New H.S.G. 4-tonner on Suncole Demonstration
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R.S .A .C. Trial. Organized by Coal Distillation Concern, of Producer-gas Vehicle Built for Home Market, Opens with Successful Run from London to Edinburgh
A TRIAL of the new H.S.G. protAducer-gas 4-tonner, built by Gilfords (H.S.G.), Ltd., Park Royal, London, N.W.10, held under the observation of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, commenced on Monday last. The event has been organized by British Coal Distillation, Ltd., 48, Broadway, London, S.W.1, the maker of Suncole, on which fuel the machine is running.
It cornmenced with a journey from London to Edinburgh, the first stage of Ni*hich—to Morpeth—a distance of about 300 miles, was accomplished in 10/ hours running time at a consumption rate of 1.35 lb. per mite (gross weight, 7 tons 7/ cwt.). On Tuesday, Edinburgh was reached and on Wednesday demonstrations in the Scottish capital, Glasgow and other large towns Were given to many prominent members of the road-transport industry, etc:, who were generally keenly interested and much impressed by the performance of the machine. A second run over the same course was arranged for Thursday, the vehicle this time using Irish carbonized peat, a fuel prepared by the Suncole process. The proceedings in Scotland were opened by the Duke of Montrose, who is a director of the Sencole company.
Lip to the time of going to press, we understand that no trouble of any sort was experienced, and it is noteworthy that no de-clinkering was necessary during the first day's run. This is attributable to the high degree of suitability of Suncole fuel for use in the H.S.G. producer plant.
On June 19, last, we announced the introduction of this 4-tonner, and published a description, with a short performance report, of its forerunner, a 6-ton machine. Since then we have been on the road with the 4-ton lorry, and have formed a good opinion of its capabilities. We intend subjecting it, in the near future, to our standardized road test.
The model is to be produced for the
British market,-,and comes within the 30 m.p.h. limit, weighing, for registration purposes, when carrying a platform body, just under 24 tons. The power unit is the same as that of the 6-tonner, having six cylinders, measuring 44 ins. by 54 ins. (5.33 litres).
With a capacity for about 14 cwt. of Suncole, the producer can be started up from cold in a matter of 14-5 minutes according to the fuel.
Measuring 11 ft. 6 ins., in,respect of wheelbase, the vehicle has a body approximately 12 ft. long. The chassis price has been provisionally fixed at £650 and the fuel cost works out at about 16 pay-load ton-miles per penny. Taking the price as 0.214d. per lb., at the consumption rate quoted the cost per mile is 0.29d., as compared with 1.77d. for a 4-ton petrol vehicle, the figure given in The Commercial Motor Tables of Operating Costs. Thus, it appears that the H.S.G. can be run at about one-sixth of the fuel cost of a similar petrol vehicle.