Bean.
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TEHICLBS for a wide range of uses V are staged by the Makers of the Bean. All of them make use of the new Bean 20-25-cwt. chassis, and they include a lorry with hinged sides and tailboard, a standard panel van, a wellequipped ambulance, with double stretchers, suitable'for municipal needs, and, in the passenger-vehicle category, a 14-16-seater light omnibus with full .0equipment, including electric starter, and a 14-16-seater coach fitted with brakes on all wheels.
The Bean is of a capacity which is becoming very popular. It is built throughout by its originators and embodies excellent features of design. One desirable feature is that it has a four speed gearbox with right-hand change, particular care having been taken in the selection of the ratios, for whilst the top gear will give an excellent turn of speed the lowest gear, which is almost purely for emergency work, will permit the vehicle to negotiate the steepest hills with full load. The wheelbase is 10 ft. 6 ins, and the track 4 ft. 8 ins., and a generous ground clearance of 94 ins, is provided,
Visitors are able to study the points of the Chassis as well as those of of the complete vehicles, for a stripped chassis with four-wheel brakes is also on view. Special features include the mounting of the magneto on a separ ate bracket secured to the rear of the timing case above the dynamo, unit construction of engine, clutch and gearbox, and cardan-shaft drive to an axle of the vertical banjo type with spiral-bevel gears; long semi-elliptic springs at the rear give easy riding.
The whole design of the Bean chassis is simple and straightforward. The engine has its four cylinders cast in one -with the upper half of the , crankcase,
in which is carried the crankshaft by three bearings.. A triangulated silent chain is employed for driving the camshaft and dynamo, the shaft for this carrying a second wheel, from which another chain operates the fan and magneto.
Lubrication is by pump, the big-ends being supplied from a drilled crankshaft.
Five steel and Ferodo plates are used in the clutch, and by removing an inspection plate the withdrawal gear and spring-loaded clutch stop can be examined and adjusted. It will be recalled that, formerly, the steering ''°car included a fabric joint, but this hasi" now been discarded.
Ample strength is afforded by the frame, which is cross-braced by stout members, all but that at the extreme end, which is tubular, being of channel section. Springing is by half-elliptics all round, and the whole vehicle is especially designed to run on pneumatic tyres.
The complete vehicles on view display bodywork. of excellent quality. Of particular interest is the 14-16-seater coach, the equipment of which includes a three-panel front windscreen, folding hood and excellent sidescreens, consisting of celluloid panels in metal frames.
A. Harper, Sons, and Bean, Ltd., Dudley, Worcs.