W. Tasker and Sons, Limited.
Page 22
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Exhibit :—A "Little Giant" Tractor.
No exhibition of heavy motors would be complete without one of the " Little Giant " steam tractors, which are made by W. Tasker and Sons, Limited, of the Waterloo Iron Works, Andover, Hants. This company was amongst the first to introduce a light steam motor which would come under the Heavy Motor Car Order, of 1904, and it has kept well to the front, so far as the excellence of its machines is concerned, ever since that date. The War Office authorities own a very large number of tractors of this make, and the fact that they are well satisfied is sufficient proof that the machine is a good one. We know of no user who puts his machines to such rough work as those owned and worked by the military authorities have daily to perform.
The " Little Giant " steam tractor has many points in its design which are quite novel and practical ; not the least of these is the arrangement by which perfect relative accuracy of alignment of all the main bearings is secured, and the boiler plates arc re lieved of a great part of the strains which would, otherwise, be set up within them.
The engine is geared to travel at two speeds, either of which can be brought into operation by means of a lever which is accessible from the foot plate. The motor is mounted on a complete system of plate springs and levers by which the makers hope to eliminate most of the vibration which is inseparable from a machine that is unsprung on the axles.
The final-drive gear, and also the differential gearing, are completely enclosed and protected from dust and grit. The " Little Giant" tractor is specially adapted for all kinds of haulage work, at moderate speeds, and its boiler may be fired with either coke or coal. The machine which is exhibited is one of the maker's B2 type. A similar machine ran in the R.A.C. trials.