A French Supplementary Brake for Ford Chassis.
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A N easily fitted and very efficient additional braking system for Ford vans was produced some years ago in Paris, under the name of M. Camous. The braking system made a strong appeal to French users of commercial Fords, and its popularity has increased to such an extent that Camous brakes are now to be seen on nearly every other Ford boxvan or 1-tonner one meets in France. The arrangement is simplicity itself. No alteration whatever is made to the existing Ford braking system, as the Citreous arrangement id designed with the object of giving additional braking power rather than to supersede the ordinary Ford brakes. External contracting bands lined with •Nafra are fitted round the drums of the ordinary internal-expanding rear brakes.
These bands have an exceedingly powerful wrapping action, but their effect is remarkably sweet and progressive. We made a trial of a 1-ton Ford chassis fitted, with these brakes, slid found that they fully sustained the claims made for them. They undoubtedly prevent skidding, and in this connection one has almost the impression of driving a vehicle fitted with fourwheel brakes. In the sprint-and-stop conditions of present-day Paris traffic they are certainly an immense advantage. In fitting the Camous brakes the transmission brake is released, so that
• it hardly comes into action until the pedal is fully depressed. This is an advantage, as relining the transmission brake on an old model Ford necessitates dismounting the gearcasing.
The Camous brakes are compensated by a very simple device. The elifr sup
porting the bearer of the two pulleys over which the brake-operating cable passes is allowed to slide backwards and forwards on the propeller-shaft casing itself, which is lubricated. This may sound a rough-and-ready arrangement, but in practice it has proved quite satisfartofy. In connection with an article which appeared in The Coin
mercial Motor on a 2,000-mile tour in mountainous country, made by Mt. Eldridge with an Overloaded Ford van, it should be mentioned, in fairness to the constructors, that Cantons brakes were fitted to the 1-ton Ford used. Mr. Eldridge has expressed his opinion that, without them, the mountainous portions of the journey in the Alps and Pyrenees would have been impossible in view of the very heavy, load carried by the van. A set of Camas brakes is sold in Paris at 500 francs, subject probably to increases due to exchange N,alnes: The address of the maker is M. Camons,.14-Bis, Rue Barbes, Levallois-Perret, Seine, France.,