AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

An All-purpose Van for Police Patrol Work

5th May 1944, Page 29
5th May 1944
Page 29
Page 29, 5th May 1944 — An All-purpose Van for Police Patrol Work
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Chief Constable of Ashton-under-Lyne Designs a Vehkk Equipped to Meet Civilian and Wartime Emergency Needs

ALTHOUGH police vans are to be seen in most cities and towns, there mast be much speculation as to their interior appointment and the role they fill in the multifari:ous duties performed by the police. A splendid example of such a vehicle has lately been put into service by the Ashton-under-Lyne Borough Police, and it is by the courtesy of its designer—Chief Constable H. Piston—that we were recently permitted to inspect its many interesting features.

The basic idea underlying its acquisition was to provide a means for dealing with every emergency in the case of accidents oI all kinds, with criminal investigation, and with the special problems with which the police may be faced in combating the results of enemy action. The designing and appointing were left in the hands of Chief. Constable Piston, who received valuable assistance from Mr. C. I. Baker, M.Inst.T., of Ashton-underLyne Corporation, in connection with the interior accessories. .

An Austin 26.8 h.p., six-cylinclered, long-Wheelbase chassis provides the basis for the van, the body of which was built by S. anci.H. Bond, Ltd., of Manchester. Externally, the body appears to differ hut little from any other police van, but there are one -or two features which give a glimpse of the degree of thoroughness with which the whole design has been conceived. For instance, there are four 6-volt batteries housed on the pear side, just behind the cab, and access to them is gamed by a small drop door. They do not have to be removed for charging, as provision is made for this in the form of fixed points, arranged inside the •recess, to take plug-in leads from the charging plant.

..0yer the cab, accommodation is provided for -the stowage of asearchlight.. it'S tripod • mounting To Wa rds • the. ' rear,. and .still on the near side, there, is a serving hatch through which hot meal's can be served ,should the need

arise. The body is finished in blue, with black wings and black lining.

Dealing with the equipment; mention has been made of four 6-volt batteries. These are in addition to the 12-volt supply for vehicle lighting, ignition and wireless, and are specifically employed to supply the current for the searchlight and amplifier unitof the loudspeaker equipment. Two 6-volt unitS, connected in series, are uSecl at a time, the other two 'batteries being carried as auxiliaries for the wireless equipment. With regard to the radio, the van carries a receiver having an input of 18 watts, and an 1S-wait transmitter. The communications equipment also includes a cdaxial loud-. speaker, and a hand microphone with an appropriate. Control panel. Its. addition, fox .

St. AMbulance ilrigade first-aid ,haversack of standard pattern, a lung-covered-type of NoVax resuscitation appliance', With two ,cylinden, is leatTied. Another piece of

.apparatus, in the same category, is.a Fireox half-hour-type self-containedoxygen breathing appliance. Both these items were supplied by Seibe Gorrtian and Co,, Ltd.

Classified under " rescue equipment" comes, in addition to the oxygen breathing gear, an 11-in.-diameter searchlight with folding tripod and 100 ft. of cable, an extensible ladder and two grappling irons.

Nothing seems to have been forgotten, for we find that suitable equip. ment is carried for dealing with severed or otherwise deranged overhead electrical wiring. • Fire-fighting apparatus consists of a two-gallon Dual-seal foam extinguisher, a Pyrene chemical extinguisher and a standard type of stirrup pump.

The largest number of items to come under one heading is that for criminal investigation purposes, no fewer than 100-odd pieces being included. In connectkin with the comprehensive array of photographic apparatus provision is made for utilizing mains electricity for lighting tivo ISO-watt lainps.

A pick and shovel, saw and two crowbars form but a.w ofthe tools which find a place on the van, and there are electric and paraffin lamps and war emergency equipment. As will be seen from the interior view, a typewriter is carried.

So cleverly has the interior been designed and laid Out that, despite the quantity of material and equipment carried, there is no evidence ot " overcrowding.In fact, the reverse is the case as, even. with the back'of the seat? Jet:..down to take a stretcher, there Still ample, rorim.4eely to move, about

The interior. finish, throughout is 1 a grained' light oak.


comments powered by Disqus