Steel Bands for Solid Tires.
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The large number of commercial-motor vehicles now in service has given rise to an increasing demand for solid band tires of practically every make. We are informed by the Ajax Engineering Co., Arthur Street, Birmingham, that they are supplying many thousands of steel bands for solid tires to wellknown tire manufacturers.
Accurate Ball Bearings.
Our readers are already familiar with the products of the Hoffmann Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Chelmsford. It. is interesting therefore to note that this company is experiencing a constantly increasing demand for its ball bearings, and it has been found necessary considerably to extend the Chelmsford factory. The grinding, cage-making, testing, and stores departments have recently been enlarged, an increased floor space of 28,200 ft. having been brought into service.
A Lathe for the Small User.
An increasing number of van drivers are, in these days, prepared to carry out most simple repairs with the help of suitable machine tools. Users of one or two small vans are not, as a rule, however, prepared to invest any considerable amount of capital in the provision of machine plant. Realizing this fact, Drummond Bros., Ltd., brings before our notice a small foot or power-driven screw-cutting lathe, of which we give an illustration herewith. It is not impossible to machine cylinders of inoderate bore, such as are very generally employed on light vans, with the aid of this tool. We should imagine, however, that its greatest service would consist in the making of nuts, shackle bolts, pins, screws and so forth, all of which can be undertaken on this lathe. Themachine itself is cleanly designed, and possesses several features which, render it of more than passing interest..
Considering its small size, each part is commendably accessible. The removal of knurled nuts enables the gear wheels to be changed. The gap bed will allow comparatively large-sized work to be swung. The tail-stock is of substantial construction, while the saddle is T-slotted for the holding of work when it is necessary to run cutter bars or boring tools between the centres.
Leyland Wheels. . . .
Manufacturers are devoting an increasing amount of attention to the building and design of wheels for both light and heavy motor-propelled vehicles.. The illustration given herewith shows a set of wheels made for Leyland Motors, Ltd., for service on its own productions. Much discussion continually takes place between engineers as to the internal stresses obtaining in cast-steel wheels, and the most careful design is necessary, in order that this may be reduced to the minimum.
It will be seen from the appended illustration that considerable success has attended the efforts of Leyland Motors. Ltd., in its attempt evenly to distribute the metal throughout the whole of the wheel, so avoiding any tendency for one section unduly to weaken any other section. The wooden felloe is held to the rim by means of bolts located between each pair of spokes.
Well-designed Workshop Trucks.
One of the first things that strikes a visitor to an up-to-date motor factory is the time-saving means provided for the conveyance of work from the foundry to the stores, from the stores to the machines, from the machines to the erecting-bench and assembly shop, and thence into the finished stores. Almost every factory, of course, uses a similar system, but, whatever means of transport are utilized for this work, there is a general tendency to employ modern trucks which carry heavy loads with the minimum of noise and the least expenditure of labour.
Tn the lighter shops. where wood floors are the rule.
rubber-tired trucks make for noiseless removal of raw and finished material. In heavier shops, where concrete floors obtain, these good's transport units are more suitably shod with steel tires. The great increase in the demand for commercial motors, coupled with the fact that some owners of factories cannot obtain land for further extension, has led to the crowding of machines, and this latter fact. has called for easily-manipulated trucks which can take heavy loads down congested machine alley-ways. It is the grasping and overcoming of workshop de
tail such as transport that leads to an up-to-date and efficient organization being secured, a fact which is amply proved by the general adoption by every factory of suitable trucks. H. C. Slingsby, 142-146, OM Street, E.C., makes many trucks for this work. Portable Smiths' Hearths.
The modern tendency of the up-to-date w urks manager is so to equip hie smith's shop, that each of the hearths is supplied with air under pressure front a powerful centrally-situated fan. The gases from all the forges are then carried away by a main outlet pipe. A smaller user of smith's work, however, is often not in a position to go to the expenditure which the above outlined system calls for. Here, then, is a suitable opportunity for the introduction of a combined hearth supplied with an electricallydriven Mower. James Keith and Blackman Co., Ltd., Farringdon Avenue, London, EC., makes a range of small-sized blowers intended for the service of the owner of one or two motorvans. Making Up Component Parts.
Amongst the concerns which are making a speciality of the supply of component parts tor use an commercial vehicles, Fisher and Ludlow, Ltd., has created quite a prominent position for itself. This Birmingham maker informs us that it has installed a large amount of the most modern plant for the rapid and economical production of sprocket wheels, clutch discs, carburetter fittings, pressed-steel brake drums, petrol and oil tanks, and similar metal supplies. These are turned out from the works either in the rough or the machined state, and users who require a small quantity of the above-mentioned and other similar articles, would do well to get in touch with this company.