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KEEPING THE WHEELS OF WAR GOING.

2nd May 1918, Page 13
2nd May 1918
Page 13
Page 14
Page 13, 2nd May 1918 — KEEPING THE WHEELS OF WAR GOING.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Part Played by a Subsidiary but All-essential Branch of the M.T. Services.

TO THE VAST MAJORITY of those at home the. 'diversified impedimenta which is essential for the efficient maintenance of s,o large a number of commercial vehicles asis at present serving abroad with, our armies in the field is little understood or realized; the extensive detailed organization which is involved is beyond their powerof comprehension.

Base depots, repair shops, anti-aircraft sections and workshops, tyre press units, and many other sub:sidiary but all-important branches have their allotted tasks to perform. It ban.readily be imagined how vitally important are these auxiliary duties when it is borne in mind that motor transport, so far as the Army is concerned, must he kept going at all costs if supplies and munition replenishments are to be effec tively distributed. This more particularly applies when extensive battle operations are irominent and during the progress of the attack, and in this respect it is well to call to mind the indispensable part which motor vehicles played in the protection of the city of Verdun. In that case, the French Army defending the city was solely dependent on mechanical vehicles for its supplies.' It is admittedly an established fact that motor transport saved this vital centre of communication from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Quite naturally, when an offensive operation is undertaken, be it on -the part of our own forces or those of the enemy, much extra strain and work falls on the shoulders,ot those whomaintain the auxiliary services, and it is on these occasions that the organization and efficiency of working of the unit is solely tested. One of the minor but all-important .duties of this nature is equipping the vehicle wheels with new tyres. As might well be expected, bearing in mind the vast numbers of commercial vehicles on active service, there are many units solely engaged on this work. It must be understood that the length of life of rubber tyres,. be they solid or pneumatic, under the arduous conditions of running experienced in the war areas can hardly be expected to be anything like as long as those obtained by civilian users. The roads—for such they are called for want of a better name—play havoc with tyre surfaces, and on these occasions constant renewal of tyres is rendered necessary, and to effect this• end mobile tyre-press units are employed.

Our composite illustration included herewith will give. some idea of the stock of•tyres that is held, as well as the type of hydraulic press utilized for removing the worn tyres and replacing the wheels with new ones. We have reasons for believing that all the presses used for this operation in the various war spheres are manufactured. by Hollings and Guest, Ltd., general engineers, of Thimble .Mill Lane, Birmingham, well known in the commercial-vehicle industry-on account of the variety of presses which are made for so many divergent purposes.. In our illustration, the right-hand to and the lefthand lower pictures show the latest type of Hollings and Guest press which is in use by the British Army at a base depot in 'France. It will be seen that a swing arm is embodied for holding the wheel to be treated preparatory to swinging it on to the press table. Our centre picture depicts the type of tyre press which is at present being made by this company for the use of the mechanical transport units of the U.S.A. Army already in France. Tht demand for these presses will increase in proportion to the number of M.T. men sent over from America.

it may not be generally known that this concern is making the whole of the tyre presses needed for the equipment or the Ma. branch of Uncle Sam's army. This particular presaris similar in design and Construction to the standard No. 13 tyre press which is so largely utilized throughout our industry, but it is • substantially stronger in various details. The -press is capable of giving .200. tons pressure as against 150 tons in the No. 13 press. The frame is made of stiffer material; the table is fitted with substantial guides, whilst a runway projecting from the -centre of the press is fitted for lifting wheels up and carrying them direct into the press itself, thus saving a deal of expenditure of labour. As is consistent with the productions of this company, this press for -the use of the American Army appears to be well Made for the -work it is to tackle.


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