FIRE ENGINES, ROAD ROLLERS, ETC. A MONGST the fire-engines, road rollers
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and accessories are some of the most interesting exhibits to be seen in the Show. As regards the fire-fighting appliances, the largest display is naturally made by Merryweather and Sons, Ltd., who deal with the fire arrangements for the Show, whilst both they and Dennis Bros., Ltd., show trailer type miniature pumps. A feature of the road rollers is the number of tandem machines.
Rollers.
There are two steam rollers on the stand of Aveling and Porter, Ltd. (No. 120). They are of the usual type, one being a special machine of particular interest. The latter is known as a tandem type, having two plain cylindrical rollers arranged in tandem. Between them the frame is dropped considerably, to accommodate on a low level the vertical boiler and horizontal compound engine with gearing. On Stand No. 219 four motor rollers are shown by Barford and Perkins, Ltd. The heaviest of these is the 10-12-ton J type tandem roller. The chief modification in this is the grooved hind cylinder, which permits of a greater grip on the camber of the road. The heaviest model can be used with the Thackray four-tine scarifier.
John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., have again been fortunate in securing their old familiar position, which they have occupied now for many years in Royal Show grounds, the stand being numbered 121. Their exhibit is evenly divided in interest as between farming and road-making.
There is one 10-ton road roller fitted with renewable rings and spring scrapers on the driving rollers. It is. equipped with a scarifier, as well as the usual steam engine fittings, such as pump and injector.
One of Ruston and Hornsby's steam rollers is shown on Stand No. 210, together with a 9-ton quick-reverse roller. An exhibit on Stand No. 220 by J. and H. 'McLaren is a 10-ton steam road roller with compound engine designed and built on similar lines to the traction engine.
The Small Fire-engine.
The exhibit of chief interest to our readers which is shown on the tand of Dennis Bros., Ltd. (No. 289), is a trailer or hand-drawn patent fire-engine. This is a self-contained unit, which, although it supplies between 200 gallons and 250 gallons per minute, weighs only 10 cwt. to 12 cwt., and is remarkably compact. It is mounted on 895. mm. by 135 mm.
Michelin pneumatic tyres on Michelin steel disc wheels, and is well sprung by long half-elliptics, and can thus be drawn rip and connected behind a motor vehicle without risk or damage. The pump is a multi-stage turbine type constructed in gunmetal and driven by a four-cylindared engine. Na show report would he complete without reference to the arrangements which have been made for the prevention of fire, and, as is usual at the Royal Show, Merryweather and Sons, Ltd., have been entrusted with this important service.
The fire station is Stand No. 424, and, in addition to the first-aid apparatui, there is an entirely new model of the well-known Hatfield type petrol fireengine fitted with a pump capable of delivering 400 gallons per minute and .-N.ith a 50 b.h.p. motor. Another machine which will attract considerable attention is the new trailer fire pump for towing behind an ordinary motorcar or fire-engine.
Pneumatics for Agrimotors.
Exigencies of space prevent our dealing at very great length with the accessories and equipment displayed at the Royal Show, and we propose, if necessary, to return to this matter in a subsequent issue.
One of the most important exhibits in this particular group is the pneumatic tractor tyre shown by the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd. (Stand No. 261), specially designed for Fordson and sffnilar trac tors. The tyre is 50 ins, overall and 6 ins, in section, and it is shown fitted to a spoked type wheel of 42-in. diameter. The tyre is held in position on the wheel rim by means of one fixed flange and one removable flange, the latter being loosened or tightened by means of a right and left-handed screw. 'This is the first pneumatic tyre ever produced for employment on an agrimotor, and it has been developed with the idea of securing road-gripping qualities and the maximum resilience.
The Dunlop Cc. have also produced a complete brake equipment for attachment to the Fordson tractor, the wheels being equipped with brake drums for the purpose. The parts are composed largely of Ford 1-ton standard parts.