Practical Features in C-licence Vehicles
Page 47
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AN A.E.C. Mammoth Major for long-distance haulage and a Commer oil-engined van, weighing under 3 tons, for deliveries of provisions, are two vehicles recently supplied to local operators by R. S. Mead, Ltd., 34 Market Street, Maidenhead, Berks.
The A.B.C. has been purchased by Starch Products, Ltd., Langley, Slough, Bucks, manufacturers of Dextrine, adhesives and cereal binder for foundry work. They have a fleet of 18 A.E.C., Foden, Vulcan, Austin and Bedford vehicles and distribute their products in either 11-13-cwt. bags or 40-gallon drums to customers all over the country.
The fleet carries away 80 per cent. of the company's manufactures, representing 500 tons a week, and brings in 250-300 tons of raw material on return journeys. .
Experience with A.E.C. sixand eight-wheelers on long-distance work has been gained and these vehicles average over 9+ m.p.g. Engines of 9.6-litre capacity are fitted in these units. It was decided to specify 11.3-litre engines for two ntw deliveries, partly because it is intended to operate trailers.
The first of the two Mammoth Majdrs is now in service on the company's London-Manchester run, which is operated nightly by two vehicles. Drivers change over at Stonebridge and return to the point from which they started with the load destined for that city.
The vehicle is the first with lightalloy bodywork that the company have bought. The unladen weight is 7 tons 1 cwt. I qr. and 14+-ton payloads can be carried. The body was built by the Duramin Engineering Co., Ltd., Standard Road, London, N.W.10. A modification to this concern's standard design of cab was desired and the windscreen is 3 in. higher at the top to improve the driver's visibility.
A full load is about 8 ft. high from the platform and the driver has to stand on the roof of the cab to sheet it over. The roof is therefore reinforced. At the front is a full-width illuminated panel, behind which is the sheet rack. The body is 24 ft. 6 in. long and the headboard is 4 ft. high; :The floor is of Duralumin chequer plate. Clayton Dcwandre air-pressure brakes are fitted and an audible electric buzzer is provided in the cab, as well as the normal red semaphore arm to warn the driver of low pressure.
Mr. Frank Webb, transport manager of Starch Products, Ltd., considers that cab heaters are necessary for longdistance vehicles, and a Clayton Dewandre unit, with an accessory for demisting the off-side section of the windscreen, is installed, Michelin 10.00 x 20 I2-ply rayon lyres are fitted and on other heavy vehicles have given up to 45,000 miles service.
The Commer oiler has a box body built by Clement, Butler and Cross, .Ltd., Glenhurst Road, Brentford, and painted and lettered by R. S. Mead, Ltd. The operators are W.S.M. Wholesale Grocers, Ltd., King Street, Maidenhead, who deliver daily within a 30-mile radius.
Their activities are expanding and collections direct from London docks may soon be made. Because of the extension of lead mileage that this would entail, the company ordered a Superpoise 3-4-tonner with a Perkins P6 engine to supplement two Bedfords.
The body has an ash frame with lightalloy panelling and a floor of tonguedand-grooved timber. At the rear is a roller shutter and a tailboard which, when dropped, does not obscure the two large-diameter stop-tail lamps.
Another roller shutter is fitted at the front near side of the body. A Flettner ventilator is mounted on the roof and the interior is illuminated by two lamps. These are incorporated in the side-lamp circuit, so that they cannot be left on inadvertently when the van is garaged.
Interior dimensions of the body arc: Length 14 ft., height 6 ft. 6 in., and width 7 ft.