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The Reo Chassis.

30th September 1915
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Page 16, 30th September 1915 — The Reo Chassis.
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Combined Electric Ignition, Lighting and Starting on an American Corntnercial Chassis, which is Specially Intended for Use as an Ambulance or Light Van.

The scarcity of commercial vehicles of the heavier type is, of course, by now in process of being considerably relieved. The 2:5 per cent. release of some British manufacturers' output and the total release of that of others, together with the available American chassis of similar capacity, should affect the situation very conswerably. The dearth of lighter machines, however, suitable for vans, which is due in part to the fact that makers of this class of chassis are busily engaged in making other munitions, including shells, and also to the fact that, where this is not the case, manufacturers have been compelled to devote the whole of their attention to heavier chassis in order to meet the requirements of the War Office, has not yet been diminished to any considerable extent. Although resort has been had to relief of a doubtful character in .the guise of converted second-hand touring cars, it is more than .probable that to a. certain extent this will accentuate rather than diminish the interest of some of our readers in the following description of the Reo 1500 lb. chassis.

For Delivery Vans and Ambulances.

it is of a type designed specifically for delivery vans, express lorries and ambulances. Although, of course, constructed with a view to its standing the racket of roughand-tumble commercial-vehicle service, it is rather on the lines of

touring-car construction than on that of commercial vehicles. The rear axle, for example, is a single reduction bevel gear drive, and the wheels are shod with pneumatic tires. Its relationship to the heavier type of chassis is more noticeablewhen one cOnsidersthe design of the frame. In this portion of the vehicle there is none of the " upsetting" and " inswceping " which has of late become such

regular feature of touring car chassis. Although of pressed steel and of the customary channel section, the lines are straight and simple. The illustration on the next page reveals the dean aspect of this part of the dc-sign.

Remy Combined Ignition. Lighting and Starting.

An unusual feature, at any rate in regard to commercial-vehicle construction, is the incorporation of a combined ignition, lighting and starting set. This is constructed by the Remy Co., and is one of the types deseri4ed quite recently, in our issue of the 13th May. It consists of a generator and ignition set suitably mounted on the engine crankcase in the position usually occupied by the magneto, being driven from the tithing gear through the medium of a doubly jointed shaft. The starting motor is mounted, as one of our illustrations shows, in close proximity to the gearbox. The drive to the engine is by means of worm gearing. An accumulator is provided of a suitable size, and is carried under the driver's seat. A dry battery serves as a stand-by.

Somewhat Unusual Engine Design.

The engine itself is of an unusual design. The cylinders are of what is stated to be modified L type, the inlet valves being overhead and arranged along the centre line of the engine, the exhausts being in the more customary position, by the side of the cylinders. The arrangement of the tappets is such that all the valves are operated by means of one camshaft. The cylinders themselves are cast in pairs, with the usual provision for water cooling.

The Johnson Carburetter.

The carburetter provided is that termed the Johnson automatic. For this, however, adjustment of the air supply is possible by means of a lever on the dash. It is notable that not-water jacketing is provitded both for the carburetter and for the induction pipe.

The Transmission. Compact Gearbox.

The remainder of the transmission is as follows :—Dry-plate clutch, flexibly-jointed shaft to three-speed and reverse gearbox. The feature of the latter is its very small size and compact design. The control of the gears is by means of a centrally-disposed lever, carried iii the cover of the box. There is no gate, although the operation of the changing gears is similar to that customary with the usual type of gate change. From gearbox to rear axle a doubly-jointed propeller shaft runs. The rear axle itself is, as has already been stated, bevel gear driven, being of the full floating type, with a pressed-steel casing. The spring-anchored torque rod and the front, halves of the rear springs take care of the torque and thrust respectively.

Radiator. Springing. Equipment.

The radiator is of the tubular type, the cooler itself being selfcontained with pressed top and bottom headers, the whole being flexibly carried inside a pressedsi eel container.

We had not the pleasure of a run on one of these machines, but so far as we can judge from appearances, it would seem to be suitably sprung. Rubber buffers are provided to all

four springs, so as to guard against any too great a deflection. Wooden wheels are fitted of the artillery type, with pneumatic tires

34 ins. by 41 ins. A spare rim, complete set of lamps, electric horn, speedometer and arripmeter are included with the equipment.

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Organisations: War Office

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