Clydesdale Chassis.
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New Commercial Chassis Produced in Three Sizes.
R. Martens and Co., Ltd., of 15a, Wilton Street, Grosvenor Place, London, S.W., has entered into an arrangement whereby it obtains the whale production of Clydesdale chassis. These vehicles are American-built, of standard high-grade units, and assembled, with accessories, so that they conform as closely as possible to what is recognized as British practice. Perhaps it is as well to note, as things are, tha,t the company, owing to certain circumstances, has been enabled to arrange for an adequate supply of these chassis, and can give prompt delivery of any one of the three sizes. Although the present establishment, at the address named above, is a new one, the company has been engaged for some little time upon the sale of these chassis, and has sent fairly large consignments over to Russia to the order of the Government of that country. The fact that, for reasons which may be apparent,this particular order had to be handled with despatch, and furthermore that the company has in the meantime had a certain amount of difficulty in obtaining suitable terms for the housing of its goods, has caused the postponement of its business activities until now. We are aware' however, as a matter of fact, that there are several Clydesdale chassis of various sizes already disposed of in this country, and so far as we can gather they are giving good service.
Rated According to Gross Capacities.
The three sizes made are to accommodate gross loads of 11, 3, and 4 tons. The peculiar figures of the rating are owing to the fact that they give gross loads, inclusive of bodywork and fittings that the chassis are designed to carry. This method of rating is one which we have recommended in these columns time and time again. It eliminates so thoroughly all possibilities of dispute which might arise owing to differences in bodyweights. A case in point was brought to our notice the other day, when a li-ton chassis of wellknown make, which had been delivered without body, was afterwards discovered in the hands of its owner carrying a huge pantechni;
con body, the weight of which without any useful load whatever, probably exceeded half the chassis rating.
A Well-known Engine Fitted.
Now as concerning the details of these chassis. The two large
models are very similar, and may be treated, for the purposes of this description, as one, providing note is kept of the difference in dimensions. They both embody Continental engines of four cylinders, which are standard units, and by this time fairly well known to the majority of our readers. Besides having had occasion to refer to them in various descriptions of -American chassis, -we. also dealt with them very freely in an article which appeared in these pages on the 3rd February, 1916. Briefly, we may recapitulate the principal points, which are pair-cast cylinders, interchangeable valves, all arranged along one side of-the engine and operated by a single " camshaft with integral cams. The crankshaft is carried on three bearings, and. the timing gears have helical teeth so as to reduce asmuch as possible the noise which tends to arise from this portion of the . engine. A Stromberg carburetter is fitted, and the Misch D.U.4 magneto. The lubrication system is what, in this country, would generally be described as splash. A small gear pump lifts oil to a pipe above the main bearings, whence delivery is made to reservoirs cast in the metal of the crankcase, with duets to the journals ; oil trickles therefrom to troughs -below the connecting rods, and the lubrication of the remainder of the moving parts is by oil thrown by the big ends. The cooling of the engine-is
by pump-circulated water, with a laige modern, type of radiator, the draught through which is created by the usual fan.
L.G.O.C.-type Radiator.
The radiator itself is deserving of mention, as it might almost be stated to be a distinctive feature on an American chassis. It is of the form popularized by the London Btype buses, having cast top and bottom heads with vertical copper tubes. Besides offering freer passage fox...the cooling water than does the honeycomb description of cooler, it is easy to clean, not so liable to suffer damage, and if one or more tubes do get broken, they can be blocked, and the lorry used for a time in that condition, without. fear of serious consequences. Steering Gear and Axles.
The steering gear and all control levers are mounted on the righthand side of the chassis in conformity with the standard British practice. The gearbox provides four speeds forward and one reverse gear. The rear axle is a Timken, with David. Brown overhead worm and wheel as the means of final transmission. The springs fitted to these chassis are exceptionally long, and would appear to be of ample strength for the loads. Strongly-made radius rods, two in number and universally jointed, take the driving thrust from the rear axle and transmit it to the frame through a special tubular cross-member carrier by cast-steel brackets riveted to the frame. The torque is taken by the rear springs, which are rigidly bolted to the axle easing, and are shackled at both ends. The Smallest Chassis Has Special Features.
The smallest chassis, for gross loads of le ton, is almost in a class by itself. It is fitted with a. special type of engine, with overhead valves, all enclosed by a .quicklydetachable cover. Unit construction has been adopted for engine and gearbox, and the power is thence transferred to a bevelgeared rear axle, by a long tubular Propeller-shaft. On this chassis three speeds only are fitted. A similar system of lubrication is provided for the engine to that on the Continental, and the control on this chasais has right-hand starting and central change-speed and brake levers. Pneumatic tires are fitted, size 820 aim by 120 min. front and rear, mounted on detachable rims.
• Engine cooling on this model is by naturally-circulated water, no pump being fitted. Both brakes operate on drums in the rear wheels, the foot, or service brake being an internal-expanding one, the hand, or emergency brake, an external con
tracting. The drums are 15. ms. diameter and 2i ins, wide, giving ample surface, and the shoes are lined with Raybestos. A feature is made of easy adjustment and both brakes are compensated.
Equipment and Prices.
The equipment of all these chassis is on the usual American lines, consisting of two side lamps and bracket, mechanical horn, jack, and the usual tools. An unusual tool included is a grease-gun for the shackle-pins. One of our illustrations shows the means adopted for greasing these important beacings. Instead of fitting the shackle pins with grease-cups, small screws take their places. Any of these screws may readily be removed, by the aid of a. short toinmy-bar. The grease-gun is then screwed in place and the charge of grease injected. The chassis prices, inclusive of tires, are 2295, 2835 and 2825, delivered London. The prices cover full equipment in the two large vehicles, but £8 extra is charged for this on the smallest model.