What's New at the " Royal "
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Several Tractors with Noteworthy Features Figure Among Latest Models by British Makers. New Machines to be Seen on Seven Stands AROUND of the Royal Show, at Bristol, which opened on Tuesday and closes to-morrow (Saturday), reveals several new models with noteworthy features. Below a representative of The Commercial Motor describes some of the latest types that caught his eye on a stand-to-stand tour of the exhibition.
• The Auto-Tractor, shown on Stand 85, by the Auto.. Mower Engineering Co., Ltd_ Norton St. Philip, Bath, is a composite machine, embodying, in one exhibit, a Ford four-cylindered engine, and in the other, a V-8 power unit by the same maker. The engine is mounted in unit form with the gearbox and rear-axle mechanism of (as appears) a Fordson tractor.
The complete unit is ingeniously three-point suspended in a substantial framework composed of rolled-steel sections. This is carried on two axles. The rear axle is supported on the driving wheels, which are chain-driven from sprockets on the ends of what is normally the basic axle of the Fordson tractor.
An Unusual Suspension System.
The suspension embodies semi-elliptic springs at the rear, longitudinally disposed; at the front, two inverted semi-eilipties are used, arranged in a most unorthodox manner to give independent springing to the front wheels. These springs are short and are laid transversely near each end of the channel-steel front axle. The outer ends of the springs bear on the tops of the stub-axle pivots, which can slide vertically.
Provision is made for an engine-driven winch at the front of the chassis and there are towing hooks at the front and rear.
The new tractors shown by the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. on Stand 101 are best exemplified by reference to two of them. One, the W.C.-type, has a single wheel at the front and two large-diameter wheels (for 9-in. pneumatic tyres on 36-in. rims). The feature of the rear axle is the way in which the track can be varied in small gradations from 56 ins. to 76 ins. This is effected by attaching the wheel rims to the wheel centres by off-set lugs.
The result of the use of large wheels is a clearance of no less than 33 ins, under the rear axle.
Another Allis-Chalmers model has a wide track, but four wheels, with a high-arched front axle, giving a ground elseance of 16 ins, in the centre.
The oil cleaner is glass covered, affording visible means 'SW
for determining when the cleansing material should, be renewed.
Of the Caterpillar tractors shown by H; Leverton and Co., Spalding, and Jack Olding and Co., Marylebone, 'London, W.1 (Stand 102), model R.D.4 is the most recent introduction. It has an oil engine, of the pre-combustionchamber type, and is equipped with a two-cylindered 1.0 h,p. petrol engine for starting.
The oil unit has four cylinders of 4i-in. bore and 5/-in. stroke, The transmission embodies five forward speed's and a reverse. The tractor is available in two widths, for 44-in. and 60-in. tracks, The British Holder is of the self-contained tractor and plough, and tractor and cultivator or tractor and hoe type, one of the features being the ingenious way in which these various implements are coupled to the machine, with provision for various adjustments of level, depth, and cut. The machine is shown on Stand 104 by British Holder Tractor, Ltd., Progress Way, Croydon.
The power unit is a single-cylindered two-stroke petrol engine of 8 h.p, It is cooled by an engine-driven turbofan and has an impulse-starter magneto. A single-plate clutch transmits the power to a worm, driving a crossshalt, at each end of which are spur gears meshing with others on the tractor wheels.
The spur pinions on the ends of the worm-wheel shaft are engaged by dog clutches, separately controlled, for steering purposes. A large number of variations in the 'wheel track is possible. Another feature of importance is the arrangement Whereby the handlebars by which the machine is controlled can be swung to either side. The operator is thus enabled to guide the machine under bushes or trees, while he himself walks clear. There are three possible positions of these handlebars, all available instantaneously without the use of tools.
Provision is made for a power take-oil and for the use of this tractor for spraying and similar purposes. A special feature is the off-set plough.
A novel Commer vehicle is shown by Cathedral Garage, Ltd., Bristol, on Stand 108. This is an 8-cwt. tender, and is designed for use either as a passenger-carrying vehicle or for goods conveyance, or for the two purposes simul
taneously. Inside the body are two sets of collapsible seats, designed so that, when collapsed, they fold right down into wells below the floor.
The backs of the seats become, to all intents and purposes, the floor of the van. There are, in addition, two comfortable bucket seats at the front, for the driver and his companion. The vehicle may, therefore, serve as an 8-cwt. van, with seats for driver and helper, a van with seats for four passengers and a fair, amount of goods or luggage, and as a conveyance for six persons. The new Marshall 12-20 h.p. general-purpose tractor, shown on Stand 115, by Marshall Sons and Co., Gains borough, has a cold-starting oil engine, with solid injection. It is a single-cylindered unit, of Of in. bore and 9-in. stroke. The clutch is of the cone type and the gearbox affords three speeds forward and one reverse.
The feature of the Oliver tractor shown on Stand 168 by John Wallace and Sons, Ltd., is the arrangement whereby all row-cultivating implements are carried in front of the driver, in full view. The tractor itself has a powerful six-cylindered engine, designed to consume paraffin.