Austin : Stand 28.
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
LIST OF AUSTIN COMMERCIAL
281 Monsiss. [29 Load. I.P. Drive. Price (a) The Austin Co., always famed for its beautifully-finished bodywork and the careful attention which is given to detail work is showing one of its improved ambulance vans, which, complete with its ingenious and sumptuous fittings. represents the last word in ambulance construction. A similar vehicle was shown at the last Manchester Show, and it will be recalled that it is mounted on a 1520 h.p. chassis, arranged for central control, the driver being seated over the engine, but the arrangement is such as to afford complete access to all the parts when eecessary. A complete description of the machine was given in these pages shortly after the Manchester Show. The vehicle provides for carrying four patients on removable stretchers, each of which is provided with galvanized steel springs and air cushions, and any one of the stretchers may be removed separately. or the whole of the internal fittings may quickly be removed for the purpose of disinfec t:12 tion and thorough cleansing of the body. A medicine cupboard, hand basin, and other advisable fittings are provided, the water for the hand basin being supplied from a 15-gallon tank which is let into the roof. The ambulance which was shown at Manchester was subse
quently examined by the medical authorities of that city, and reported upon most favourably, and was later sold to the Bolton Fire Brigade, in whose service it has done most-satisfactory work. That particular vehicle was sold from the Manchester Show by the Manchester depot. The chassis is one specially constructed for ambulance work, and particular attention has been paid to the springing, the rear springs being of the fullelliptic type. Another central-control machine on the Austin stand is a 15-20 lip. light delivery van for useful loads up to 15 cwt. In addition to the two complete vehicles shown, one of the most original types of chassis ever produced is also staged. This has already been fully described in our pages. It is the first time the chassis has been exhibited, although at Manchester a demonstration machine was available for the inspection of visitors. The outstanding features of this machine are : its specially-designed girder frame, and the method of transmission from the differential shaft through two angularly-disposed cardan shafts and bevel gearing to each of the back wheels. The arrangement gives a very low loading platform, and offers no obstruction to the provision of a broad base for the bodywork. The necessity for torque and thrust rods on this chassis has been entirely eliminated by the special arrangement of double springing, which is a combination of the undershing and overslung types_ Visitors to the Show should mqst certainly avail themselves of thd opportunity of making a careful inspection of this interesting machine, and we would particularly draw attention to the care which has been taken by the designers to ensure the ready access to, and replacement of, any part that may require attention, the engine being a particularly good example in this respect, as it may be reiooved bodily in a very short time without disturbance of other parts.