At the Smithfield Show.
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The visit of his Majesty the King, to the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, on Monday afternoon last, once more gave the annual show of the Smithfield Club a good send-off. It was to be noted that, whilst the King gave his first attention to the stock exhibits, he was by no means unmindful of the examples of mechanical power which are staged in the several Halls and the Gallery.
We have nothing to state about the traction engines, heavy rollers, big threshing sets, or any engines and implements which do not fall within the Motor Car Acts, i.e., which have not an unladen weight of less than five tons, except that they are a representative lot. There have to be noted, in our own branches of interest : agricultural motors ; steam tractors ; a single steam wagon—Mann's tipping-cart; and engineers' stores. This report, we may add, should be read in conjunction with the apposite portions of our "Overseas " section.
Agricultural Motors.
The IVEL CO., on Stand No. 244 in the Gallery, has in place one of its 18 h.p.-20 h.p. motors. It is fitted with a paraffin vaporizer, and the steering wheel has a steering-band of rubber. Amongst a collection of recent testimonials from buyers, Mr. A. Hoffmann, the manager, has just received one from Mr. Harry C. Nash, of Langthoens, Little Canfield, Dunmow, Essex. It is brief, but to the point, and reads: "The Ivel is doing good work and more than comes up to my expectations." The price is 2300 F.O.B. Biggleswade.
MARSHALL'S, of Gainsborough, have their stout and well-designed two-cylinder engine in position, on Stand No. 12. It has been constructed with a view to varied use, and it promises well to fulfil the ideas of those who are responsible for its production. It is a four-wheeler, spring mounted on both axles, and the engine gives 30 b.h.p. Ordinary paraffin is the fuel, and it, can haul as much as 10 tons, on average roads, at 4 m.p.h. The opinion of the judges of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, on a
recent occasion, was thus tersely expressed: " . . a very suitable
machine, and more on the lines that an agricultural motor for this purpose should be than the generality of oil motors now manufactured."
The SAUNDERSON CO., of Elatow, near Bedford, includes on its stand (No. 4) two of the popular " Universal " models. The smaller of these, with 6 h.p.-8 h.p. engine, is now a fourwheeler, with wheel steering in place of the earlier tiller ; its gearbox provides three forward speeds and one reverse speed. The frame is arranged for the direct attachment of a single-furrow plough or the use of a small carrying platform. This improved model will be packed and put F.O.B. any English port at a total cost of £100. The larger model is also a four-wheeler, with two-wheel drive, and is designed for heavy work on the land, on the road, or in driving farm machinery. Either petrol or paraffin can be used as fuel.
Steam Tractors.
The characteristics of the modern steam-horse, or miniature traction engine, are well known to our readers. The leading exponents of this type are supporters of the Show which is now in progress, and not a few minor improvements are to be noted. These principally concern the provision for ready access to valves, water-spaces round the fire-boxes, feed-water fittings, and cylinder lubrication. A newcomer, in this branch, is the old house of J. and H. MacLaren.
AVELING AND PORTER, LTD. (Stand No. 2) has a fine compoundengined specimen of the Rochester works' highclass manufacture, and one cannot look at this machine without being impressed by its workmanlike build. The working pressure of the boiler is 200 lb. on the sq. in., and the tractor, complete with winding-drum and cable, supplementary water tank, lamps, and outfit of tools, is listed at 2500. Roller parts in cast steel can be added for £150, and the conversion is readily made.
From the I3URRELL Works, and in a good position on Stand No. 29, one finds a two-speed tractor, with compound engine, and upon it a record of the goldmedal award which this maker gained in the heavy-motor trials of 1907. CLAN TON AND sHurtuwoRnr, LTD., of Lincoln, on Stand No. 27, shows its compound model, and, in the design of this, every care has been taken to study the reasonable comfort of the driver.
Tucked away in the corner of Stand No. 26, as part of the exhibit of JOHN FOWLER AND CO. (LEEDS), LTD., is one of that make of compound-engined tractor, and we, observe that the manufacturers make a point of the fact that they guarantee the unladen weight to fall well within the requirements of the 1904 Order. The collective exhibit of this maker is very fine.
GARRETT, of Leiston, also sends a compound model. The machine is tested to haul eight tons gross up a gradient of 1 in 10.
J. AND H. MaeLAREN, LTD., of the Midland Engine Works, Leeds, presents to the public gaze, for the first time, on Stand Na. 25, a compound tractor which follows, on a reduced scale, the design of its well-known traction engines. It is of the four-shaft type. Its distinguishing features are: the large front wheels. whose diameter is just in excess of 3.1. feet; and the method of attaching the fore-carriage casting to the boiler shell. We illustrate the last-named feature on the next page.
Apart from this rather-suggestive special arrangement of the front springing, which is designed to prevent rocking and to allow the play of the springs to take place at all times in the vertical plane, it may be noted that every shaft can be taken out, without the drawing of a key, and that the engine is geared down on both sides as on the MacLarers heavy road engine. One of these tractors has been in service' in Sheffield, foe 12 months' without the disclosure of any weak point; the engine gives 25 b.h.p. An interesting point, too, in connection with the brake ring, is that this is divided into 24 pieces, and it may be added that the stropes on the driving wheels are unusually close to one another, owing to the small angle of obliquity at which they are fixed.
From the Orwell Works, at Ipswich, RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES, LTD., is included, on Stand No. 5, amongst a wide range of up-to-date machines, its latest product in the haulage section. This is essentially a one-man engine, and we have had opportunities to test both its efficiency aud general performance. There is ample area in the grate, and good surface in the boiler, whilst the engine embodies this well-known maker's latest improveManta hi valves, etc.
A " Little Samson " tractor comes from the works of SAVAGE BROS., LTD., at _King's Lynn. it has twinsection wooden treads to the driving wheels, and may be seen on Stand No. 23.
W. TASKER AND SONS, LTD., of Andover, has a typical " Little Giant on Stand No. 73. It has been designed expressly as a haulage engine for use on farms and estates. There is no departure from accepted practice, except in regard to the patented _Hoare suspension, to which we would draw the attention of visitors. It is one of two motor exhibits in the Gilbey Hall.
WALLIS AND STEEVEYS, LTD., of Basingstoke, is represented, as usual, by a tractor having an enclosed compound engine. A larger boiler is now fitted ; it has 76 Sq. ft. of heating surface. Inside the smoke-box, we noticed a special form of silencing casting, and that the baffle is not, fitted. The side water-tanks allow a large angle of lock, and hold 160 gallons. This engine is on Stand No. 19.
The Steam Cart.
The MANN steam carts on Stand Na. 109, appeals to us as a combination type which should serve a great number of uses. Its parts are so disposed that it can be manceuvred in a remarkablysmall area, whilst its extreme atiffness
of construction renders it proof against the usual consequences of bard usage over rough mid irregular ground. It has shown itself it be an economical steamer, and that its locomotive-type boiler is one of the best on the market. Apart, too, from its scope in rough cartingwork, it is So arranged that the enginepower is available for the use of power externally, in which respect, of course, it ranks equally with the tractors. It is a type of its own, and it has survived the test of long years of employment upon some of the most-severe classes of service to which any motor vehicle can he subjected. The vehicle. on view has been sold to Taylor's Illotnr Haulage Co., Ltd.. of Wharf Road, Penzance, and is chiefly intended for agricultural cartage, either with or without a trailer. It. has a governed engine.
No Motor Roller.
Messrs. BARFORD AND PERKINS, of Queen Street iron Works, Peterborough, whose water-ballast rollers are selling very freely, show, on Stand No. 206 in the Gallery, a selection of their vertical engines, food-cutting apparatus, corn and cake mills, hay presses, etc., but they have not, owing to pressure of demand for delivery, been able to send one of their specialities.
Stores and Sundries.
The best supplier of the hundred and one " odd things '' for wagons or tractors finds a Show home in the Gilbey Hall -We refer to W. H. WILLCOX AND CO., LTD., of 23, Southwark Street, London, S.E. We have, many times, called this company the " Uni versa! Provider " to commercial motoring, end that comprehensive description is merited. A good rule for owners might well be: " When in doubt where to our, send a wire to Willcox." The tvillecix-Jones wire-bound hose, which is so much better, Cheaper and more durable than any rubner hose, catches the eye first, and one is reminded that it will not kink or collapse; then there is the Penberthy high-pressure injector, but that, primarily., interests manufac turers ; Willcox Jointite," as a packing, is going as strongly as ever, we learn; and, in order to stop somewhere, it may be added that the tested and specially-refined oils and greases, for either steam or internal-combustion engines, are here supplied by a man who knows what is wanted.
Special attention, however, must be directed to the " Scientific " mechanical lubricator (A. Kirkham's patent), of which we are obliged to hold over illustrations. The delivery of the oil, which rises in globulds along a vertical wire through a water column, synchronizes with the opening of the inlet valves in gas engines, and with the opening of the steam valve in steam engines. It may be fixed to supply oil to any number of cylinders at different pressures, thus reclueing the number of lubricators required, and it appears to us to be a lubricator of the highest interest and value to both makers and users.
Visitors should not. fail to have a look at the stand (No. 50), in the Gilbey Hall, of the North British Rubber Co., Ltd.. where a variety of rubber gouds, and light tires, both solid and pneumatic, will be found.