ACCESSORIES &FITTINGS
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r Lit Vans.
Urgent Piston-ring Requirements.
G. T. Riches and Co., Ltd., of 19, Store Street, Tottenham court Road, informs Ps that It makes a speciality of piston rings, and carries stocks of all sizes between. 66 mm. and 140 mm. bore. Urgent inquiries for rings not in stock can be met within one week of receipt of order. This concern is also a large dealer in accessories of all kinds, and particularly in requisites for light vane.
The Carter Automatic Gravity Tank.
The Carter automatic gravity tank is of advantage on all vans fitted with pressure-fed fuel systems, as well as on some. on which the fuel tank is placed rather low down in the chassis. It consists of a small chamber with a capacity for about one pint if fuel, which is attached either to the engine or dashboard, a few inches higher than the carburetter. It is connected to the carburetter, to the main petrol tank, and to the engine cylinder. Each suction and compression stroke of the engine causes a diaphragm to vibrate, and by this means petrol is lifted from the Carter tank to the petrol tank, after which it flows to the carburetter by gravity. Markt and Co., Ltd., of 98-100, Clerkenwell Road, E.C.. has the agency for this useful fitting.
An Accelerator Pedal Fitting.
There are many commercial Ford drivers accustomed to the normal type of chassis who miss the accelerator pedal which has become now so common a feature. Brown Bros., Ltd., of Great Eastern Street, London, E.C., markets a special foot accelerator, which is called the " Eto," for this purpose. It is very simply fitted and attaches to a bracket on the dashboard, the actual pedal coming in between the brake and reversing pedal on the Ford chassis. By its use, a certain amount of the racing of the engine which seems almost inevitable on Fords, may be eliminated, with a consequent saving both in annoyance to the public and in fuel consumption. It is well worth the price of 9s. per set. The same company markets a very handy set of box spanners, which, it is claimed, comprise all the sizes of nuts found on a Ford, the price being s. 6d.
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A Carburetter for Stationary Petrol Engines.
Although not correctly speaking either a fitting or an accessory for light vans, the new Amac carburetter for small stationary engines, which forms the subject of one of our illustrations, may readily be included in these pages on account of the importance of the maker, the Aston Motor Accessories, Ltd., of Aston Cross, Birmingham, in respect of the manufacture of fittings and accessories of all kinds. In the carburetter under notice, a feature has been made of simplicity and reduction of moving parts to a minimum. The carburetter is of the single-jet type, and has the air holes arranged concentrically round the jet. The throttle valve is a cylindrical one and is placed vertically, and a spring-controlled valve admits extra air as required.
The component is particularly well designed in respect of the accessibility of its various parts, it is neatly finished, and as made is adaptable to almost any relative position of induction pipe and supply tank.
Rubberine for Van Tires.
The possibility of delay owing to punctures is always hovering at the back of the mind of the light-van owner, whose vehicle, as a rule, runs on pneumatic tires. With the provision of a spare wheel, spare tire, rim, or other device, accordingto the Construction of his chassis, any unavoidable delay from this cause is reduced to a minimum. It may be absolutely eliminated, however, by filling the tires with Rubberine instead of air.
We have on a previous occasion given a full description of this method, and refer our readers, or those who are particularly interested, to our issue of the 25th February of last year. In the alternative, the maker, Rubberine, Ltd., of Carnpsbourne, High Road, Hornsey, will give full information. The effect of having tires filled with this substance is the elimination of trouble from punctures and the addition of life to the cover, which may be worn until there is an actual hole right through the canvas, allowing the Rubberine to exude ; even so, it is possible to run a matter of 50 miles with the tire in this condition without anything but the tire itself suffering further damage. On the
road it is found that the comfort, which in the case of the commercial vehicle is measured by the amount of vibration to which the contents of the van is subjected, is midway between that on pneumatics and that on solids, inclining perhaps towards the former, particularly when they are pumped up to a fairly high pressure.
Some remarkable mileages have recently beers attained on tires filled with this material, amongst which may be mentioned one 875 by 105 mm. Shrewsbury and ChaHiner, which, so filled, covered 18,100 miles ; this was fitted to a Daimler van carrying one ton. A Dunlop 765 mm. by 105 mm. ran 22.060 miles on a De Dion van carrying 16 cwt. The third case is that of a 30 in. by 34 in. Macintosh, which. accomplished 18,520 miles on a Ford ear carrying 12 cwt. loads and owned by a leading pianoforte maker. The extent to which covers may be used is illustrated by the photograph which we reproduce on page 183 of this issue.
Drotke Shoes for Ford Vans.
Brown Eros., Ltd., markets some cast-iron brake shoes for Ford vans. These are more substantial than the standard pattern. They are sold either lined or unlined ; in the case of the former, owing to the special design of the fastenings for the liners, they can be relined in a very few moments without the use of rivets.
Eros Detachable Wheels.
The standard Ford van chassis is supplied with ordinary fixed road wheels and rims. In consequence, in the event of a, puncture occurring on the road, the driver must needs remove the tire in the old timehodoured method with the aid of levers, repair the puncture, and replace by similar methods as those employed to remove it. There are several accessorymakers supplying detachable wheel sets for the Ford, which obviates
this difficulty. A set which has some special features is that known as the " Eros" and sold by Morris, Russell and Co., Ltd., of 75, Curtain Road, E.C. It is made in two styles known as the three-stud set and the six-stud set respectively, only three nuts requiring unscrewing to remove each wheel in the case of the former, as against six in the latter. The three-stud set, however, is not quite so good in some respects as the other, inasmuch as the hub and bolt holes are not fitted with steel bushes. The prices, 25 5s. and 27 7s. respectively. for the three and six-stud sets, include the actual conversion of the standard wheels to the Eros patent detachable wheels, and supplying one spare wheel and carrier and a spanner for the nuts. Sankey Detachable Steel Wheels.
Joseph Sankey and Son, Ltd., Hadley, Salop, markets a special size of its Sankey steel wheels, which are made so as to be detachable, and to take the place of the standard Ford fittings. Sankey pressed-steel wheels are well known throughout the motoring in clustry for their reliability • they are in use both on heavy reliability; on vans, and on touring cars. The price of the set for Ford vans, with nuts, studs, and spanners, is 4:9 7s. ad. Extra wheels complete with plates 37s. Cd. each.
Sparking Plugs.
There arc few accessories in motordom of which it can be said they have existed for nine years without alteration in design. Still less is it to be expected that one would find this to be true of a sparking plug. We gather, however, that. the No. 7 Oleo plug, marketed by Leo Ripault and Co., 64a, Poland Street, W., at 9s. 6d_, is precisely the same now as it was in 1907. Moreover, not only is this plug proving extremely successful for general and commercial purposes, but is being ordered by the thousand for that most strenuous existence for a plug which is met with on aeroplane work, thousands per week being supplied to the order of the Aircraft Department for this purpose.
Such a lengthy period of successful use argues sound construction from the commencement. The user of the Oleo is immune from trouble in this respect.
Regulation Lamp-dimmers.
Particulars of -Mr. Sandbrook's side-light dimmers, unfortunately, came to hand a little too late for in,our last week'sissue, where they mighr sery well have accompanied the reference to the new lighting restrictions. These dimmers are discs of sheet metal designed so that they may be readily.slipped into place and just as readily withdrawn, as the driver passes into and out of areas in which their use is compulsory. They are made in two styles, one in which the disc is used externally and fits outside the flared front of the lamp door ; it is made secure by a spring clip which takes hold of the beading on the door. The alternative style is for 'fixing inside. The disc is made in two parts and sprung into place inside the glass. When ordering these dimmers, it is advisable either to call or send one of the lamps ; alternatively, the diameter of the outside of the door if the external type is required, or the inside diameter for the other type.
Mr. Sandbrook is the manager of the Radiator and Lamp Repairing Co. of 21, Little Portland Street, London, W., who manufacture these fittings.