Commercial Cars, Limited.
Page 15
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Exhibit :—Two Chassis ; one Lorry ; one Tilt Van ; one Char-a-bancs; one Convertible Body ; and Specimen Gear Box.
On this stand, there is a fine display of the redoubtable "Commercars" built by Commercial Cars, Limited, of Cambridge Circus, W.C., and Luton. The most interesting exhibit is the chassis of the 3-4 ton lorry, which ran through The recent R.A.C. trials. On the 3rd August last, about six weeks previous to the commencement of the trials, a member of the Editorial staff of "THE 'COMMERCIAL MOTOR" sealed up the gear box on this chassis, and the machine, from that date to the commencement of the trials, was in regular daily .work; during the trials, it was driven distance of some 930 miles, and, after that distance, the .box was opened up for the inspection of the R.A.C. officials. A certificate was given by Mr. j. W. Orde, the secretary of the R.A.C., to the effect that the seals had not been tampered with before their
being broken by the Club officials, and the box was again sealed by them. Since that date, the machine has been in regular daily work, in the service of Thomas Lipton, Limited, for which company it has run a distance of 3,815 miles. The total mileage covered by this machine since it was originally sealed by our representative in August last, amounts to nearly 7,000 miles.
At 12 o'clock on Saturday last, the seals of this box were broken by an official of the Club, and the parts were exposed to view. Our representative examined the parts of this gear box, and found practically no signs of wear, The teeth of the gear wheels, and the faces of the clutches,, were in perfect condition, and fully justified the confidence which the maker had placed in the designs by submitting them to such rigid and public testing and inspection. The opening-up of the gear box created intense interest amongst all the visitors, and many representatives of other exhibitors, at Olympia. Another exhibit on this stand is a three-ton to four-ton brewers' -lorry, fitted to a chassis similar to that of the trials vehicle, and this is equipped with a very practical form of jib crane, which can be swung round in any direction. The hoisting gear is driven from the clutch shaft, through a special sliding type of spur gear, and an additional friction-cone clutch. The secondmotion shaft of this hoisting gear is carried by brackets from the near-side channel member of the main frame, and is prolonged to the foot of the swinging jib, and this is situated just behind the near-side .driving wheel. An adjustable foot is provided, which can be let down, and, when clamped in position, this relieves the bearing spring from any of the loads or snaps which would be set up when the .hoist was in operation. . This is a very-Useful form of hoisting gear, and it does not encroach upon the platform space of the lorry. It should prove an extremely useful fitting for millers, brewers, piano makers, contractors, or merchants and manufacturers who have to deal with heavy goods.
A good example of the tilt, van-type body, as is now largely used by furnishing houses, is also shown. This is fitted with a 24-26h.p.,. four-cylinder, vertical engine, and the chassis is one of this maker's standard, 2-ton to 2.4ton type. The vehicle in question has been built to the order of Waring's, Limited, of Oxford Street, W., which company already has a machine of the same make in regular service. A further example of the 2-ton to 21-t0n
type of vehicle, mounted with a very • fine char-à-bancs body, is also exhibited on this stand, as well as one of the new 2-tort chassis; this last-named specimen is highly polished, and is a fine piece of work. An example of the convertible body, which is one of the latest introductions by Commercial Cars, Limited, is also staged.
Scattered about the stand are various plaques, which give the dates on which certain chassis had their gear boxes sealed by responsible persons, and some of these vehicles have been in constant service for nearly a year. In all instances, the seals on the gear boxes have been found to be intact, and certificates awarded to that effect, by the parties responsible for the sealing.