A NEW TAXICAB FOR THE BRITISH MARKET.
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Details of the Cab Chassis Built by the Hayes Wheel Co., of Canada', Ltd., and Marketed in this Country by Messrs. Watson and Gilburt.
T'NE
W Hayes taxicab, which has been built either for London or provincial use, is the outcome of some 12 years running and manufacturing experience in this class of work. It is a component-built product, but includes well-tried units, and with its London-built body is guaranteed to meet the requirements of Scotland Yard.
Dealing first with the chassis, this is assembled by the Hayes Wheel Co., of Canada, Ltd., Ontario, and the vehicle is marketed in this country by Messrs. Watson and Gilburt, of Carlton Ranee, Lower Regent Street, London, S.W.1. The frame is strongly constructed and is of normal cab type, with chanifel-steel aide members inswept at the front, to provide a large steering lock, and upswept at the rear. It is provided with powerful cross-members and a sub-frame suspended from the main frame at six points. On this sub-frame is carried a four-cylindered Continental engine of the L-headed type, with a bore and stroke of 80 mm. and 112 mm. respectively, the head being detachable for decarbonizing, valve grinding, etc.
The crankshaft is mounted in three bearings, and the lubrication is by a gear-driven rotary pump drawing its supply from underneath a fine-gauze filter in the sump, a preesure gauge being installed in the dash.
The upper half of the crankcase is cast in one with the 'cylinders, whilst the lower half is a steel stamping. Silent 'chain drive is employed for the timieg wheels and carburation is attended to by an instrument of Zenith make, a separate butterfly choke valve in this affording a rich mixture for starting.
Accessibility is a strong feature of the American Bosch magneto, this being mounted high up on the off side of the engine cylinders and driven by spiral gears. The centrifugal water pump has an unusual form of drive consisting of a flexible rubber and canvas hose about 10 ins. long, fastened at one end by a bolt and clips to the spigot of a timing wheel, and at the other end in a similar manner to a spigot on the pump rotor. This drive is not only silent and flexible, but prevents risk of damage in the event of the pump being frozen up.
Cooling is assisted by a fan with four steel blades, spindle of which is carried in a slotted bracket affording a means of adjustment. The drive is by a Goodyear rubber and canvas belt.
A honeycomb radiator with a separate nickel-plated shell is employed. Efficient running is assisted by the provision of a hot-spot, this being effected by joining the exhaust and inlet manifolds. The exhaust pipe is carried round the back of the chassis and directed to the off side to meet police requirements.
A Ferodo-f aced single-plate clutch with coil compression springs and three toggle levers for declutching is used to transmit the drive through the clutch shaft, which has a balltype universal joint within the clutch and a flexible disctype jeint at the other end, to the gearbox. Incidentally, the clutch is totally enclosed.
Close behind the fabric joint on the clutch shaft and actually formed with the rear fork of this joint is the driving pulley for the American Bosch dynamo, which is somewhat unusually mounted at the near side of the gearbox, the mounting bolts being carried in slots to allow adjustment of the leather link belt.
the Three speeds forward and a reverse are provided, the gearoperating lever being mounted, together with the hand-brake lever, on the off-side frame member. A rather unusual feature of the .design is that the hand brake operates on a transmission drum immediately behind the gearbox, this brake being of the internal-expanding type.
The foot brake takes effect on 14-in, drums mounted on the rear wheels, a compensating means being provided, whilst adjustment is effected on the main operating rod by a right and left-handed threaded link_ and by screwed forks at the connections to the cam-operating levers.
From the gearbox the drive is conveyed through a cardan shaft with ball-type enclosed joints to spiral-bevel gearing in the rear axle, this having a ratio of 4.7 , to 1. The axle centre casing is split vertically and has tubes riveted into position. It is carried on long underslung springs.
The differential casing ie mounted on Hyatt spiral roller bearings, and external adjustment is provided for the meshing of the driving pinion.
Nickel-steel alloy is employed for the driving shafts, which are Carried in self-aligning roller bearings. A ratio of 11i. to 1 is afforded by the worm-and-sector type steering. The drop-arm spindle is mounted in a long bronze hush which is eccentric, and by adjusting this any backlash which develops can be taken up.
Ball joints are provided for the drag link, and fork joints to the drag rod, which is at the front of the axle. .
Adjustable steering stops prevent rubbing of the tyres. The front axle is of the reversed Elliott type and is of ample strength. -There is a tray under the engine and gearbox, and a second tray leading on to the road is mounted under the carburetter.
Wood wheels, with Hayes detachable rims secured by four nuts, are employed.
The bodies are built by well-known firms in the London area, and they can be painted to choice. They are of the three-quarter landanlet type with drop windows in the doors and narrower drop windows immediately behind the doors, the latter windows being of Triplex glass. Anti-rattle devices are provided for all windows. There are two interior lights in the roof, these being controlled both from inside and B42 outside the cab, whilst the main lamps are of a double-purpose 'type with two filaments, consuming three watts and 18 watts respectively.
• The floorboairds and the near-side of the driver's seat are covered with fluted aluminium, this material also being used to cover the large toolbox, which is mounted on the near-side running board and which helps to support any luggage carried there. • There is •a shallow scuttle dash with a Pyrene fire extinguisher mounted at the near side. Protection is afforded • to the driver by the usual glass lower screen and metal upper screen. The petrol supply is by G.G. vacuum tank mounted inside the bonnet. . • An interesting feature of the rear axle on this vehicle is , that the axle shafts can be withdrawn by removing the wheels and unscrewing an adjusting cup, these cups also control the position of the bevel wheel.
The chassis is guaranteed for 12 months and the price of 1425 for the complete vehicle includes dynamo lighting set and lamps, and an adequate tool-kit. If sold on the hirepurchaseo,system the price is £405.