Whitson Expands $400,000 Orders N 'contracts worth $400,000, as well as
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Orders for fire-engines for five overseas cOuntries, Were being executed from the new factory of James Whitson and Co., Ltd., the managing director, Mr.. A. E Whittit, announced -after the official opening last Friday. The ceremony. was performed by Mr. Frank I3eswick, M.P.
• The new premiies are at High Street, Yiewsley, West Drayton, Middlesex, and there is a covered area of 60,000 sq. ft. Features of the buildings are the pits in the final assembly shop, which enable the chassis to be prepared for the road while final adjustments are carried out inside the body, and the
provision of separate spray-painting and bruSh-painting shops. The factory has been under construction for three years and will employ 400 people.
Over 20 convertible ambulance-buses are being built for the United-States Air Force. Based on Austin chassis, these vehicles normally seat 29 passengers, each seat being attached by quickrelease fittings, so that it can be removed within a few minutes. In lockers.under the floor are stored 12 stretchers for which special fittings are located in the pillars and on the roof. The outer edge of each stretcher is supported by webbing straps suspended from catches in the roof. An attendant's seat is provided behind the driver's cab. This seat is permanently fixed.
Comprehensive Heating
Space for light luggage is provided alongside the cab, from which the operation of the jack-knife door is controlled by a lever. Clayton heating apparatus' is installed to demist the Windscreen and side panels of the cab, add feed the interior with warmed air from a full-length duct on the off side. Sliding ventilating panels in each side window and extractor ventilators in the roof ensure that, the interior is kept fresh. On the off side of the body there is a full-length strip-type bell push.
At the rear are wide double doors for use when the vehicle is in service as an ambulance. Beneath the doors, and concealed between the side members of the anderfrarne, is a long ramp mounted on rollers and 'balanced for easy handhug. The framing of this body is composite and the vehicle weighs') tons 18 cwt. unladen.