The Critchley-Norris Motor Company.
Page 16
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Exhibit:-40h.p., 24-passenger Char-a-bancs.
The importance of the standard, 4oh.p., petrol-driven machine is somewhat overshadowed by the debut of the latest thing in steamers, which naturally occupies the front position on the company's stand. Nevertheless, the representative of petrol-driven machines, a standard chassis, carrying a well-designed char-b-banes body, although temporarily occupying a " back seat " at the show, should by no means be passed over without inspection and notice.
The Critchley-Norris chassis was originally described in our columns on the .2end March, 1906, and a full description of the improved type was given in our account of last year's show. We shall now content ourselves with indicating the improvements which have been embodied since then, and with a broad outline of the chief mechanical features of the machine. The original form of radiator, in which spirit-filled tubes were utilised to extract the heal. from the water, has been abandoned for a long while, and the present type
installed in its place. It has a very large surface, efficiently cooled by a
large-diameter fan. Special precautions have been taken to permit the tubes to expand without imposing undue strains on the casings.
The engine remains much as before; it has four cylinders each of 4 inch bore, and a 6-inch piston stroke, giving 3ob.h.p. at Soo revolutions per minute. Low-tension magneto is still retained as a standard, although due provision is made for the addition of nigh-tension equipment if desired.
The operating gear for the clutch, which is controlled by eccentrics, has, from the outset, been a novel feature on this chassis, and the makers claim that it enables the clutch to be operated more softly than does the usual form of lever control. Ease of clutch manipulation is a feature of the design on which an extraordinary amount of in g-enuity has been expended. Its importance cannot be over-estimated, a fact which will be quickly realised when the average London omnibus driver is watched at work, handicapped as he sometimes is with a clutch whose stiffness and fierceness is enough to knock the soul out of a man's body.
The gear box, brakes, and final drive have undergone little alteration, since our last description was published, and it only remains to mention that the char-k-bancs body is a very good example of how comfortably the seats can be arranged on a level platform.