THE FIRST ONE-MAKE EXHIBITION.
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How the Ford Chassis and the Fordson Tractor have Lent Themselves to a Remarkable Display at Holland Park Hall, London, W.
91HE Exhibition of the Ford and
Fordson and all that appertains to them, which opened on Friday last at Holland Park Hall, London, W., is a somewhat daring venture, but one which we believe has every chance of being eminently successful. It might, with truth, be called a one-make show, but so many concerns have modified and adapted Ford products that together they form a most important group of manufacturers and agents. The display is most varied, and should appeal to many classes of user. We deal, of course, only with those exhibits which fall within the province of this journal, but it may be said that on the majority of the stands are staged exhibits of interest to our readers. There are coaches, municipal vehicles, tradesmen's vans, fire-engines, rollers', a mechanical shovel, tractors for various purposes, including one specially designed for hauling artillery, vehicles which will appeal to the agriculturist and cattle-breeder, six-wheeled semi-trailers, a driver-beside-engine van, publicity vans, hygienic meat vans,reinforced and extended chassis to carry up to 24 tons, and even an extraordinary amphibious machine which can run on land or take its passengers for a trip to sea.
To simplify our description of the exhibits we will deal with these in the order of the stands.
Stand A is devoted to a collection of vehicles showing different classes of bodywork. One is a dual-purpose type with a hood over the driver and interchangeable backs, one making the vehicle into a four-seater touring car and the other into a neat platform lorry with hinged sides, a neat feature of this body being the two boxes for carrying the new round tins of Vacuum oil. It is shown by J. H. Jennings and Son, Ltd., of Sandbach, who also have on view a ton truck with natural wood finish and the sides edged with aluminium angle.
A Fine Publicity Van.
The Meltonian van on -view is a fine example of the publicity vehicle. It was *built by W. Harold Perry, Invicta Works, North Finchley, London, N.12. This exhibit has already travelled some thousands of miles.
There is also an interesting type of meat van with a double roof affording ventilation space, slatted sides and floor, with, the slatted portions removable and gauz-3 ventilators at both ends. At the rear are double upper door3 and a drop tail-board. This is shown by the Hightury Corner Motor Co., of Canonbury Road, London, N.
Another exhibit on this stand is a butcher's market body or general utility truck, giving a loading space of 8 ft. behind the driver. This has a semiboarded tilt cover of waterproof twill, a metal scuttle dash, four-piece windscreen with adjustable tops, one-piece drop curtain at the rear and a tailboard with chains. For butchers, a detachable rack floor is provided. The builder is Frank G. Gates, High Road, Woodford, London, E.18, and it is notable that the complete vehicle weighs under 1 ton, which will bring it within the £16 tax category in the new scale.
The last 'vehicle here shown is a cattle wagon built by Whitlock Bros., Great Yeldham, Essex. This has double doors at the end and near side, and the ramp can oe used in either place. Tubes the length of the body prevent an animal from upsetting the balance of the vehicle when only one is carried. The upper part of the body can be removed to leave s flat platform for farm produce.
o3 Stand B is to be found a comprehensive display by Muir-Hill Service Equipment, Ltd., Trafford Park, Manchester. Perhaps of chief interest here is the military tractor designed for artillery haulage. It has side members of channel steel, to which are bolted holders for carrying eight 2-gallon tins of petrol, oil and water. In addition to the driver's seat it has four others, all of the Terry sprung type, two facing to the rear and two to the front, whilst the kits of five men go into a cage at the top. The radiator is protected by a boiler plate, which is shrapnel-proof, but drilled to permit the passage of air. This Fordson outfit forms a complete haulage unit, and the driver is relieved from the responsibility of watching the officers for guiding signals.
Theie is another Fordson _ tractor fitted with a two-furrow plough attachment.
Pneumatics for the Fordson.
One Fordson has east-iron wheels and pneumatic tyres. This can haul a 4ton load at an average speed of 20 m.p.h. and has actually done 30 m.p.h. It has special leg guards and a cape-cart hood, whilst both this and the other models have an underslung cross-spring at the ffont.
For railway work there is a heavyduty tractor with shunting buffers and sprung pull-out cleats for use over its rubber tyres. Dual front wheels are provided for passing over points. The buffer girders convey all the thrust direct to'-the rear axle ; at the front they are supported by a strap over the radiator tank.
• For light work one tractor is equipped with gaint single solid tyres. This is capable of hauling 4 tons.
The Muir-Hill cab affords excellent protection. It has side ourtains folding in the middle, and an extension of the canopy to the front. The whole cab with its wings is hinged at the front and supported by quarter-elliptic springs at the rear.
Other features of these tractors are 16-in. by 3-in, brakes and special silencers which eject to the rear. On Stand Da are some excellent products of the Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd., Warwick. One of the several twowheeled trailers for the Fordson is a municipal dust collector with hydraulic tipping gear, the pump for which takes the place of the pulley drive on the Fordson. It is connected by a flexible tube so that the one pump can be used with any number of trailers. Sanitary roll-up covers held by springs are employed.
Another 5-tonner has hand-operated tipping gear and a hinged-sided body.
One interesting four-wheeled trailer to carry 5 tons can have its wheelbase lengthened by sliding the rear portion along the central girder, to which it is held by a simple locking .pin. Beams, timbers, etc., of lengths between 12 ft. and 40 ft. can thus be accommodated.
There is another standard Eagle fourwheeled trailer of all-steel construction, including the wheels, and examples of Eagle wheels for the tractors.
Stand Dc contains much of interest in
the products of the Chaseside Motor Co., Ltd., of Enfield, Middlesex, chief amongst which, is the Chaseside power shovel, which was recently described in the columns of this journal. In this Shovel as much use as possible is made of Ford parts"; for instance, the drive to the shovel winch gear is taken from the pulles, drive via a Fordson back axle unit, the front of which is shortened, but carries the brake, and as the drive is taken through the differential it is normally free until the brake is brought into action as a novel kind of clutch.
Another exhibit is the Chaseside semitrailer unit for the Fordson. It has auxiliary front wheels and is so arranged that it can be unhitched from the cab, and when the tractor is driven away the. front wheels drop, thus supporting the front of the trailer and making it an independent unit.
A Forward-drive Chaseside.
A special forward-drive chassis which gives a better load distribution and enables the ton Ford to carry 30 cwt. has also been devised and is shown. It gives 8 ft. more body room and yet is so simply arranged that it should not unduly increase the price. The ordinary Ford pedals are used and are connected up by links. The only other alteration is that the steering rod is lengthened, whilst the forward dash is carried by a bracket bolted to the rear side of the frame of the chassis.
On Stand Dc is also a Fordson tractor equipped with a special tractor canopy designed by A. and S. Andrews, Ltd., of Uxbridge Road, London, W.5. It is known as the A.S.A.L. The four side pillars are carried on double volute springs, whilst the location at the front is by forks with compression springs which are carried in brackets bolted to the dash plate.
Some Baico Specialities.
On Stand E are staged many of the products of Baico Patents, Ltd., Fulham Road, Loudon, S.W.3. The Baico 2-2i-ton chassis with the three-speed Baico gearbox is an improved edition of an already popular model. The rear wheels are carried on ball bearings suitable for 3-ton loads, these being mounted direct on the axle tubes, and with the original bearings the axle becomes of the three-quarter-floating type. The spring seats are clamped to the rear axle and are bolted to pro jections of the brake spider, making a solid anchorage to take the pull of the Baico special truss rod by which the axle is much strengthened. The springs themselves are 4 ft. 4 ins, long, and theside members of the auxiliary frame cannot toe-in as' they are firmly braced by cross-members as well as to the frame of the Ford.
The brakes comprise the ordinary Ford and special external-contracting bands carried through to the Ford brake pedal. A novel fitting is the Fairbank's patent accelerator-pedal gear.
In some counties chassis for publicservice passenger work must have lengthwise springing throughout, and there is a new Baico extension with four springs which give an additional 4 ft of support at the back. There is a cradle for carrying the front of the Ford frame and the ordinary Ford front axle takes the toad in the same places as usual.
Prominently displayed is the Balm Boulevard car, a 28-seater on the fourspring chassis with small wheels and three-speed gearbox. This model is being improved by giving additional slope to the seat backs.
The fire-engine for the Westbridge Fire Brigade has the highly efficient Dennis 150-200-gallon pump.
Examples of the very large bodies which can be fitted are shown on extended chassis, one having a. total body length of 15 ft. The other is a remark
ably ornate market-gardener's type, and is built for a wholesale potato merchant. Both are the work of Hubert Dees, Ltd., of Croydon.
Stand F is divided amongst Olson Extensions (England), Ltd., and Standard Equipments, Ltd., both of Trafford Park, Manchester, in conjunction with JCL and J. Quick, Ltd., of Old Trafford, Manchester.
One fine vehicle displayed• is a special van for the Manchester Corporation Tramways Parcels Department, and is one of a repeat order for 17. It is mounted on the No. 9 Olson extension, and has sliding entrances at each side two interior electric lights and a loading space 11 ft. 6 ins. long, 5.ft. 3 ins, wide and 5 ft. 6 ins. high.
A tipping vehicle for municipal work is shown by H. and J. Quick, Ltd. This has a steel-lined body for 2-ton loads and a bolster behind the cab.
The Olson extensions are made by the Swedish Crucible Steel Co., of Detroit. The weight is carried on the springs by the same method as in the original Ford, that is, by stout springperches. One of the vehicles is fitted with a two-speed supplementary .gearbox built by Fuller and Sons, of Michigan. An entirely new supplementary gearbox called the Johnson is on view. This is fixed behind the transmission and the gears are always in mesh.
A Tractor-trailer Hitch.
The Trail-it hitch enables the Fordson tractor to be made into a tractorlorry, 30 per cent. of the load being carried on the tractor wheels; special upswept arms enable the front of the trailer to swivel right over the driving wheels. .
The final exhibits here are a fourspring Olson extension and a light chassis extension applied to a fourseater car for hire work.
One Quick body is in natural wood, to show its quality. It has 3-in, chock rails and a rattle-proof cab of Plymax.
Stands and W are occupied by Alfred Dugdale, Ltd., London Aerodrome, Hendon, N.W.U. Here there are several Fordsons with Shrewsbury and Challiner steel wheels and brakes, and the special Hendon front-spring axle suspension, which is a Misdate product. An inverted cross-spring is underslung and centrally pivoted, whilst the axle is carlied back to avoid the pivot. One of the tractors has very wide wheels for golf courses.
One of the Dugdale specialities is theRuckstell two-speed axle for the ton
truck.
Other smaller items are Strand governors of two types, Plymouth fast and loose pulleys and a scraper and grader for levelling ground for housing sites, etc.
Stand Ha brine's us to passenger vehicles, of which two are shown by Harold J. Willett, Ltd., of Colchester. One is a Pullman safety coach with a V-shaped screen, bulbous sides and an exceptionally wide rear emergency door with a lock which permits instantaneous opening from the inside or out. The other is a de luxe coach for 15 people. The seats are neat and comfortable, and the whole vehicle is exceedingly well finished. On Stand Bb the B.d.V. Motor Co., Ltd., of Hammersmith, London, stage a neat roller for parks, asphalt, etc., weighing approximately 23 cwt., but the rollers can be filled with sand, etc., t..) increase this considerably: The chassis consists of an abbreviated Ford with the axle, brought forward and secured to the frame, sprockets at the end driving down to each side of the rear roller. The steering wheel is mounted vertically at the back and controls the front roller, and a platform with triangulated stays is secured to the rear of the frame. Three hand levers operate the ordinary Ford controls.
Another exhibit is a 2-8-ton Ford semi-trailer with turntable and auxiliary front wheels. The trailer is instantly detachable from the driver's seat.
There is also a 2-ton extended chassis with contracting band-brakes synchronizing with the ordinary Ford foot-brake, a Warford auxiliary gearbox, large front springs and larger wheels.
An impeller pump driven by the fan belt is used on several models.
Stand Rd. Here are some interesting devices made by Tuke and Bell, Ltd., of Lichfield, Staffs. One is a multi-purpose lorry with run-back screw tipping gear and a body for house refuse. Attached to this machine is a neat gritting device friction-driven from one wheel.
Next there is a 2-ton trailer, which can be used for house-refuse collection by horses, whilst for (pick haulage when laden thc Fordson can be employed.
• The Tuke and Bell street-sweeping attachment for the tonnor or Fordson is on view.
-Stand K is, naturally, the largest, being occupied by the Ford Motor Co. (England), Ltd. Here are staged representative examples of their products, chief amongst which is the new van on
the ton chassis. This has a nicely curved roof and enclosed cab, with sloping screeh having an adjustable upper half, triangular glass panels for the screen sides, drop windows and doors and oval lights. Behind the driver's seat are a front tyre and a back tyre on their rims ; an emergency seat folds up close into the near side.
Stand La is devoted to the many accessories, tools, etc. (such as the Monarch governor, Newpert pumps): marketed in this country by the Wile Corporation, Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2.
Stand Ma is occupied by F. Walters and Co., of Rugby. One interesting vehicle is a ton chassis with a cab and end-tipping body which permit the whole vehicle to come within the ton weight and thereby taxable in the future at £16 only.
On Stand Mb will be found Taco and Pierce governors, the Barton pump and Smith pulley unit, shown by the General Engineerirg and Export Co., Ltd., Maddox Street, London, W.1.
On Stand N are to be seen a markettype vehicle a boarded tilt van and a van with a fixed sheet having lifting sides for the furniture trade or general
cartage. All these vehicles are made by W. J. Reynolds, of East Ham, London, E., and all come within the 1-ton limit.
Stand 0. Here is another fire-engine shown by the Stanley Eire Engine Co., of Halifax. This has a Rees-Roturbo pump giving 150-200 gallons per minute.
It is driven from the flywheel by a toothed-bronze ring. Both the radiator and the sump are water-cooled by a bypass from the main pump ; 1,500 ft. of hose and 10 men can be carried.
On Stand Qb is a special tractor conversion for use in restricted spaces, such as a hop field. It is made by Stanhay, Ltd., of Ashford, Kent.
Stand Sa houses interesting examples of N.A.P. tyres, wheels, etc., shown by the N.A.P. Pneumatic Tyre Co., Ltd., Stonhouse Street', Clapham, London, S.W.4. One tyre has covered nearly 150,000 miles and some rubber is still left whilst none has broken away.
Stands Ta and U are in the possession of W. Harold Perry, of North Finchley, London, N.12; This exhibitor is known for the fine quality of his coachwork, Amongst the vehicles staged are a Royal Mail van and an ambulance for Uxbridge Urban District able-tilt van and a boarded-tilt model.
Stand Tb is occupied by the Lambert Motor Co., of London Road, Kingstonon-Thames, who stage a special van known as the "Un-Da-Ton." It is quite a scientific construction with Plymaxtilt and wood body. All the timbers are laminate(' to distribute the grain, and spring-steel supports are employed for the body-bearers and other parts. The actual weight is 19 cwt. 2 qrs.
Stand W is taken up by an extraordinary amphibious vehicle shown by the Land and Sea Car Co., Ltd., of Cleethorpes. It is known .as a sea car and is a combination of motor boat and motor coach. It can tour a promenade and drive straight into the sea for a cruise.
The same stand has a ton chassis with the Edgeford extension, being one of a fleet owned by the City and Suburban Carriers, Ltd.