A Ford Service Wagon.
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J. Blake and Co., of Liverpool, Inaugurate a Novel System of Service • Which is at the Disposal of Ford Owners.
Messrs. J. Blake and Co., of Liverpool, Manchester and Birkenhead, have just put into commission at their Liverpool branch for the benefit of Ford users in and around Liverpool a very useful form of service wagon.
This is mounted on an ordinary Ford chassis, fitted up with a special type of body having a standard two-seater front portion, with hood and screen complete. Behind the seats is fitted a flat platform with 18-in, straight sides. The running boards are fitted with long metal boxes capable of carrying a large quantity of material. The car is kept standing by, fitted up with every conceivable spare likely to be required in case of roadside accidents.
An example of the variety of articles and the thorough way in which this is done -may be given from the following list of items selected at random amongst those carried on the wagon. In order to lessen the possibility of loss or delay owing to parts being mislaid, a tabulated list is carried by the driver, showing the parts carried and naming their location in the tools and spares 'boxes.
Assortment of all kinds of small parts, for steering ; wheels, transmission, and engine generally. Various joints and packings. Complete set of bolts and nuts.
Ignition appliances.
Brake shoes, nuts, arms and parts.
Batteries and wiring.
Asbestos string.
Sparking plugs.
Connecting rods.
Lamp bulbs.
Valves.
Complete hubs.
Wheel cones.
Lengths of wiring made up. Cpmmutator.
Water jointing, hose and clips. Wheel.
Radiator.
Silencer.
Ford trembler coil complete.
Hub caps.
Plug wires.
Spring bolts and nuts.
Carburetter parts.
In addition to these a special equipment of tools is carried comprising piston ring squeezer, screwdrivers, etc., wheel puller, crowbar, bending irons, towing rope, tire repair outfit, including spare tubes and covers. There are also some special devices carried on the car for special purposes ; amongst them is an emergency rear hub fitted with spindle. In case of complete wheel breakdown, it is pOssible to tow the car by fitting the emer
gency hub on which would be mounted the spare wheel carried in the service-wagon. equipment. ' A towing bar specially constructed to take the front axle of a. Ford in case of complete smash-up of the front portion rendering the car undrivable, is also carried. In connection with this special hooks are fitted tothe side of the body to take the tow rope, with fitted ends for lashing the car up.
Another ingenious device is intended to connect the towed car to the service wagon in such a way that the towed' car is self-steering. This is accomplished by means of special clamps which are attached to the steering rod and front axle of the towed car, above each of which are stout vertical pins. Over these vertical pins is placed a towing bar, and when in position split pins are placed through the vertical portions of the clamps to prevent the towing bar being wrenched off. The forward bend of the towing bar is connedted to the service wagon chassis by means of a universal joint, so that if the service wagon, when towing a car, is turned to the right or left, the pivoting action of the towing bar automatically deflects the steering rod by means of the clip and vertical ping on the axle and steering rod.