MOBILE, PUBLICITY AS A FINE ART.
Page 13
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A Description of a Remarkable Publicity Van, in Which the Lettering Alone Has Cost Several Times the Value of the Chassis.
THE ACCOMPANYING illustrations of the handsome advertising vehicle built by the Dartford Engineering and Carriage Co:, Ltd., 23-24, Hythe Road, Willesden, London, N.W. O, to the order of the Normand Garage, Ltd., Olaf Sreet, Latimer Road, London, W. 11, cannot convey an adequate im.pression of the vehicle's really striking appearance.' • It has been designed in order, to advertise Milkal, the latest dried milk product. Which is distributed IV J. Lobs' and -Co., Ltd., and the vehicle "forms one
of a fleet of 'similar machines. .
In the first van the framework iS in fluralumin, and the panelling in aluminillin; but in the others.. both the framework and panelling are in duralziminthat wonderfully light but strong alley. Each letter on the panels is a bronze casting, the bronze lacing of a special alloy c].osely resembling gold, whilst the interior of each letter is filled Ivith blue vitreous enamel.' The centre panel at each side also beavs a brass cow, which, iri itself, is quite a handsome piece of . work. The building of the body is specialized, and most of the struts, etc., used in its construction are of a patented design. This applies particularly to the method of riveting up the panels, these being held in such a manner that the overlaps are drawn into intimate con, tact; these overlaps are, of course, covered with metal beading.
Between the framework and the panels are strips of thick felt, which entirely prevent chattering. Even the wheels are p-ovided with spun cluralurnin (Jutes discs, which are riveted into position.
The interior has duralumin-framed Shelves in three tiers, with -three crosf. shelves at the front, the lowest of these being formed by the cover of the spare wheel cradle' access to which is obtained Ivy a hinged flap at each side.
Wide double doors are provided at the rear, whilst at the front is a single vide flap, which can be lifted Pp and supported by two duralumin hooks fastened to the cab roofs thus, loading and unloading can be performed either from the front or from the rear.
The only wood used in the whole CoilBtruction is in the inner frames of the oval side windows, and even these are ,painted aluminium. .
The weight of this body suitable for a ton Ford or similar chassis is 4 cwt., excluding the lettering, but including the shelves, as against the 9 cwt: of an ordinary wooden body. Such a saving in body weight means considerably augmenting the permissible weight of the paying load. Apart from this, a body of this type never warps or cracks, and does not require painting.
The letters are held in.position by'.setscrews provided with spring washe:s.and nuts, the ends of the set-screws being riveted over, thus making a safe and permanent fastening.
Adequate protection is afforded the driver by a double windscreen the top We of which 1S adjustable. windscreen, notieed
that a rear-view mirror was fitted to the off-side windscreen pillar. This is a detail which we have often advocated. The appearance of the whole vehicle is enhanced by the fitting to the Ford chassis of a built-up cast aluminium radiator of the gilled tubular type. We were very agreeably impressed with the quality of the workmanship shown throughout the body construction, and, apart from its very impressive appearance, it is quite an engineering job, reflecting credit on its builders.