FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE PALLADIUM THREE-TONNER.
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In our issue of 24th December last year, we had the pleasure of describing the Palladium three-tonner. As was intimated at the time this model was proceeding but slowly owing to the difficulty of obtaining materials.
A considerable improvement in this respect may now be noted, and several vehicles have been delivered. Consequently we are now enabled to supplement our previous description by the following notes and also to include an illustration of a completed chassis.
It may not be out of place to recall one or two of the principal features as noted in that issue. The engine is a four-cylinder 4i in. by 5.i• in. bore and stroke respectively, developing 38 h.p. at 1200 revolutions per minute.
It is fitted with a Rayfield carburetter and Bosch magneto. A special feature of the engine which was not noticed in our previous article is the starting and lighting outfit. This is fitted on the near side of the engine and is so arranged that, when in operation as a starter, it drives the engine through the timing gears, which have been made sufficiently strong to stand this unusual strain. The lubrication sys tem is as follows. Oil is forced under pressure to the roam bearings, and the remainder of the moving parts are lubricated by splash from constant-level troughs. The cooling water is pump circulated. A special feature, as remarked and illustrated in our previous description, is the suspension of the radiator. This 4s carried on trunnions, the brackets for which are supported on the front cross member of the frame instead of on the longitudinals, the object of this being to reduce the harmful effects of vibration on this particular component.
The clutch, it may be remembered, is a leather-lined cone, the arrangement of the spring being somewhat similar to that employed on the L.G.O. " B "-type bus chassis and the original Wolseley bus models. A single spring, however, is employed, instead of a double one, on the Palladium.
The universal joints employed c14 are of the leather-disc type ; the special features of these are, the materials employed for the discs, which are three-ply pig skin and rhinoceros hide, the large diameter, and also the peculiar shape of the washers separating the discs ; these are designed with a view to giving maximum flexibility. The joints between the engine and gearbox are fitted with four rings to each, and those between gearbox and rear axle have six.
Particular attention has been paid to the brake mechanism of this chassis. The foot brake acts, as is usual, on a drum behind the gearbox and is of the contractingband type. The emergency brake operates on drums bolted to the rear wheels, and in each drum four shoes are placed, which are so arranged that they are operated through compensating gear, and all come into action with equal effect at one and the same time.
The wormdriven rear axle is a very substantial one, and is of the full floating type. The road wheels run on Timken roller bearings on sleeves which are extensions of the load-bearing axle.
The worm, wheel, and differential are selfcontained in one casing and can be withdrawn without disturbing the remaining portions of the gearing.
The front axle is very robust. Timken bearings a r e employed here also. The steering again is particularly well made and should stand more than the usual amount of knocking about without suffering injury.
The thrust from the road wheels is transmitted to the frame through a pair of radius rods. At the rear end, these bear on spherical housings; at the front end they are coupled to substantial brackets riveted to the side members of the frame. The torque is absorbed by the chassis springs.
Altogether the chassis strikes us as being a very workmanlike job. Attention has been paid to small points ; the control gear, accelerator pedal, and so on are very accessibly placed, and a generous supply of greasers is provided, these being placed wherever they are likely to be useful.
The chassis are being constructed at the new works of Palladium Autocars, Ltd., at Felsham Road, Putney Bridge, S.W., where inquiries should be forwarded.