New Engines from Old
Page 33
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ONE of the most important forms of service at present being given to road transport operators is that connected with cylinder boring, crankshaft grinding and bearing remetalling. Engine reconditioning work is of a specialist nature, and there can be a marked difference in the standard of workmanship and finish as between one concern and another.
Whilst we would not be a party to any suggestion of overcharging, we feel that the old saying "You get only that which you pay for" is as true to-day as it ever Was. ibis sounds like 'a warning against putting work out against a low quotation, but it can be said that a particularly high standard is being maintained -by the concerns of repute, and if their respective charges differ it is probably a matter of internal organization. '
During the past few months we have dealt with a number of concerns specializing in engine reconditioning, and recently we paid a visit to the Thompson Engineering Co., 266, Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, London, S.E.I9, a company which first came into being in 1928. Mr. C. E. Thompson, the present managing director, started the business with modest capital, and to-day it is a prosperous undertaking with well-equipped works at Norwood and the Parade, Crystal Palace.
Among the equipment at the Norwood premises we saw four crankshaft grinders, a Kitchen and Wade honing machine, a Lumsden surface grinder with a 2-ft. chuck and 4-ft. diameter table, three connecting-rod borers, and a number of boring bars, including those of Van Norman and Storm makes.
One of the crankshaft grinders is of the latest Van Norman type, of which there are but few in this country. Two Norton machines and a Landis make up the battery, which is capable of dealing with shafts from the smallest in normal use, to outsize ones as employed in stationary and marine internal-combustion units.
Complementary services to crankshaft' grinding are, of coure,'ieruetalling and boring of main bearings and connecting rods, and
• the company is well equipped for this work. The remetalling plants are of Forcwell make, and Mr. Thompson told is that ne was one of the first to make use of this equipment, which is now so widely employed throughout the country. A feature of the Forewell method is that the metal is poured so that it enters the bottom of the mould and builds up to the top, the chances of blow-holes occutring being remote.
A Cuthbert and two Anne° connecting-rod borers are in use at the Norwood works, whilst at the Crystal Palace depot there are two more machines of these makes, and no fewer than six power-driven line-borers. The Lumsden surface grinder, already mentioned, is a fine tool, and with its 4-ft. revolving table can be used to surface-grind large areas, after, say, welding operations, in which this concern also specializes.
During the tour around the shops we noticed a number of generating sets, the use of which enabled work to continue during February's fuel cut.
About 40 kilowatts can be generated on the premises, and the character of the currents and the voltages available are such that, whatever type of motor be supplied with a machine tool, there is current of the right characteristics to feed it, whether it be A.C. or D.C. This obviously requires a somewhat elaborate wiring system, but the wireman has no difficulty, as a colour code is adopted throughout.
The concern runs and maintains a number of its own vehicles, including a Ford 3-tonner, two 10-cwt. vans of Morris and Austin make respectively, and an Austin 2-tonner. These are employed, in the main, for more or less local delivery work, the light vans being a speedy and convenient form of transport. within their capacity, for the goods handled by the company.
Good service is also given in general machine work, starter rings, valve inserts, valves, pistons and cylinder liners, an extensive stock of the last two always being available.
During the war the company did an extensive amount of work for the Admiralty in connection with marine engines, as well as operating the Central Marine Engine Pool for the M.o.W.T.