Commercial Three-wheelers at Olympia.
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THE vehicles intended for commercial purposes which were exhibited at the Motor Cycle Show at Olympia during last week were, if taken as a whole, somewhat disappointing and rather indicated that the motorcycle trade is too busy filling the wants of those who require machines for pleasure uses to consider the construction of machines especially built for carrying goods.
Most of the models shown were what we have seen before, and merely consisted of cycle and sidecar chassis fitted with a box or an open Body for the carrying of milk churns and the like, in place of the usual side car.
We had hoped to see more of some of those vehicles that have been designed for use in all weathers and which afford more protection for both driver and mechanism. Only one machine of this class was shown, and, unfortunately, that was in an incomplete state, its makers not having been able to complete the machine in time for the Show.
The makers who exhibited various types of commercial models were as follow :-Dorway Sidecars, Ltd., who showed a commercial body interchangeable with touring bodies ; Enfield Cycle Co., Ltd., who had on view a trade outfit for carrying milk churns ; Martin and Campbell, Ltd., whose three-wheeled van we refer to at greater length below; Phelon and Moore, Ltd.; Rudge-Whitworth, Ltd., who displayed several commercial outfits ; Watsonian Folding Sidecar Co., Ltd., who had several of their well-known models on view.
The only outstanding departure in the Show was the three-wheeled van shown by Martin and Campbell, Ltd, of Western Avenue, Perivale, Lon don, 'W.13. This vehicle deviates very widely from usual models. The body resembles that of a small box van with doors at the rear, the dimensions of which are 4 ft. long, 3 ft. wide and 3 ft. high. It is fitted with a cab -for the driver, which should afford ample protection in wet weather. The engine, which was not in place when we inspected the vehicle, will drive the single front wheel, the rear wheels being only idlers. " The engine which will be fitted is of the air:coOled type, hay ing a flywheel that forms in itself a fan. The speed is controlled by a sealed governor, so that 12 miles per hour will be its maximum speed, and this is considered sufficient, seeing
that the van is mainly intended for local work, such as that done by horse. A load of 4 cwt. is considered its maximum.
There are several novel points in the construction of the machine, for there is practically no chassis, the rear springs being bolted to the all steel body. We are promised a demonstration of this interesting vehicle when completed.