A NEW ONE-TONNER FOR THE BRITISH MARKET.
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Preliminary Details of a New American Chassis for Light Loads which will Make Its Appearance in This Country Early in the New Year.
THE ONE-TON vehicle is a popular size with British users. It adequately meets the needs of those who require a chassis of greater carrying capacity than the smallest types of commercial vans, and is also of considerable advantage to users of heavier machines who may occasionally have recourse to thc lighter units when the goods which have to be delivered cannot be remuneratively transported by their heavier machines. The one-tanner undoubtedly provides speedy transport at a fairly low running cost.
Hitherto, users in this country have been ahnost entirely dependent on oneton vehicles of foreign origin, and although certain British manufacturers are making bold endeavours to secure part of this market, at least, for the home-produced vehicle, it will be many years -before they are able to meet the entire demand.
It is ior this reason that reliance will still have to be placed on one-ton vehicles built overseas, and many users will, therefore, undoubtedly welcome the appearance of a. new one-tonner on the British market.
From details which we have in our possession, we are able to inform our readers that in the early part of the New Year a new one-tanner, known as the Mason, will he exploited in this country by Messrs. Durant Motors, 18, Grafton Street, London, W.C.1. We have secured early details of the new chassis, and the description which we are about to give will be elaborated when we have had an opportunity of inspecting the new chassis upon its arrival from America.
The new one-ton chassis has just made its appearance on the American market, and it is being developed by the Mason. Motor Truck Co., a subsidiary concern of Messrs. Durant Motors. It has been designed to meet the general requirements for a speedy vehicle which can be run at a moderate cost, and for which the maintenance is low.
The Mason one-tonner possesses a fourcylinder Hercules engine of 4 ins, bore and 5 ins, stroke, and it is rated at 35-40 h.p. The cylinders are cast en block, and have detachable head and an
aluminium sump. Lubrication of the power unit. is by pressure to the main bearings, and by splash to the interior moving parts, and an oil pressure gauge is fitted on the dashboard.
The cooling water is circulated by means of a pump, which is provided with a " through shaft for the generator drive. The cooling effect is aided by a cellular type radiator of large capacity, at the back of which is fitted an 18 in. fan. The fan spindle is mounted in a vertical slot in the fan bracket, and the belt tension can be readily adjusted by means of a screw with a check nut located on the top of the bracket in au accessible position. The engine drive is conveyed by a plate clutch with a light, driven member to a three-speed gearbox of Warner manufacture, which is mounted on the etch-frame. Between the box and the clutch there is a Spicer double universal joint. The gear ratios are as follow 1st, 3.53 ; 2nd, 1.74; third, direct drive; reverse 3.97. The change-speed lever is mounted on the lid of the box, and the vehicle is, therefore, arranged for central control.
A non-en'closed propeller shaft with two Spicer universal joints is used, and the final drive is by spiral-bevel gears, with a reduction ratio of 4,9 to 1, although a lower reduction gear of 5.5 to 1 can be supplied if the vehicle is intended to operate in hilly districts.The year axle is of the full-floating type, and the front axle is of the usual I-beam section.
Lubrication of the chassis bearings is partly by grease and partly by oil. The frar e members are of pressed steel, the side members being parallel throughout their lengths, and having a 5 9-16 in. by l in. by 3-16 in. section.
Half-elliptic.springs are fitted all round, the front springs being 38 ins. long and 2 ins. wide, and those at the rear 40 ins, long and 2i ins. wide. The driving thrust is taken by the rear springs.
In the model which is being sold in -America the drive is left-hand, but the chassis intended for export to this country will undoubtedly have a righthand drive. The wheels are of the wood type, fitted with demountable rims and 34-in. by 5-in, pneumatic tyres all round. Both sets of brakes act on the rear wheels, the drums being 14 ins, in diameter, and having a braking surface of 2i ins.
A complete electrical equipment is incorporated in the Mason chassis, for lighting, starting and ignition, the whole system being of Autolite make. A U.S.L. storage battery of 117 ampere hours' capacity is included in the equip. ment.
So far as the 'chassis which is being sold in the States is concerned, a number of body types will be standardized. The chassis with cab, but without body, weighs 3,320 lb. The cab, which is standardized for the Mason tanner, has sliding curtain doors with celluloid windows that can be quickly lowered or raised. The wheelbase of .the Mason chassis is 10 ft.. 10 ins, and the track 4 ft. 8 ins. It is being sold in America., according to our contemporary The Commercial Vehicle, for 1,200 dollars, and with the cab for 1,325 dollars.
The equipment of the new chassis is unusually complete, and embodies most of those fitments which are deemed useful.
The chassis itself may not possess any unusual or untried features, hut it cerfl tainly appears to be designed on well. proportioned lines.