AN INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT VISIT TO THE DENNIS WORKS.
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
'DEAL weather favoured the visit 1 of thole members of the Institute of Transport who took part in the visit to the Guildford works of Dennis Bros., Ltd. The party was conveyed from the Hotel Metropole in two Dennis motor coaches, one of which was fitted with a four-purpose all-weather body, built for the Southsea Tourist Co., Ltd., and described in this journal in the issue for May 16th.
A halt was made at The Hut, Wisley, where demonstrations of various kinds were carried out. Of these, the principal interest attaches to those with the Dennis patent street-watering and washing wagon. The special feature of this machine is in the design of the sprinkling and washing heads, which distribute the water through slots, instead of the usual row of holes. The distributors are placed in front of the wagon, so that the operator has a clear view of the watering or washing operation, and can avoid any obstruction. The sprinklers are capable of giving a spread 50 ft. wide, and, when weakling, of from 25 ft. to 30 ft. The pump which delivers the water to the jets can also be used to fill the tank, and, when, required, can be made to throw a usefill jet of 175 gallons per minute at 100 lb. pressure, or 225 gallons per minute at 85 lb. pressure, thus forming an efficient fire-fighter.
Demonstrations were also carried out with the Dennis turbine fire-engine, and with one of the new portable multistage turbine pumps which, although weighing only 10 cwt., can pump as much as 400 gallons per _ minute at usual fire-'brigade working pressures. It can he pushed by hand or trailed behind a motorcar. Its cost is only £450.
On arrival at Guildford a tour of the works was made, during which opportunity was afforded for inspection of all the various types of Dennis machines in various stages of completion. Particular interest was naturally aroused by a fleet of 16 vehicles recently completed for the Greek Government, including one 75 h.p. and three 65 h.p. Dennis turbine motor fire-engines, three motor fire tenders, and nine water tank wagons, each of which carries 750 gallons of water, and is available for use when dealing with conflagrations far removed from a source of water sLpply.
Subsequently demonstrations of the hill-climbing capacity of Dennis vehicles of several types were afforded on the Mount, which, in parts, has a gradient of 1 in 6. All models were fully loaded, and each was stopped and started on the steepest part of the hill.
The proceedings were terminated, prior to the return to London, by the same pleasant means, as those. provided for the outward run, by a luncheon at the " White Lion," when the toast of Dennis Bros. was proposed by Mr. T. W. A. Hayward, surveyor to the borough of Battersea. "The Institute " was proposed by Mr. Hobbs, theresponse being made by Mr. N. Scorgie, surveyor to the borough of Hackney. and Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, C.B.E., a vice-president of the Institute.