Mew methods and

22nd September 1972, Page 407

22nd September 1972

Page 407

Page 407, 22nd September 1972 — Mew methods and

Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

materials by Gordon Crabtree

iteresting developments in municipal ansport are being given a first showing at ails Court, even though some makers have iosen to wait for the Public Works xhibition at Olympia in November before lowing their latest wares.

In the sphere of ambulances the builders' ave produced some excellent examples tich show the rapidly increasing use of 3ecial flame-retardant reinforced plastics. tne of the main attractions is from Herbert omas Ltd, of Wilmslow, who have vaunted their all-grp ambulance on a .ange Rover chassis, like the Dormobile ersion featured in CM's Show Number last eek.

The Lomas vehicle has a wide entrance rid generous locker accommodation; taking its debut at the Show, it has been &acting a lot of attention from ambulance ersonnel.

I also like Lomas' Ford Transit 150 mbulance with V6 2i-litre engine and their edford CF 25cwt grp-bodied ambulance; le latter has a communicating door etween cab and body, for the attendant.

Wadham Stringer (Coachbuilders) Ltd, f Portsmouth, can also expect considerable nthusiasm among local authorities for their eries VIII grp ambulances on Leyland hassis. A versatile design provides an nerior layout using multi-posture stretcher -olleys, loading channels and graduated teps. Ambulance manufacturers have in scent years managed to accommodate a rant deal of the latest emergency treatment quipment for critically ill or injured ■ atients.

A full emergency life-support system is tart of the equipment in Wadham Stringer's velfare coach, based . on the Redline 550 45in-wheelbase chassis /scuttle. It has a :apacity of 22 seated passengers or nine vheelchairs, plus driver and attendant, and las a rear electro-hydraulic lift.

In the field of firefighting, Carmichael uid Sons (Worcester) Ltd are creating nuch interest with their Commando ugh-speed firefighting and emergency service vehicle, with special appeal for county authorities.

J. H. Jennings and Son Ltd, now fully integrated with the parent ERF, has a very popular mobile library on show — the exhibit is for a Welsh authority, but the vehicle is selling in large numbers. Built on the Redline 550FG chassis, the body uses hardwoods, mild steel and light alloy and is well gusseted for rigidity. Access to the main body is through Redbro electrically operated single-folding jack-knife doors on the nearside.

Other specialized exhibits include the new Clearway from Atkinson's of Clitheroe Ltd. Developed in conjunction with Dunlop but made only by Atkinson's, this is a device which can be towed by any tipper, into which it automatically deposits the mud, slush or snow which it scrapes from road or runway.

Three-way tippers are rarely seen these days, virtually the only -users being local authorities with large rural areas. Edbro is showing one which has been built for Cheshire CC's roads and bridges department — an 11ft 6in body on a Ford D1311 120in-Wheelbase chassis. Detachable rear pillars support a top-and-bottom hinged tail door, and there is an aperture in the floor to take a gritter.

Telehoist, too, is among the tipper makers attracting local authority interest, particularly with an all-welded Tel-by aluminium body on a Foden chassis. This also has Telehoist's new 23-ton-capacity FR 64-245 single front end ram gear. The same company's Cheltonian tipping body range — for vehicles weighing less than 3 tons unladen — is especially suitable for the less populous, and less wealthy, authorities.

As exhibited, the Cheltonian is on a Bedford KB 115in-wheelbase chassis and has an FR 23-110 front ram and steel dropside body. Also worth noting on this stand is a CH 1500-gal sludge tank on a Ford D1614. All the vehicles on the 'stand have automatic chassis lubrication and the new Tele-lode axle load indicator.