Four-wheel-drive Fordsons to be Marketed
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A 3-4-tonner, a Tractor and a Lightweight, with MarmonHerrington Equipment, to be Marketed by Dagenham Motors, Ltd.
THERE are at least two large fields 1 of road transport in which scope is afforded for machines driving through all wheels, but otherwise of orthodox type. The ordinary lorry which, in addition to working upon the road, frequently has to traverse soft ground • would often be at a big advantage if it employed the front, as well as the rear, wheels for traction, whilst the four-wheel-driven tractor, or tractive unit, of the articulated machine, need not leave the highway to benefit from this feature.
No better demonstration of the superiority of the all-wheel-drive fourwheeler could be sought than the W.D. Trials held in North Wales recently. Reports of these were contained in our issues dated October 21 and 28. The vehicles thus equipped evinced a mobility over rough moorland terrain that removes any possible shadow of doubt about the advantages.
It seems, therefore, that the system may well be applied to commercial operation. There are, of course, certain gains from all-wheel-drive that accrue at all times, notably diminished tyre wear, lower transmission stresses and better steering and road holding.
In accordance with this view, Dagenham Motors, Ltd., 374, Ealing Road, Alperton, Middlesex, is embarking upon the production and marketing of a range of Fordsons having MarmonHerrington two-axle drive, of similar type to the two machines of this make and with this equipment that achieved notable success in the trials referred to. We understand that they will sell t attractive prices.
The larger of the two will be offered as an all-wheel-drive four-wheeled 822
3-4-ton lorry, short-wheelbase tractor with a capacity of 14 tons, or tractive unit for use with semi-trailer. The smaller will he available in suitable form for lighter loads.
In building these chassis, the chief alterations made to standard Fordsons include the addition of a MarmonHerrington transfer gearbox, a live front axle incorporating steering gear, and a forward propeller shaft.
The Marmon-Herrington transfer box is bolted in position immediately behind the Fordson gearbox, and, in the case of the larger model, it affords two ratios.
On the front axle, the final drive and differential are well off-set from the centre, so that the bevel lines up with the coupling on the transfer box, the shaft running beside the crankcase on the near side. The steering arrangements are quite straightforward, spherical joints, in the casing, housing swivel-pin bearings and constant velocity wide-angle universal joints. Suspension is by four semi-elliptic springs designed to permit ample wheel articulation. In the main, standard Fordson parts are employed.
Dagenham Motors, Ltd., handles, at its Alperton Works, Fordsons and Fords, almost exclusively, but activities in the commercial-vehicle and private-car connections are confined to entirely separate departments. Calling at these works, recently, we had an opportunity of examining the facilities available for the production of the Marmon-Herrington-equipped vehicles, and were certainly impressed by the spaciousness of the premises and their up-to-date design.
Besides the new developments, the company's activities include reconditioning commercial vehicles. It also produces an " estate " vehicle whicn sells, with a reconditioned chassis as its basis, for £225, whilst a further activity is artistically finishing vans.