A NEW COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLE CARRIER.
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The Latest Box Carrier Designed' to Carry Loads up to 6 cwt.
REA_LIZING that a considerable demandmand exists for a low-priced sidecarrier suitable for work by the small tradesman, the .Matador Engineering Co., of Deepdale, Preston, have introduced a new model, in which sturdiness of construction and simplicity of control have been embodied to the full. The machine is designed to be as .foolproof as possible, so that an inexperienced driver would have little difficulty in mastering the controls and would be practically unable to do any damage to the engine through his lack of mechanical knowledge.
The machine is practically a standard Matador, with touring handlebars and Brampton Biflex forks, the power unit being a Bradshaw oil-cooled engine, to ensure the proper lubrication of which it is simply necessary to refill the sump about once a week under ordinary local delivery conditions. The Burman gearbox has ratios of 6, 9 and 15 to 1, which enable the outfit to pull heavy loads without difficulty and to be lively in traffic, high road speeds naturally not being
required in a combination of this type. The engine equipment includes an Amae carburetter and an &LC. magneto.
The box carrier has a pointed nose and is 4 ft. 9 ins. in length, 15 ins, in width and 1.5 ins, in depth, while the Matador chassis which is used is capable of carrying loads up to 6 cwt. The mudguard is mounted on the body-bearer so that it is attached to the sprung portion, thus obviating any chance of shaking loose over rough roads, while the lid is pro
vided with two locks. Tools are carried in a large box on the seat pillar of the machine.
The standard Matador frame is particularly suitable for this type of work, since it is purposely designed& to be far stronger than is necessary for solo work, while large mudguards and leg shields make the machine suitable for delivery work in bad weather. A feature is the use of a two-level petrol tap, which precludes any possibility of the driver running short of petrol when on his rounds. Dunlop cord tyres of 16-in. by 3-in. dimensions are fitted to all three wheels. The foot-operated brakes—two in number—take effect on the driving wheel.
If required, an open truck body can be supplied at the same price, which, although not definitely fixed, will be somewhere in the neighbourhood of £75. We have ourselves seen an outfit of this type, which is used as a works hack and is fitted with a specially long body for conveying new machines to the railway
station. In spite of considerable tailwag set up by this body and the fact that it receives the minimum of attention, no trouble whatever has been experienced in over a year of continued use, and loads of over 6 cwt are frequently carried.
A special arrangement is being made whereby painting and lettering can be carried out at unusually low terms to suit the customer's own requirements, and the Matador commercial motorcycle should prove a very serviceable addition to the ranks of such vehicles; particularly since the oil-cooled Bradshaw engine will stand any amount of hard work without deleterious effects.