Aluminium chassis frames
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I was very interested to read the article by Paul Brockington concerning the use of aluminium in the building of chassis frames (CM October 25).
We, of course, as a company, have been using aluminium structurally for more than 50 years and it was Mr Arthur J. Watts -one of our directors, now 86 years' old — who was a pioneer in the road transport industry, particularly in connection with the development of diesel engines, and who asked me whether it was feasible to design in aluminium some special coil-carrying trailers which were being investigated by the Steel Company of Wales Ltd.
As a result of his initiative we designed and built two prototypes which were sent down to Newport, but when they were first loaded the people responsible for transport were so concerned at the deflection that they restricted their carrying to 12-ton loads although they had been designed to carry 16 tons. After they had been there some three or four months the Steel Company of Wales were faced with the problem of carrying 16-ton coils; none of their vehicles other than these two could legitimately carry the load and the only alternative was to send them by rail. In the event, these two carriers were put into operation and proved themselves on their first trip, returning without any deformation whatsoever; they then provided a regular service carrying 16ton coils only.
Their initial fears being allayed, we eventually built a considerable number of these carriers which did yeoman service not only for Joesph Jones & Sons of Ystradgynlais, but for many other operators as well.
E. HORRITT, Managing Director, Duramin Engineering Co Ltd, Lydney, Glos.