SAFE TRAVEL FOR GREYHOUNDS.
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Duple Bodies and Motors, Ltd., has Constructed, to the Order of a London Firm, a Special Van, which can Carry 20 Dogs on a 25-cwt. Chevrolet Chassis.
HE commercial vehicle has rendered valued service in hound, there being two tiers of five kennels arranged on both 1connection with many branches of sport. To quote but sides of a thick central partition, which bisects the whole
a few instances, motor coaches and buses have been used body. All the interior woodwork of the vehicle, which is for Bonn, years for the conveyance of football and cricket teams to " away" matches, whilst the well-sprung and speedy,' modern motor horsebox is now recognized as the best possible neethod" foe the catriage of racehorses, even Over long distances, and now the recently instituted pastime of greyhound racing has provided yet another field of transport in which the commercial tnlor is quickly making itself indispensable.
Several vans for the transport of racing greyhounds havealready been constructed 'and; at the time of writing, the latest vehicle for this purpose has just been finiShed at the works of Duple Bodies and Motors, Ltd., Edgware Road, London, N.W.O. The van in question has been built to the order and partly. to the design of the organizers of the Clanton Stadium and Greyhound Racecourse, who are responsible for the racing at the Clapton Orient football ground. We understand that the vehicle is to be used for carrying dogs between the stadium and the kennels at Romford, Essex.
It is of interest to note that although the body is comparatively small and mounted on a 25-ewt. chassis its interior is arranged so that 20 dogs can be comfortably carried in one load. The chassis, incidentally, is of standard_Chevrolet design and is shod with Goodrich pneumatics of 30-in. by 5-in. dimensions. As is clearly shown in our accompanying illustrations, a separate kennel is provided for each grey Panelled in aluminium so far as its exterior is concerned, is lined with heavy-gange zinc, to aid the cleansing of the van and to prevent the animals from gnawing the timber.
Pedigree greyhounds, like most other thoroughbred animals, are very delicate, and for this reason ventilation has received special attention. There are five louvres arranged to draw the air from each kennel, making 100 louvres in all, the current passing into the body by means of hit-and-miss ventilators fitted in the front and rear sides of the van. Wire-mesh sides, instead of solid
ones, are also provided for the kennels, so that the air may circulate freely. The metal-lined floor, which would naturally be somewhat cold to the touch, is covered in each compartment by means of a rubber mat, this likewise affording greater comfort to the animals. Ontters for drainage purposes -are provided along both sides of the van. . It will b-e noted from our illustrations-that there is a separate door to each of the 20 kennels. This is a very convenient arrangement, the greyhounds being loaded and unloadedby means of special trestles, one of which.is depicted on the previous page.
The overall dimensions of the body, the lines of which have .perhaps been sacrificed to utility,, are as follow:— Width, 7 ft. 3 ins.; height under cant-rails, 6 ft. 6 ins., and
length, 8 ft. 11 ins. The kennels are all of the same size, namely, 20 ins, wide by Si ins. high 1)3743 ins. long, exceptlug those over the wheel arches which, for obvitnis reasons, have been made about 6 ins. shallower.
The body, which is smartly finished in grey with black lettering picked out in white, is mounted separately from the driver's cab, in order to prevent obnoxious odours from entering the latter, which, incidentally, is comfortably equipped with grained leather upholstery.
Yet another point of interest is the specially wide front buniper fitted to the chassis. This is provided on the van to aid the driver in judging the width of the vehicle when negotiating awkward corners, or when .passing other vehicles in heavy traffic, etc.