Agrimotors in Evidence at the Smithfield Show
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NEARLY all the leading makes of tractor are represented at the Smithfield Show, now being held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London (admission 1s.)., which closes to-night at 8 p.m. There is also a number of interesting appliance and vehicle exhibits, among which the new . Miles cattle-carrying body, standardized by the Ford company, is not the least noteworthy.
The support given to the Show by implement makers, together with the entries received from exhibitors of stock, have combined to make the 1935 Show the biggest that has yet been staged. Added importance is lent to this fact when it is remembered that the first Smithfield Exhibition was held in 1799.
. A Wide Range of Tractors.
During a tour of the Royal Agricultural Hall we observed no fewer than 12 makes of tractor on view, including petrol, paraffin and oil-engined machines, whilst pneumatic tyres and steel wheels appeared to be running neck and neck in popularity, with crawler tracks a close third, Of motor vehicles expressly built for the agriculturist, Fords and Fordsons are the sole representatives; some halfdozen makers are exhibiting industrial power units from hi h.p. upwards (..'imanco, Bamford, Blackstone, Lister, Petter, etc.), and there is a handful of manufacturers showing machinery of interest to our readers that may be classified miscellaneous.
A big array of tractors is the leading feature of the exhibit of the International Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd., the largest machine being a 40 h.p. compression-ignition steel-wheeled tractor, which starts on petrol and then automatically changes over -on to the heavier fuel. There is a -similarly shod 30 hp. paraffin machine and one of 10-20 h.p. with low-pressure pneumatic tyres. The track-laying type is represented by a 20 h.p. model with paraffin engine (a 40 h.p. oiler is also made), whilst there are on view Fannall row-crop wheeled tractors of 12 h.p. and 20 h.p.
On the stand of Associated Manufacturers Co., Ltd., among a range of Case tractors are two new models—a 22 h.p. four-cylinder three-wheeled row-crop machine and a 30 h.p. tractor built for hop-field and orchard work. A feature of the former is that the rear wheels are adjustable for track, dimensions from 42 ins. to 84, ins, being available. This and the 30 h.p. model have differential brakes for quick turning. Certain tractors in the existing range are shown with pneumatics for the first time.
An interesting feature of the Cletrac crawler tractor, shown by Blaw-Knox, Ltd., is the method of steering. This is done by brakes acting on epicyclicgear drums, which thus vary at the will of the driver the relative speeds of the off-side and near-side wheels. " Oneshot " lubricating for the track gear is a noteworthy point, also the use of pump lubrication for the transmission.
The • Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Co. is displaying its WC mOdel of 12-20 h.p. which has the front wheels close together, so that the machine has in this respect many of the characteristics of a three-wheeler.
A Dunlop-pneumatic-tyred 12-20 h.p. machine and a 25-40 h.p. steel-wheeled tractor, both running on paraffin, are examples of the products of MasseyHarris, Ltd.
Land-utility, agricultural and industrial tractors are exhibited by the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., which concern also shows a 5-cwt. va,n equipped and finished for butcher's service, and a 2-tonner incorporating the Miles cattlecarrying body, referred to earlier. A prominent 'feature of this body is the patent ramp, which gives an easy unbroken slope to the floor level without being unduly long, and is practically effortless to operate. The complete vehicle weighs under 2-i tons,
John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., is showing three of its latest, tractors, claimed to be the only all-British, oilengined, crawler-type multi-cylinder machines made in a comprehensive range. There are tractors of 20
30 h.p., 40 h.p. and 70 h.p. available.
A Small Track-layer.
Of special interest as being the smallest crawler-type machine built; in this
country, the Bristol with jowett 10 h.p. engine should not be missed. The power unit is expressly built for the purpose by Jowett Cars, Ltd., which concern is now handling this tractor. It has rubber-jointed track.
John Wallace and Sons, Ltd., has on view an Oliver Hart Parr 18-28 h.p. wheeled tractor. -A feature is the cooling system, the water pump circulating water against the natural thermosiphon direction. This is claimed to minimize oil dilution.
A new 12-20 h.p. one-cylindered machine is shown by the Lanz Tractor Co., Ltd. This has Dunlop tyres.
A Caterpillar 22 h.p. wide-gauge tractor and a row-crop machine of the same make, both with paraffin engines, are exhibited by H. Leverton and Co.
Among light two-wheeled cultivators the exhibits of British Holder Tractor, Ltd., and Stanbay, Ltd., Merit attention, aS does a tralter-type Motor scythe shown by A. C. Barnlett, Ltd. Special tractor ,wheels with ,commendable leatureS are displayed bY S. C. Darby (Wickford), Ltd., and Miller Wheels, Ltd., the latter also showing an interesting conversion set by which any suitable four-wheeled Vehicle can he converted for service as a tractor,