Church Army Canteen for India Electric Fans and Insulated Body
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Incorporated in Interesting Vehicle for Service Overseas rtUITE one of the most interesting of the number of Church Army vehicles with which we have dealt in these pages is one we recently inspected and which is due for service in India. It is a canteen, the basis of .which is a Bedford W.D. model .3-tonner, a type, we understand, which has given the Church Army excellent _service.
As this machine will operate in a hot climate, one of the major considerations has been that of providing adequate ventilation. To this eril two silent running electric fans, two rotary roof vents and special louvred panels have been provided. The electric fans, by the way, have been wound to run off the battery of the vehicle. When the machine is on the road they can be made to revolve at quite a nominal speed, and when the canteen is being used and the stoves going they can be speeded up considerably.
There are six ice-boxes arranged inside, and the§e are so disposed on each side of the body as to be quite unobtrusive. For the purpose of 'keeping 'cooked food or hot liquids -Warm, Eve Therinot-Urns aie carried, each being approximately of 5-gallons capacity.
All cooking is done on two stoves which get their heat from vaporized spirit. 'They are exceedingly neat and, we understand, have proved most efficient. There is a useful-size sink, Over which there is a semi-rotary hand pump which draws its water from three separate tanks of a total capacity of 100 gallons. These have been so cleverly installed as to defy discovery; the fitting aperture, of course, is brought out through the side of the body.
Cupboard space is really generoirs, there being a full-length compartment in the " kitchen," whilst the Lutontype space over the cab if also Avail
able ..m like capacity. There is a generous use of special mosquito mesh over all louvres, air vents, andthe fan apertures. The bddy has been specially constructed with " cavity walls," the space between the outside panels and the inside ones being filled • with [saes. The general finish of the interior is in grained -oak, the floor and counters being covered with a special material, dark red in colour,
Spare Wheel and tyre stowage has been cleverly solved by forming a
special compartment in the forwar4 end of the body -on the near side. Being high oil thil ground, it would be no mean "task to-get the wheel in, and out of the body, but this difficulty is overcome by hinging the. compartment-door at the bottom. When the door is let down, it forms a useful ramp.
The interior lighting cOnsists-ot three 12-volt roof linps, which. are neatly mounted in Don-glare cover glasses.
The serving hatch is on the near side, a portion of the body panel being suitably hinged at the top, so that, when swung outwards, it would serve to shade the serving counter„ ,
This canteen was a gift'. of the Norfolk War. Charities and _alj. the coachwork was carried out, by J.,.and C.' Clark,. Ltd.; Shepherds' Bush, London.