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The Arrival of the
Page 92
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"NEW ERA"
MNOR the past few weeks much in
terest has been aroused in commercial-vehicle circles by the preliminary, anonymous announcements of the New Era chassis. We can now disclose that it is a product of Bean Cars, Ltd., Tipton, near Birmingham, and is a 20-25-ewt. machine, the chassis price of which is £198. The standard twoseater cab is of the totally enclosed type and costs £20 extra, whilst the drop-side lorry is ..priced at £235tand the van at £250; annual tax, £20.7"'" Dealing first with the chassis, the following are the leading dimensions:— Wheelbase, 10 ft.; track, 4 ft. 8 ins.; overall width of chassis (with wings), 5 ft. 9 ins.; overall length of chassis, 14 ft. 11 ins.; turning circle (approximately), 44 ft.; height of chassis from ground (laden), 2 ft. 01 in.; ground clearance, 83. ins.; weight of chassis (fully equipped), 22 cwt.; gross carrymg capacity, 33 cwt; rear of cab to end of frame, 6 ft. 41 ins. ; maximum overhang from centre of rear axle, 4 ft. 9 ins.; maximum length of body (behind cab), 8 ft. 61 ins. Three-point rubber-insulated mounting is used for the engine-gearbox unit. There are four cylinders, cast monobloc, incorporating the upper half of the crankcase. The cylinder head is detachable and the sump is in aluminium. The bore and stroke are 75 mm. and 130 mm. respectively, giving a pistonswept volume of 2,297 c.c., and the engine develops 40 b.h.p.
It is of the side-valve type and has a three-bearing crankshaft on which are H-section steel connecting rods, having white-metal big-end bearings ; they are coupled to aluminium-alloy pistons. A gear-type pump, submerged in the sump, feeds a pressure lubrication system, and ignition is by coil and distributor, with automatic control. The mixture is provided by a Solex carburetter, and a fan assists thermosiphonic cooling. A chromium-plated shell encases the gilled-tube radiator block.
A single dry-plate clutch takes the drive to the three-speed gearbox, which has a central change, and a take-off for the speedometer drive is provided. The overall ratios are :--First, 30.22 to 1 ; second, 13.13 to 1; whilst the final-drive ratio of the three-quarter floating, D30 spiral-bevel rear axle is 6.7 to 1. A four-pinion bevel differential is used. The propeller shaft is of the tubular type. Both axles are connected to the frame by semi-elliptic f springs. The front axle is of H section and the casing of the rear one is of banjo formation.
The Layout of the Chassis.
Internal-expanding brakes in 15-in, drums are used on the rear hubs. The pedal: and lever, which are to the driver's right, operate separate sets of shoes, and easy adjustments are arranged. The deep channel-section frame is braced by sturdy cross-members and the steering set is of the wormand-sector type with provision for adjustment. Chassis lubrication is by grease gun throughout. Behind the dash and mounted high up is an 8-gallon fuel tank, having gravity feed to the carburetter. Behind it is the facia board, carrying an oil gauge, ammeter, lighting switchboard
and ignition switch. A three-piece bonnet is used ; this has detachable sides and gives absolute weather protection for vital parts.
Standard equipment includes a 12volt five-lamp lighting set, spare wheel and tyre, driving mirror, speedometer, front wings, bonnet, running boards, number plates, etc. A starter costs £7 10s. extra.
When equipped with a standard lorry body the overall length is 16 ft. 3 ins., the width 5 ft. 11 ins., and the height 6 ft. 81 ins. Unladen, the vehicle weighs 1 ton 9 cwt.
Having a capacity of 170 cubic ft. is the standard van, which has a length of 15 ft. 10 ins., a width of 5 ft. 9 ins., and a height of 6 ft. 11 ins. Unladen the vehicle in complete form weighs 1 ton 91 cwt
Owing to the popular prices quoted and the reputation of its maker, the Bean New Era should soon be seen on the roads in this country and abroad in considerable numbers.