JOVETT
Page 52
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Stand 87
BRIGHTLY coloured vans—four in number—comprise the exhibit staged by Jowett Cars, Ltd. Two of these are described as 8-h.p. machines and the other two as 10-cwt. vehicles. Chief interest lies in the fact that the chassis of these vehicles has been completely redesigned. The aim has been to provide economy with reliability.
Accordingly, a particularly rigid frame has been developed to relieve the bodywork of distortion. Each side member of the frame consists of two channel pieces, one shallow and one deep. The former is placed just inside the latter and the two are then welded together, forming a box-section member. The frame is built by crossbracing, with five tubes, the two boxsectioned side members. The joints between the last-named and the tubes are not welded, but are bolted, so that renewals can easily be effected where an accident has caused a fracture.
In the body construction, also, there 544
are certain interesting features, notably the use of a single piece of Plymax to form each side panel and one piece of seven-ply wood for the floor.
It is claimed that the Jowett is the only van, subject to a £10 tax, which provides 88 cubic ft. of space. In spite of the increased size of body, the wheelbase has been reduced by 12 ins.
Returning to chassis features, we find Bendix-Cowdrey self-servo brakes are now used and wheels of the steelspoked type, shod with Goodyear 17 by 4.5 tyres. The power unit, which includes the clutch and gearbox, is now suspended on elastic mountings incorporating large springs and oil chambers.
• Other new features are the use of Bishop cam steering, a rear axle of the pressed-steel banjo type with semifloating shafts, a side-mounted petrol tank and an improved radiator, which affords to the machine an enhanced appearance.—Jowett Cars, Ltd., Bradford Road, Idle, Bradford.