COAL-GAS PROGRESS.
Page 17
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Recent Developments. Some Hints and Wrinkles.
A Novel Installation.
The ingenuity which is being displayed in the adaptation cif the flexible gas bag to the special requirements of a particular trade is worthy of comment. Such a manifestation' is "shown in the accompanying illustration, which externally conveys no sign of being propelled on coal-gas. The vehicle in question, a Ford, supplied by Messrs. Adams, Morris and Co., New Bedford Road, Luton, was fitted with a special body for the conveyance of hats. It is made throughout of canvas, and although axtrame lightness is thus obtained, there is ample strength and solidity for the character of work to be fulfilled.
Seeing that it was decided to fit a gas bag at the same time, the builders decided to make the body so as to enclose the container, and this has been neatly Achieved. The bag is carried on a light shelf which runs the full length. of the van within the body. Consequently, the container is not only protected from the ravages of the elements, but also from all chafing and rubbing fset up by rolling as a. result of the wind. Therefore, the bag should have a longer span of useful 'life than if it were carried in the usual way upon an exposed tray. The arrangement, as may be seen from the illustration, gives appreciable overhang, namely, five feet, while the body certainly seems a trifle large for this type of chassis. But experience has revealed no objection to the practice, even when driving in a high wind. The conversion, which was carried out by the above-mentioned firm to the order of Messrs. 'Stevens and Gee, has aroused considerable attention from its neatness and novelty, and we understand. that several orders for further vehiales, follow ing similar lines, are on hand. The van in question runs regularly between Lutoa and London, and is giving complete satisfaction. Certainly it constitutes 0110 of the neatest and most novel conversions we have seen.
Economic Advantages of CO2 Bottles.
There is one phase of the high compression system to which we think attention may he profitably drawn at this moment. We know many contemplative aonverters are hesitating to take the
plunge from motives of initial expense. The CO :i cylinders or bottles seem to be unduly costly. Cherishing the thought that gas is merely a. war-time substitute, and consequently of uncertain vogue, the position is gauged from the financial aspect purely and simply. "Shall I be able to recoup myself . upon the outlay!" That is the question. Certainly, much gas will need to be used to repay an outlay of £40 or more on bottles at £5 apiece. The contemplative user conjures visions of these cylinders being suddenly left on his hands to be cleared only at scrap metal prices. This is a fallacious line of reasoning. CO5 bottles offer decided economic advantages. Even after the war, supposing petrol regains its sway, they will still command a market, becaase they will be applicable to the storage of other gases—oxygen, hydrogen, carbonic-acid gas, and .so on, inasmuch as these gases will play a more prominent part in our manufactures and industries in the future than in the past. Some time is certain to pass before steel bottle pro. duction is attacked upon a big scale, and this interregnum will provide the opportunity to dispose of the cylinders.
To purchase them to-day would seem to us to be merely making awinvestment with this advantage—that instead of allowing_ them to be rusting they can be put to profitable account to keep your transport going.
Two-ton Lorry Equipment.
Despite the many obvious objections, the conversion of motor lorries to the flexible gas container proceeds apace, more notably, perhaps, in the north. We portray on this page an Austin twoton lorry 'which has been equipped in this manner. The gas bag tray is supported by light iron stanchions, carried to a sufficient height to ensure headroom in loading and unloading the vehicle. In this instance the equipment is rigid : that is to •say, the gas bag cannot be moved or tilted to afford a clear space for handling the freight by crane. The installation in question was carried out by Lciokers, Ltd., 17, Hardman 'Street, Manchester. mid presents a neat businesslike job.
Demonstration Van.
To emphasize to potential users, and 'to convince the hesitant, the possibilities of coal-gas as a motor fuel, Stanley lsrlotories, Ltd, of Halifax; have equipped the Ford demonstration van which we illustrate below. It is fitted with a Lyon-Spencer flexible container, for which the firm is local agent. The vehicle has proved successful in. its educative campaign.
Taking the Biscuit.
While we leave the award of biscuits for howlers inprint to a popular weekly, we are almost prompted to make an exception in the case of our contemporary, the "Mechanical World," for its newsy intimation that "a three-ton military motor lorry has been equipped for operation on coal-gas at a temperatitra of 1800 per sq. in."1,