MAKING A SIX-WHEELER OF THE FORD.
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
An Attachment for Increasing the Scope of the Light Motor Vehicle.
A=HOUGH in the Main the tractortrailer combination has been marketed in order to increase the gross carrying cap.aeity of a vehicle, and to enable it to tackle transport work: which would hardly he capable of aceomplish
merit by vehicles of the. ordinary type, there is little doubt that Smaller vehicles built on the combination principle are of considerable value when light and, perhaps, bulky loads have to be carried. For this reason we think many of our readers will be interested in the somewhat unusual trailer attachment which Messrs. Martin and Co., 34, Cecil Road, Acton, London; W.3, have built to the order of Rubinson and Sons, Ltd., of Chesterfield, who are one of the largest manufacturers of cardboard boxes in the country. As our picture of ihe. complete vehicle shows, the trailer at-. taohment has been fitted to a Ford 1-ton chassis. The body of the Vehicle has been built on the company's patent integral principle, which obviates the
necessity. for using the normal chassis frame." One. advantage of this form of corniraction is that the body is absolutely rigid, and, therefore, 'free from lateral distortion when . one of the trailer' wheels is lifted to the extent of a foot or so from the ground: It. is claimed to give much greater rigidity to the structure.than when the conventional form of wood framing is used, and that the shape of the body will be better preL served than in the Case of a body built on orthodox lines.
The vehicle which we illustrate pessesses a useful publicity value in so far as the body design has been made to resemble a metal-edged cardboard box complete with lid. It forms a replica. of an ordinary box, being painted a cardboard shade and finished at the corners with sheet-aluminitim, cut. to resemble, the metal edging by which the sides of a cardboard box are joined. The two side panels of the body and the tailboard are painted to represent labels.
The 'combined body and chassis framing of the. trailer are constructed of lengths of mild steel anglo built to a box section and .suitably gusseted at the corners, wood fillets being inserted in the angleS in order to allow for the attachment of the mahogany panels which form the sides of the body.
The roof is constructed of tongued and grooved silver spruce, and it is protected by the usual weatherproof covering. 'Semi-concealed doors, which can readily be removed, are fitted at the front and of both sides of the body in, order to faeilitate loading and unloading operatiens. The front of the trailer portion is, of course, mounted on a turntable of -mere or less usual pattern. , .
The Ford 1-ton chassis with which the atta.ehment is used has been fitted with four-wheel .brakes, and the brake connections from the trailer portion are oeripled direct to the lever on the .Ford chassis by .which tha:,, are actuated, and thus the braking effect is applied to all six wheels simultaneously.
The body is of most capacious proper Lions, its dimensions being :-16 ft. long, 6 et. wide and 7 ft. high, and it enables a big load of boxes to be conveniently carried.