The A.E.C. Programmes for Olympia and 1926.
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ONE of the first chassis-manufacturing companies operating on. a large scale who have divulged their programmes for the coming year are the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Walthamstow, London, E.17, and several interesting deviations from the present programme are included in it. For instance, the old W.D.-type lorry will no longer be built, but is being replaced by a new design of 4-5-ton lorry chassis which will have units interchangeable with those on the new Grenville provincial bus chassis.
There will also be a new provincial bus chassis known as the Ramillies, which is an improved and simplified design of the 1925 model, the flitch plate frame construction being replaced by a frame of the pressed-steel type. The wheels will all be carried on taper roller bearings. The clutch has been redesigned, as has also been the brake-operating gear. A modification of considerable importance lies in the method of taking the torque ; the torque rod is being omitted and the rear springs will now be bolted direct to the axle casing, the banjo forging of which will be retained.
Another innovation is the chassis for the 6-ton lorry. In this, the driver's position is carried forward, otherwise the chassis is mainly a modification of the 4-5-ton model, but suitably strengthened. The complete programme is as follows:— Two-ton lorry: Engine 100 mm. by 140 mm., final drive by overhead worm, solid or pneumatic-tyre equipment.
Four-five-ton lorry: Engine 120 mm. by 150 mm., final drive by overhead worm. solid-tyre equipment.
Six-ton lorry: Same size engine as 4-5-ton chassis, -underneath worm drive, forward position for driver, solid-tyre equipment.
Renown, for 30-seater single-deck bus: Unladen weight 3 tons 13 cwt. ; engine 108 mm. by 140 mm., drive by overhead worm, driver's seat carried forward, designed for pneumatic tyres only.
Blenheim, for 26-seater bus or coach: Unladen weight, 3 tons 12 cwt.; same engine as Renown, overhead worm drive, C24 standard positionfor driver, pneumatic tyres only. It
should be noted that front-wheel brakes are optional on this chassis and the Renown.
Ramillies, for 50-seater covered or open-top double-deck bus for provincial work : Engine 120 mm. by 150 mm., underneath worm drive, forward position for driver, solid or pneu matic-tyreequipment. . Grenville, for 36-seater single-deck bus or large coach: Engine as in Ramillies, overhead worm drive, standard position for driver, solid or pneumatic-tyre equipment.
All the above chassis have inverted cone clutches and fourspeed-and-reverse gearboxes with case-hardened and ground gears.
Last on the programme is the NS chassis for 50-seater double-deck buses with one-step entrance. The engine is 108 mm. by 140 tam., clutch of the single-plate type, the gearbox has three speeds with silent chains, final drive being by underneath worm and internal gearing. The driver sits forward, and the tyre equipment is solid or pneumatic.
All the power units on these chassis have four cylinders.
So far as the exhibits at the Show are concerned, the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd.' Will themselves stage a 2-ton lorry for the transport of petrol in cans ; a Renown 30-seater bus with front-wheel brakes ; a 6-tonner with forward drive; and a 50-seater covered-top, double-deck, provincial bus. Other A.E.C. vehicles will be shown On coachbuilders' stands as follow :--
Strachan and Brown : Renown 30-seater bus of the frontentrance type. United Automobile Services, Ltd.: Renown 29-seater double-entrance bus. T. Harrington, Ltd.: Ramillies 36-seater, single-deck bus.
Short Bros., Ltd. : Ramillies 28-seater, single-deck bus with a special type of body having two doorways at the rear by which entrance or exit can be effected from either side of the vehicle. This is a new departure in body building, the future of which will be watched with interest