IN THE TYRE SECTION AT OLYMPIA.
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The Best and Quickest Way to Inspect the Exhibits of All Manufacturers. Tyre Equipment for All Classes of Goods and Passenger Vehicles.
TO MANY of those who are meehanially inclined and who, on the occasion of Exhibitions such as that now being held at Olympia, confine their attention to the inspection of chassis and their components, the exhibits in the gallery do not always make outstanding appeal. If they elect to leave the ground floor at all then their examination of the hostof accessories and components displayed in the gallery is often of the inset cursory kind. These visitors fail to realize that these products—incidentaie, if you like—has-e had much to do with the continued progress in the design and construction of the modern commercial vehicle and have contributed their quote to the state of efficiency which such machines have now reached.
One could name many mechanical details to which this statement applies, but perhaps the rubber tyre has had more to do with the general advances recorded than is credited by most people. If this assertion be questioned a tour of the stands on which the exhibits of tyre manufacturers are prominently displayed will at once dispel any doubts on this point. Improvement in the design and quality of the rubber tyre i has played its part n developing the road teansport movement, and particularly is this so in connection with that branch which deals with the transport of passengers. For this reason the -wide range Of tyres which is exhibited should reeeive proper attention, and especially should the merits of those tyres built for special forms of service be well considered.
The stands 0.; the tyre manufacturers are all to be found on the north side of the gallery above main hall, all but three of them being disposed on the inner side, which is completely occupied by 20 individual exhibitors. Starting at the Addison Road end we first of all come to Stand 288, which is occupied by the Michelin Tyre*Co., Ltd. who show large-size -cable .tyres and disc wheels of corresponding dimensions suitable for equipping all type§ of heavy panger end goads vehicles.. Puncteere alarms are made by the . company for fitting tothis classof equipment, and thee give the-driver due warping when the pressure ina tyre. fells below 351E Demonstrations of the tyre-detaching toOlshow how the largest and mest obstinate cover tin he'rerneved from the ' rim without laberieuseffert.
Pirelli,.Ltd., make an attractive display on the next stand, where a full range Of &elide made. in single-section and 0-twin types are to be seen, the latter. being .so de:signed sate reduce the risk Of trouble. arising through stone§ :becoming". wedged ..between the two sections. Another point to note is the generous thickness of the rubber.
Al! typee of 'solid tyres are to the fore , on the following stand, where WoodMilne, Ltd. have a most representative display. The solids in standard and super-cushion qualities are all intended for commercial week on ordinary goods and passenger vehicles or industrial trolleys. Next we come to the stand of the St, Helens Cable and Rubber Co., Ltd. Here are displayed solid band tyres and those of super-resilient quality, as well as Everlastic puncture-resisting inner tubes. The semi-resilient tyre is of unique design composed mainly of a tough rubber with a pad of extremely resilient compound inserted at its base. The Everlastic tube is much thicker than an ordinary inner tube and has a thickened tread portion.
The following stand houses the exhibits of the Avon India Rubber Co.; Ltd. The range in solids is most complete and the quality of the tough black rubber of Which they are composed will be noted. Solid band tyres, of standard design and cliniensions, for petrol, sfeens and electric vehicles are there, the sizes ranging from 75 mm. (3 ins.) np. to 300 mm. (12 ins.). The giant singles are circumferentially grooved .and form attractivepropositions for bus and coach equipment. Fire-engine tyres, special resilient qualities for Fords, and miniature solids for industrial trucks complete. the exhibit.
No. 283 is the next stand, where the Leyland and Birmingham Rubber Co., Ltd., show solid tyres of several sizes, brake linings, moulded braided hose and radiator tubing. The Shrewsbury and Challiner is the next stand we reach, and here is to be .seen the company's patent steel disc wheel, which, although it resembles other types outwardly, is so constructed that its discs are in compression radially and in tension circumferentially. A range of solid tyres, patent fire-engine tyres and wood artillery wheels complete an interesting exhibit.
The Ducasble cushion tyre is the main -exhibit on Stand 281. This tyre con • eists of a rubber band incorporating 'separate air cells, each in independent communication with the •atmosphere through a small perforation in the rubber wan.
It will be as well here to cross the gangway and peruse the exhibits on the thre:e tyre stands located there. The first which is met (No. 223) is that of the B. F. Goodrich Co.,Ltd., where tyres and wheels for all classes of vehicle engaged in commercial service are on view'. The semi-pneumatic pattern is worthy of more than cursory
attention. Pass on now t6 the exhibit of the United States Rubber Co., Ltd., where the most familiar tyre on view is the Nubby Cord giant pueuinatic, which
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is shown n the following sizes 32 ins. by sq ins., 36 ins. by 6 ins., 38 ins. by 7 -ins. and 40 ins. by 8 ins. The new Royal Cord giant pneumatic for bus ' work should also command respect. The third tyre stand on thisside of the gallery is that of the Industrial Rubber 'Product's, Ltd:, where tyres of various patterns and accessories relating to their fitting, ten-Leval and upkeep. are on view.
We now return to the other side of
the gangway to inspect tee exhibits of Chas. Macintosh and Co., -Ltd.. Of cushion tyres the Macintosh-N.A.P. is one of the most successful, and, a-part from examples of this tyre, this company also shoW on Stand 280 solid tyres, for all types of commercial vehicles and a range of Titan cords of 6-in. eection and upwards.
Amongst the tyre exhibitors the
Dunlop stand cannot be missed. This pre-eminent. company have arrayed all types of solids, including those of supercushion quality, segmental tractor tyres, industrial trolley tyres, Aerocore tyres, as well as giant pneumatics in both straight-side and beaded-edge types. The Aerocore pattern has as its main features cushioning capacity, durability and simplicity of attachment.
Hutchinson's come next to the Dunlop
stand, and they show all types of solid, super-cushion and pneumatic tyres, the first two being guaranteed for 12,000 miles, or for a period of 15 months.-
A few yards fartheron the stand of W. and A. Bates, Ltd., is met, and here are to be seen solids anti cushion tyres, together with wheels.
Stand 276 is occupied by the Bergougnan CO., who show dissymmetrical simper-resilient solids, as well ma solids of usual psttern and a special section for bus work.
Clincher band tyres, incloding the super-resilient pattern and the giant solid, are to the fore on the next stand, where a host of tyre accessories and
rubber sundries are also arranged. .
Continuing, the stand of the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain),.. Ltd., is reached and a. few minutes is well spent in examining the comprehensive range of tyres and tubes which are shown, these including cushions solids, pneumatics of large section, The products of the Harboro' Rubber Co. are next met. This company have given prominence to two rear Wheels of a Dennis coach chassis fitted with 14-in. solid tyres, as well as a rear wheel from a petrol-electric bus fitted with a, special resilient deep-section solid for passengercarrying vehicles.
Of particular interest on the stand of Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., which is the next to be visited, is the new air-cushion tyre, which can be fitted to nearly all sizes of standard solidtyred wheels without the need for altering them. Solid and giants are also shown, as well as the 135 mm. section zig-zag pneumatic.
We now come to the stand of George
Spencer Moulton and CU., Ltd., who exhibit both solids for ordinary road vehicles and those for industrial trucks. The super-resilient tyre, which is moil suitable for passenger work, is also on view.
There Ire fcrur main attractions on the next stand—that occupied by Will,ys
Overland Crossiey, Ltd.—these being the Fisk tyre in several types, i.e., Premier cords, red top F.T. super cords and those)pf non-skid canvas pattern. Non-skid tiircl covers are also shown. We now come to the last stand in the tyre section of the Show. This is No. 269, Which houses the band tyres and wheels suitable for use with commercial vehicles of from 1-ton to 14-ton capacity exhibited by J. W. and T. Connolly, Ltd. Giant tyres, 10 ins. and 12 ins, wide, are shown alongside a resilient pattern for light goods and passenger vehicles, these tyres creating considerable interest.