there is not a single type of commercial vehicle spring, be it for light van or heavy lorry, which does not figure in the company's manufacturing programme. Springs for steam wagons and springs for petrol vehicles have all been designed to meet the special requirements of each class of eervice.For lubricating springs and overcoming friction of the leaves the company offer the Duval patent perforated, hard-rolled brass strips for placing between the leaves. The perforations in the strips are filled in with graphite grease, by which means lubrication is constantly supplied to the spring, thus preventing rust and dirt formation. Other lines which will continue to be sold by the company include axles, drabble arms, trailer wheels, road,wheels of various descriptions, and numerous other fittings for goods and passenger vehicles. A most comprehensive *range of goods is indicated for the coining year. As a sideline, it is of interest to note that the company's works, which are well equippeakshave recently been' turned over from coal and gas to oil power.
When one mentions that the carburetters made by H. M. Hobson, Ltd., 29, Vauxhall Beidge Road, London, S.E., are employed as standard equipment on such .makes of commercial vehicles as the Leyland, Dennis. Commer Car, A.E.C., Watson, and others, it is sufficient in itself to indicate their efficiency and reli ability for service on heavy vehicles. The company's .latest type of carburetter embodies the same principje as the "Z " diffuser type, with the exception that it possesses a power jet. •
In the matter of small replacements the average Wel' does not always give consideration to the choice of a suitable part, and although to outward appearances such parts may be suitable, their composition:may be such that they will prove uneconomical and inefficient in use. It is just as importaist to make a careful selection of piston rings as it is of larger and muse expensive parts, and users should deal with those concerns which have had experience in their manufacture. Such a concern is the British Piston Ring Co , Ltd., Holbrooke Lane, Coventry, who have made an endeavour to produce special types of rings for all popular makes of engines. They supply special rings in lots lap to six dozen, from 14 in. (49 mm.) up to 6 ins. (150 mm.) which are suitable for practically all types of engines used on goods and passenger vehicles and agricultural tractors.
The Falcon and Falcon Junior yam: foot pumps should meet with approval at the hands of Losers of pneumatic-tyred .vehicles. The pumps, which are sold by the Imperial Motor Industries. Ltd., 11, Denmark Street, London, W.C., are built on the cantilever system and have proved very efficient in practice. A glance at the illustration which we re
produce will readily convey an idea of the general construction, of the pump. One of the chief features is its remarkable compactness. Another line is the Thermoid hydraulic compressed brake lining, the chief feature of which is that, owing to its being subjected to hydraulic pressure during manufacture, it does not compress in actual service, The Mairphy patent Depth-o-meter dashboard indicator, which enables the height of the contents of the petrol tank to be read at sight will also be sold, as well as laminated leather belting, lamps, horns, tools, tyre-repairing requisites, sparking plugs, and, last, but by me means least, lifting jacks made by the established concern of Tangye.
Two outstanding accessories marketed by Brown and Co. (Lotoli), Ltd., 56-58, Renshaw Street; Liverpool, ara'a power intensifier and a two-note electric horn. Itis claimed for the intensifier that it will give increased engine: power, additional mileage, more even torque, effident fuel vaporization, and that it will eliminate pinking, carbon deposit 'and dirty plugs. Timken tapered roller bearings, made by British Timken, Ltd., Ward End, Birmingham,: are extensively used on all types of commercial vehicles. The rolling elements are so designed that all loads are properly supported and correct adjustment is possible. For a lorry carrying a 5-ton load, it is patent that a roller bearing of substance and proved merit must be used at the points where friction has to be eliminated, -end the company claim that the Thnkeis bearing does this efficiently and unobtrusively.
A New Poi table Tyre Pump.
Brown Bros.: Ltd., Great Eastern Street, London, E.C. 1, will, as usual, offer a comprehensive range of accessories, fittings and tools for 1923. It is quite impossible to refer to their varied lines individually, and therefore we will content ourselves with a brief description of the new model Duce electric pump which has just been put on the market for tyre inflation. This is. a very compact machine and is of the open type, the motor and chain drive being open, with the exception of a guardafor the chain. As our illustration shows, the pump is portable, and being fitted with a long lead and plug for electric circuit, is exceedingly handy in garages where electric lighting is installed. The pump measures 6 ins. by 4 ins., and is of the single-piston type, compressing at each end of the cylinder. At 400 np.m. theprimp delivers some 2,200 cubic ins, of air per minute, and a micrometer release valve is fitted to the delivery tube, which will cut. out at the required pressure. " Imspecs " commercial vehicle equipment for 1923 will comprise cast aim minium lamps, mileage recorders, speedometers, mirrors, horns, windscreens, etc.
'lids trademask is associated with the products sold by G. Davenport and Ltd., 99-105, Cierkenwell Road, Lemke), E.C. 1, who have, during the last few months, introduced a tailshaft hodemeter, which is meeting with considerable success amongst users of heavy lorries. It is bolted to the tailshaft cap and driven by a pin screwed into the end of the tailshaft. The drive is positive, and the in_ .strument is fittedin a protected position. A special model has been produced for the Ford termer, which has also met with success. The company will make a special feature of cast-aluminium lamps during the coming year. These are made in two sizes—standard and de luxe —and are constructed to withstand arduous commercial vehicle service.
The Vogue of the Kerbside Pump.
In spite of the' fact that many municipal authorities are refusing to licence the installation of kerbside pumps, this eminently useful equipment is steadily gaining favour, particularly in the more progressive areas, where obstructions are not put forward by the local governing
authority. Many of these installations are ()Utile Bowser type, which is made by S. F. Bowser (Inc.), 32, Victoria Street:, London, S. W: The company's most up-todate kerbside pump is fitted with a sight discharge, by means of which the purchaser can observe the quantity of petrol which is actually delivered into the tank of the vehicle. The pump discharge is at the rate of 10 gallons per minute, and in one operation • the fuel is metered, filtered and correctly measured. Tha company's 5-gallon indoor pump is adapted for use in garages, and delivers direct from RD underground tank at the rate of 20 gallons per minute. Any intermediate quantity from a quart up to 5 gallons can he delivered at the will of the operator. Two classes of lubricating oil storage equipment will be offered.
The patent P.W.W. artillery steel wheels, which are the product of Smith, l'arfrey and Co., Ltd., Rannoch Road, Hammersmith, London, W., and have been in use for the last few years on many types of commercial vehicles, will continue to be made by the company during the coming year. These wheels are to be recommended to manufacturers producing new models, and for use on existing types of commercial vehicles. The company are in a position to make all types of wooden wheels for heavy and light vehicles, whilst they can also effect repairs to this class of component.
The pioneer of the supplementary B44 change-speed gearboxes for Ford chassis is the Supaphord manufactured by the Elm Street Engineering Works, Ltd., 188, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C. It is a simple two-speed box positioned at the fvorit of the torque tube, which is shortened for the purpose. It provides the vehicle with four speeds, the engagement of the gears being by a double dog clutch with stepped teeth.
Another multiple gear which will be offered in 1923 is the Miller made by Miller Bros., The Common, Brighouse, and which has many novel features. The new model is slightly different, from the old gear, although it still adheres to the same unique and known principles. The Miller gear now has only two ball bearings, two separate gears, no countershaft .and no change of direction in the drive. The Miller Master brake is also supplied with this multiple gear, although it can he suppiied as a separate unit. 'The price is £7 7s. It is for use on the Ford tanner, and is said to give absolute control under all conditions.
The Skefko Ball Bearing Co., Ltd., Luton,will continue to manafacture a full range of their SKI' double-row, selfaligning ball bearings, as well as a singlerow bearing of deep groove, non-filling slot construction. SKI' hall bearings are manufactured with mathematical precision, and have gained a good name for themselves on many types of heavy vehicles.
Speedometers and various types of warning devices will, as in the past, be the principal products of the CooperStewart Engineering Co., Ltd., 4, Broad Street, London, W.C., during the forthcoming year. The most popular speedometer made by this company is undoubtedly Model No. 131, which is designed on the magnetic principle. It has a 3-in. dial, season hodameter reading up to 1,000 miles and repeating, and a trip recorder reading up to 100 miles. Other speedometer models which are made include the needle-type speedometer and an instrument specially designed for fit-, ting on to Ford vehicles.
A Recorder of Running Time.
New accessories which will be marketed by Rotherham and Sons, Ltd., of Coventry, for 1923 will inelude the Bonniksen time and speed meter, the Leakproof plunger-oil indicator, a self-charging grease gun, and an improved R. and S. grease gun. The plunger oil indicator is the same as the well-known Nos. 1 and 5 indicators, but instead of the plunger being operated by a leather bucket working in a cylinder, the company use a diaphragm of special material and multiply the movement of it by ineans of a lever, or levers, to give the necessary amount of travel to the indicating cap. Many other accessories and fittings well known in the commercial vehicle world will be offered to the public, including the Bowden electric petrometer, which is an instrument designed for the purpose of measuring and recording with mathematical accuracy the volume of liquid flowing through a
pipe.
Ball and roller bearings may not interest the user so much as the manuf acfuser, although the name of the Hoffmann Manufacturing Co., Ltd., of Chelmsford, is, without question, known to both. The company's bearings have long been used on commercial vehicles, in which service they have given considerable satisfaction. The aim of the company has been to produce a sound, weli-balanced bearing, which will net only conform to theeretical requirements but be efficient-and durable in actual service.
The Fordson Tractor as a Haulage Unit.
It has been repeatedly demonstrated that, apart from its usefulness as an agricultural tractor, the Fordson tractor can also be employed as an efficient and economical haulage unit, and in this matter the Muir Hill Service Equipment, Ltd., of Trafford Park, Manchester, have done much to popularize the tractor for road service. Equipped with rubbertyred wheels, the tractor provides a reliable and inexpensive short-distance haulage unit, and it is said that it will haul a normal load of 5-7 tons at an average speed of 8 m.p.h. The rubber-tyred Whitehead and Kalewheels used on the industrial Fordson tractor are supplied by the Muir Hill Service Equipment Co., and one use to which the tractor so equipped can he put is indicated in the illustration which we publish on this page, which shows a self-contained travelling crane and winch, which is capable of lifting weights up to 1,000 lb. The Hobson Manufacturing Co., Ltd.. 29, Vauxhall Bridge Read, London, S.W., have been engaged in the production of sparking plugs for many years, and they will, in the coming year, offer several new types of plugs with extra heavy central electrodes. The American thread types are unaltered, but there are additional types which will make their appearance with extra long reach. Types Nos. 324, 325 and 326 have been designed for hot, dry, high-compression engines, and Nos. 228 and 230 for engines which are more oily. A plug-testing novelty, shock absorbers, new types to suit va'rious springing systems, and greaser shackle-bolts will be included amongst other accessories to be marketed.
The new lines which will be marketed by Morris, Russisll and Co., Ltd., 68, Great Eastern Street, London, in 1923, comprise many devices worthy of note. These include the Carter oil gauge for Ford and\Clievrolet vehicles, the K.W. Sparkite coils and coil blades for Ford vehicles and Fordson tractors ; the Walden-Worcester wrench sets, which are supplied in special patterns for almost every American vehicle upon the British market; the Weaver valveless bucket pumps ; the Weaver alignment, indicators and various types of lamps. The Universal six-speed gearbox for the Ford ton truck should also be an attractive proposition to many users of these vehicles. The gearbox is fitted between the torque tube and the rear-axle housing, the gears being changed by means of a control rod extending forward to the gear lever, which is attached to the Ford transmission case.
To give details of the construction of Hans Renold chains, made by Hans Renold, Ltd., Mintage Works, Didsbury, Manchester, would be superfluous in view of the fact that they are used as standard for various forms of drive on many types of commercial vehicles. The company's chains to be manufactured in 1923 will not differ from those which have built up a reputation for the concern, lit spite of the fact that the research department of the company is continually experimenting and testing heavy rolled chains in a strenuous manner. A chain stamped with the name of " Renold " is a guarantee of reliable construction and sound workmanship.
Barimar and the Progress of Welding.
The art of watt:re haeobeen advanced considerably during the past few years, and for this progress much credit must be given to Baremare Ltd., 10, Poland Street, Oxford Street, London, W. 1, who have endeavoured to show users and Others that considerable sums of money can be saved by converting useless, broken or damaged parts into serviceable articles by scientific welding methods. The company lay claim to the fact that their experience in repairing and reconstructing engines and other parts of meter vehicles is unsurpassed by any concern in the industry, and, judging by the increasing amount of work which they undertake, substantiation is certainly to be found for this claim.
The Robiabood Engineering Works, Ltd., Putney Vale, London, S.W., will shortly be producing a sparking plug for the 19-23 market, which is to be strongly recommended to commercial vehicle users. Outwardly it is almost identical with the G-type plug, which is in USQ on
many commercial vehicle engines, but internally it has certain modifications and improvements, and the form of sparking point is different. Outstandingpoints which should be emphasized are that the plug body and gland nut which constitute the terminal portions of the plug are treated by a special process before
assembling, which renders them rustproof, and, moreover, overcomes the not infrequent trouble caused by the plug seizing in the cylinder or. the gland nut becoming innnovably fixed in the plug. The central electrode and insulation can be readily removed without the need for removing the plug body from the cylinder. Each ping is fitted with the well-known K.L.G. spring clip terminal, whereby the H.T. cable can be readily detached. This plug, which is sold at 6s, retail, is known as the J1 type, and, inasmuch as it is a K.L.G. product, it is sure to find a good market amongst commercial vehicle users.
Ford users who pay attention to their brakes willebe interested in the adjustable brake-shoes sold by R. Stephens and Sons, 63, Church Road, West Norwood, London, S.E. The shoes are suitable for the standard model or for the ton truck. They are of rolled T-section steel, the chief advantages being that they are light in weight, unbreakable, and possess just sufficient spring in operation to give a perfect contact. Cast-iron is still retained for the brake-shoes for Ford tormers. Beth types are lined with 3-16-in, thick wire and asbestos lining of good quality. A special feature of the Stephens shoes is the means at adjustment by a wedge-shaped block on which the brake-shoes pivot.
The Lavstall Motor Engineering Works, Ltd, Ewer Street, London, S.E., will in 1923 continue to specialize on cylinder regrinding, craekshaft and camshaft grinding,welding of ,cylinders, crankcases and other parts, whilst the Lawrence process for repairing scored cylinders will continue to be operated. We do not suggest that the foregoing entirely covers accessdries and the like to be marketed in 1923 for use on, or in connectionwith, commercial vehicles, but as the intentions of other makers and factors become known we shall deal editorially with the devices which they intend to sell.