COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AT THE BRUSSELS SHOW.
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Fine Coachwork Displayed on Every Hand. Attention in Belgium to the Needs of Overseas Markets.
T El prodigious development of
nEdus
trial-vehicle business in Belglum is exemplified in the commercial section of the 22nd Salon de Bruxelles which closes to-morrow (Wednesday). Only about four years ago this part of the Belgian show was confined to the exhibition of half a dozen lorries and a few vans and passenger vehicles with coachwork of a pre-war type. An immense advance was noticed in 1927; yet, since then, progress appears to have been even more rapid.
So great was the demand for stand space this year that the organizing committee was unable to allot even half the amount applied for in the " poids lourd " section. We understand that, as a result, in 1929 two separate shows will be held, as in London or Paris.
One of the most striking features of the present exhibition is the all-round advance in coachwork. Some of the most famous Belgian coachbuilders having recently taken up the commercial side of the industry, an impetus has been given to the movement and many of the industrial bodies shown can challenge the products of any other country in the world.
Coming so soon after the usual autumn series of European shows, novelties in chassis design are hardly to be expected at the Brussels Salon. For all that, the show is one of very considerable interest. The Belgian heavy vehicle industry is a comparatively small one, as it is of recent growth. Already, however, Belgian makers are more than able to hold their own and, in particular, to cope with any American "invasion."
There is a marked contrast here between the commercial section of the show and the touring-car part, for, in the latter, no fewer than 26 American makes are exhibited ; a number equal to that of the French exhibitors ; but in the industrial section only fivp American makes are to be seen.
I:Ugh-clearance colonial chassis are much in evidence, as the Belgian colonial market e28 is an important one and Belgian makers are rapidly waking up to the transport needs of their African possesSious.
In body design, it was noticed that rear emergency doors are now very general in closed coaches. At the same time the clerestory roof appears to find no time, at all; not a single example Is to be Seen amongst the many fine coaches alit] omnibuses exhibited.
Roof ventilators of a rather unsightly design are fitted in many cases. A point noted wasthe universal adoption of journey-recording instruments. Nearly every vehicle in the show appears to have some appliance of this kind fitted. The two makes 'adopted in Belgium are the COntrollograph and an appliance called the F.E.L., made by the Societe des Fournitures et Etudes Industrielles.
Amongst Belgian exhibitors, Bovy strike a new note this year with a big electric chassis of rather unusual design. The motor is mounted with its axis in a longitudinal direction and placed towards the forward end of the frame, transmission being by ordinary open propeller shaft to a bevel-driven rear axle. The battery boxes, suspended on cantilevers, are carried on the exterior of the frame side members and the rheostat is placed transversely across the frame beneath the driver's seat. Another interesting BONT exhibit is a 2i-ton lorry chassis fitted with the A.C.S. charcoal-fuel gas-producer, an. appliance which appears to be the-most compact of its kind which we have yet seen.
Gas machines, incidentally, are much in evidence at Brussels, for the Belgian colonial market, as we have said, is an important one.
Messrs. Pipe exhibit their huge gasdriven tractor for work in the Belgian Congo territory. The machine is ereliibited this year in complete form, with special body for the Kilomoto Mining Co., who have already several. of these powerful tractors in service, hauling 20-ton loads over difficult roads. The arrangement of the gas generator has been somewhat modified in the latest form of this machine. The whole of the apparatus is mounted at the rear end of the chassis, generator and purl fler being placed on each side of a very large fuel container. To allow easy removal of the gas filter for cleaning purposes a small hoist on a telescopic steel mast is arranged at the side of the scrubber.
A covered cab is provided for the generator attendant at the rear and when the hoist is' to be used a section of the Cab roof can be -pushed up on steel rodsto allow the raising of the crane. The forward driving cab. is entirely enclosed and comfortably fitted to accommodate three men, four being the normal crew of the tractor.
The six-cylinder engine has a bore 'of 120 mm. and stroke of 100 mm. Cylinders are cast in pairs and overhead valves are operated from a single camshaft. Splash as well as pressure lubrication is provided, so that, even in the event of a breakdown in the pressure system, cylinder walls, big-ends and bearings will still receive a supply of oil.
A novelty in the Pipe apparatus this year is the fitting of a geared-down starting handle. Compressed air is used normally for starting purposes. The gearbox provides five forward speeds and a reverse, the speeds being operated by three separate selectors from an ordinary type of gate. The rear axle incorporates a triple-reduction gear with exceptionally wide-toothed pinions and a bevel final drive.
From the lower part of the reductiongear casing two radius rods extend upwards to the ends of a substantial compensating yoke, the latter being mounted in bearings between arched cross-members of the frame. A feature of the body, which is built in teak, is the tool cabinet, with its remarkably complete equipment devised for a country where drivers must look after themselves, as they will get no assistance-on the road.
A feature of the successful Pipe gas generator, which uses charcoal fuel, is the arrangement whereby water vapour is provided to mingle with the gas. This is an appliance very much like a petrol carburetter with float feed. Tlxtremely fine jets of water are directed into the hottest part of the furnace.
These big tractors are said to be rendering excellent service. The engine develops from 80 h.p. to 100 li.p. on gas, and only the smallest quantity of petrol is carried for starting purposes, a tank containing about half a gallon being attached to the dash.
In addition to the tractor, Pipe exhibit a standard 4-ton gas-driven lorry, a 3-ton lorry; also -gas propelled, andtwo standard petrol lorries:. Notable on the gas-driven colonial model is the enormous oil radiator fitted. This covers all the front of the water radiator. Oil circulating pipes over in. in diameter , carry the oil from pump to radiator and Wters. High ground clearance suiting the vehicles for colonial roads may also be noted.
Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., exhibit at Brussels for the first time, and the Morris six-wheeler attracts particular interest. It may be noted in passing that on the opening day of the Salon one of these vehicles passed a series of exceedingly severe tests before officials of the Belgian War Department' in the Poret. de Svignes, near Brussels. Types exhibited include the 24-ton" TX model and the 25-cwt. chassis ,fitted with various bodywork.
Bussing exhibit their famous sixwheeler omnibus chassis with separate propeller shaft to each rear axle. This chassis, which has been fully dealt with in. The Commercial Motor, created a sensation in Brussels, where it was seen for the first time. • For demonstration purposes 44-seater Bussing omnibus is bring kept in service between the city and the Palais du Cinquintenaire during the period of the show. This bas is on its way to Seville, in which city it is to be delivered by ,road for the SevilleLisbon service employing 15 Bussing N.ebieles. Dc Dion-Bouton show a long. chassis 5-tonner, a 1-ton chassis and a small trailer fire pump.
The six-cylinder Dasse chassis for passenger work is shown in an improved form this year. The engine is an 82 mm. by 115 mm. monobloc, with push-rodoperated overhead valves. A new form of double-reduction , gear has been employed, the gear being carried on a central crossmember of the frame. Transmission is by open propeller shafts with Hardy joints, and the reduction gear comprises two straight pinions, the rear shaft transmitting the drive to the axle being at a lower level than the forward shaft. An advantage of this arrangement is that the gear ratio can be quickly and easily changed to suit the particular work to which the chassis may be put at any time.
A bevel-driven axle has been adopted on this model, but the worm-drive pottype of axle is retained in the colonial four-cylinder model Dasse. Big transmission brakes and Dewandre vacuum servo operation of four-wheel brakin,, are features of this model, which has 11 100-mm. by 125-mm. engine. Berliet showed their big chain-driven six-wheeler with a special body for brewery work, also a range of standard Berliet models. Latils had a fine
display of all types, including their high-clearance colonial model and the low-loadline f.w.d. chassis for passenger
work.
Rochet-Schneider exhibit a very smart 16-seater closed coach with body by Faurax et Chaussende, of Lyons, and a fire-engine (a Deauville pump 120,000 litres per hour), the latter being one of the very few municipal vehicles in the Salon.
The most striking exhibit on the Minerva stand is a magnificent 30seater bus for the Turnhout-OostmaleAntwerp service, embodying quite a remarkable degree of comfort for a public passenger vehicle, and finished like a high-grade touring car body. This body is by Gustave Maes et rile, of Antwerp. Another Minerva chassis is fitted with a 14-seater hotel omnibus body of the " drawing-room " Pullman type, with luxurious ermchair seats. The finish of this body, both interior and exterior..is an example of the excellent taste displayed by Belgian carriage builders at the present time.
Miesse have a big display of seven vehicles, including their six-wheeler chassis for passenger work. A beautiful 28-seater coach with rolling roof and most luxurious internal fittings is a feature of this stand. The interior decoration of this coach is equal to that of many high-grade touring bodies. Artistic lighting is obtained by lamps let into
the upper part of the body walls, the latter being covered with leather, which has been given a stipple effect in dull green, blue and gold. This body, which is by jonchliere, is a good example of the fine work being turned out by wellknown Belgian carriage builders now that they have turned their attention to the industrial vehicle.
Another Miesse exhibit is a 36-seater omnibus, with front and rear entrances, mounted on the Miesse overtype chassis, very capacious racks for light luggage being notable in this body. The Miesse wrapping-shoe brake is shown in detail. This is a single-shoe brake in which a crank and connecting rod take the place of the usual cam operation. Links from the end of the connecting rod force the ends of the expanding band or shoe apart, whilst stops attached to the shoe, coming in contact with other stops bolted to the brake flange distribute the pressure as the wrapping action takes place. It will be seen that the brake functions equally well in either direction.
Bernard, of Paris, show their lowlevel six-cylinder chassis for passenger work and a 24-seater coach for Kellyways, with an elaborately fitted body having lavatory accommodation at the rear.
Berliet show a big range of standard models and an example of their
10-12-ton chain-driven six-wheeler arranged for brewery work. This chassis has a 110 mm. by 140 mm. fourcylinder engine with side-by-side valves.
Lancia have a very, curious exhibit this year in the form of a pigeon omnibus mounted on their Omicron long, low load-line chassis. The industry or sport ( ?) of pigeon flying has been developed to an incredible degree in Belgium and Holland during the past fewdecades ; hence the pigeon omnibus, which has been supplied to the order of the Belgian Societe Colombophile. The body of this remarkable vehicle, which is constructed entirely in thin sheet duralumin, accommodates 3,000 carrier pigeons in baskets in seven tiers. Along each side of the bus are seven rows of small mica windows, each row having 100 windows and corresponding with a layer of pigeon baskets. The entire 1,400 windows, giving light and air to the passengers, can be opened and closed in one movement from the driver's seat by an arrangement of rods and bevel gearing.
The Belgian firm of Brossel have made remarkable strides-during the past three years. Their latest product is a worm-driven omnibus chassis with 95 mm. by 1510 mm., side-valve, fourcylindered engine. This is a very fine robust-looking chassis. Dewandre vacuum-servo braking is employed and two comPletely independent controls are arranged in the braking system. DO transmission brake being fitted. Brossel show eight vehicles in all, including the above new chassis, a gasdriven, high-clearance colonial lorry
fitted with the gas-producer, two brewery lorries, in which the very comfortable enclosed driving cabs are a feature, a furniture removal van, a large boxvan with a particularly handsome body for a big Brussels department store, a special lorry for bottled-beer transport and a fine 26-seater roll-top coach with body by Pins and Mestdaeli, of Brussels.
Stevens and Branquaer show both Brossel and Latil chassis with a variety of special bodies, an interesting example being a Latil tractor-trailer outfit with a very large two-wheel trailing furniture van. This yam has an all-enclosed cab at the forward end for the accommodation of the moving men.
Another Latil chassis shown is fitted with a very fine small omnibus body for the Sabena Air Lines. Amongst the Brossel vehicles exhibited by this firm is a huge brewery lorry.
Chevrolet show a smart taxicab for Brussels service, a small tip wagon with hand-operated tipping gear and a standard chassis.
General D•lotors show a number of vehicles, including, amongst others, two small coaches with bodies by Veugenen, of Maastricht; both have exceptional headroom and both are provided with rear emergency doors, a feature which is becoming general in Belgian coach bodies. Chenard and Walcker and Delahaye have adjoining stands, and the Itosengart, or French Austin Seven, boxvans are shown on the Delahaye stand, presumably owing to the recent commercial entente arrived at between the above firms. An interesting Delabaye exhibit is a standard 2i-ton chassis fitted with a new heavy-oil carburetter known as the "CD.," for which wonderful results are claimed. Delahaye also show one of the .few open coaches to be found in the Salon ; thisis ,a well-finished • 14-seater.
Latils show a very full range of models, including, amongst others, a high-clearance colonial chassis and an overtype bus chassis with lowload line. Panhard and Levessor have a
small gas-driven omnibus, which has been in regular public service fOr more than two years: This vehicle, which is fitted with the Panhard gas-producer appaeatus, is exhibited to indicate general condition. A standard 4-tonner chassis is also shown.
The International Harvester Co. show a petrol-tank wagon, an agricultural tractor and three chassis • (two 1-tonners and a 2-tonner).
Graham Bros. exhibit a 2-tonner chassis and the Ford Co. five examples of their new industrial chassis fitted with various types of bodywork.
Tide eXhibit four of their new industrial models as seen at the Paris Salon, and Renault a -range of nine staadard types. The A.S. Co. show several big lorries assembled from American corn.; ponents -with French and Belgian additions and Liberty have on view two
of their fine chassis: _ Sauter have a 'big brewery lorry on
their six-cylinder chassis and two polished examples of the six.-cylinder and four-cylinder models. The new Diesel-enginod Sewers are not shown at Brussels, which is to be regretted, as they are fine examples of this new class.
Perhaps one of the most attractive coath bodies in the salon is that shown on the Brossel stand made by Bogaerts and Stollen for the Boom-Antwerp service and mounted on the new Wormdrive Brossel. An outstanding feature of this 'new Brossel chassis is the bottom edge or flange of the frame sidemembers, which are extended inwards for some 10 ins., an arrangement which not only has a stiffening effect but provides a good anchorage for brakeoperating controls, etc.
The impression gained from the industrial vehicle section of the Salon de Bruxelles is one of rapid progress, activity, and, above all, that eyes are turned towards certain promising overseas markets.