The Purchase Department.
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Where to Buy your Supplies.
You Can Get It At " A.B." (Kingston).—The weather screen for which you inquire is made by T. C. Aveling and Co. (Birmingham), Ltd., 91, New Canal Street, Birmingham.
" W.S." (Highbury).—The " Rapid" revolving water-force wheel brush for which you inquire is made by the Rapid Works, 318, King Street, Hammersmith, London, W.
M.P. Non-skid Tire.
It will be recalled that, in our issue dated the 25th December last, we made mention of a novel form of nereskid pneumatic tire, manufactured by the Metal Plate Tyre, Co., Ltd., 1, Victoria Street, London, S.W.
We again recently got in touch with the manufacturer, in order to find out, from a practical .demonstration, the properties of this invention.
The ordinary pneumatic tire, as used on industrial vehicles carrying loads up to, say. 15 cwt., is generally a costly item with the user. The fitting of some form of noreskid armour relieves this orqy to a limited extent. This manufacturer has gone to the base of the whole matter, and our iflustiation shows the result of several years' experimenting. The principal feature of the construction is the embedding of a series of rectangular metal plates, made in highcarbon steel, in the tire itself. A shank is made integral with the plate, which, passing through a strong foundation in the cover, enables the plate to be seeurely fastened in position by means of a special type of nut. The plates are fitted in close pitch on the tire tread, consequently the finished hand is well reinforced, and obstacles encountered on the road, in the ordinary way likely to cause a puncture, are immediately deflected.
The size of the face-curvature of the plate, in order to afford an efficient non-skid, is quite an important matter, and each plate is machined-curved on its outer face both ways ; it also has six holes drilled in it, the outer ends of which are chamfered, and the cutting away there of the metal affords a six-point, grip. for each piece of steel.
During the trial run we took opportunity closely to examine the behaviour of the machine to which M.P. tires were fitted; ands although the clutch was let in quite suddenly on -several Occasions for starting, no slip of either rear road-wheel was discernible ; the car could also be brought stationary in very short distances. We tried the effect on " grease" and very smooth road surfaces, and the same desirable features were noticed. The demonstrating machine was fitted with an M.P. tire that had already run 9000 miles, and its non-skid properties were still as good as ever. Additional saving can be effected through the reduction of wear and tear which, in the ordinary way, is brought to bear on the differential, as the rear wheels can be fitted with M.P. tires, thus affording a satisfactory non-skid, and a positive drive to both wheels under working conditions.
The company will shortly be in a position to supply solid M.P. tires for use on goods-carrying machines and fire-fighting units.
Acetylene Headlights.
There is no gainsaying the fact that makers of all classes of commercial vehicles are paying increasing attention to the headlights for use on the particular machines they construct. A headlight recently designed to appeal to the maker and user of utility vehicles has been marketed by Rnehmere Lamps, Ltd., 46, Brewer Street, Piccadilly Circus, London, W. In addition to the lens mirror of the lamp, made at the Rushmore factory, there is a parabolic reflector fitted in the front door. This combination gives a widespread light in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, as well as the powerful beam afforded by the lens mirror.
Attention has been given to durability, and the entire body of the lamp is formed from a single sheet of brass, enabling it to withstand vibration and much usage. The side sockets are neat castings, secured by tapered head invisible rivets, whilst the hinges are machined finished castings. For use with the above lamps the concern's square generator is recommended. The capacity of the generator is 2i lb. of lump carbide, and with one charge the container will supply sufficient gas to light two of the above-mentioned lamps for seven hours. This lamp fully maintains the reputation Rushmore's have gained as manufacturers of pleasure-car headlights, and it is marketed at a reasonable price.