Albion Introduces a Light 4,tonner
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A New Chassis, Available in Two Frame Lengths, With a Gross-load Capacity of 4 Tons 12 Cwt. and Weighing Under 2 Tons KEEN as have been the efforts of designers...signers to increase the ratio of load capacity to chassis weight, there are, as yet, very few concerns producing lorries in the 30-m.p.h. class .that are capable of carrying 4 tons of pay-load. Therefore, the introduction by Albion .Motors, Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, W.4, of such a machine entitles this concern to consider itself, in this respect, among the leaders.
The new Albion chassis is a 4-tonner with a gross-load capacity of 4 tons 12 cwt. ; thus a body allowance of. 12 cwt. is afforded. The weight of the chassis is 1 ton 18 cwt., so that, as a lorry or a light van, the machine will be in the 230-tax 30-m.p.h. class. Fut thermore, the pay-load it may carry will represent as much as 61.5 per cent, of its gross laden weight.
The chasis is available in two forms —models LJA473 and LJB473. The former, to which the above weightfigures apply, has a 12-ft. wheelbase and a body space, measured from the back of the driver's cab to the end of the frame, of 21 ft. 7 ins., whilst the wheelbase of the latter is 14 ft. and the space available for the body is 15 ft. 10 ins. Both have forward control. By this choice of proportions, the two axles are correctly laden when the weight of the load carried is evenly distributed.
Developing 60 h.h.p. at 2,200 r.p.m., the power unit installed is a four-cylinB26 dared petrol engine having a bore and stroke of 95.2 mm. (3i ins.) and 127 mm. (5 ins.) respectively, giving a piston-swept volume of 3.62 litres (221 cubic ins.). Dry liners are employed and the exhaust valves have inserted seatings.
Fuel is carried in an 18-gallon tank mounted on the near side of the frame, the feed to the vertical -Zenith carburetter being by Autovac ; two filters are included in the system. From the point of view of maintenance, two noteworthy details of the engine are the ease with which the water-pump gland can be adjusted or repacked, and the accessibility of the magneto contact breaker.
Power is transmitted through a single dry-plate clutch to a unit-mounted gearbox, thence by an open two-piece propeller shaft to an overhead-wormtype rear axle with fully floating shafts. The standard axle ratio is 6 to 1. A worm and wheel affording a ratio of 6t to 1 is optional. Overall ratios are normally 6, 10.6, 17.75 and 27.8 to 1.
Both gear and brake levers are mounted on the driver's right. At the front the road springs are 3 ft. 3 ins. long and at the rear they are 4 ft. 6 ins. long ; all spring eyes are bronzebushed. A straightforward braking system is employed, the same shoes in 17-in. drums on all four wheels being applied by either the hand lever or the pedal. in the latter case through a Dewandre vacuum-servo cylinder. A master adjustment is provided for both methods of operation, whilst there is also an individual adjuster for each of the wheels.
Straight high-tensile-steel channels form the main-frame longitudinals ; these are strongly braced by six crossmembers, two of which are pressings and the remainder drawn-steel tubes with large end flanges. There are 32-in. by 6-in, twin tyres on the rear wheels, and singles of the same dimensions on the front wheels.
Normally, no electric starter is included, but provision is made for its accommodation, and it is listed as an extra. The same applies to a mechanical tyre pump. The standard equipment includes :-12-volt lighting, with a separate switch for the off-side headlamp ; an electric horn ; and, of course, a speedometer.
Usual Albion practice is followed, in the main, throughout the chassis, which is of sturdy construction, despite its moderate weight.