Pram as Tractor of Mobile Shop
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STRIKINGLY novel, yet eminently practieal, a :recent product of Silent Transport, Ltd., Woking, Surrey, represents a revolutionary application of the pedestrian-controlled . battery-electric vehicle. Designed and constructed for a London street trader, the vehicle consists of a Harbilt pram, equipped as tractive unit for a semi-traiter body, in
this case a mobile shop. •
The intention of the operator is te use the Harbilt to bring the mobile shop to the site from which it will be working. There the tractor Will be removed. the semi-trailer jacked up and left until it is called for at the end of the day. A normal type of vehicle is unnecessary because of the short distances. involved, and the Harbilt will have sufficient range to enable it to run between the shop and the 'warehouse, taking up addle
Lionel supplies. • The shop itself is an imposing structure. 15 ft. 6 ins. long, 7 ft. 6 ins, wide and 7 ft. 9 ins. high. Maximum headroom of 7 ft. is available in the interior, which is equipped with a full-length counter, covered with Formica, shelves at the sides and rear with provision for
a bacon-slicing machine on the section which is superimposed on the tractor. e\. ventilated cupboard hit bacon steragesia: fitted under the co-Lio ter; and a Swivelling seat is provided for the assistant.
The roof of the shop, „which is double-skinned and filled with fibreglass insulation material, extends in front of the counter to shelter customers, and sliding shelves in the /owes 'part of the body enable shoppersto rest their baskets while making ths:i. purchases.
The vehicle is based on an angle-iron chassis frame, constructed by the bodybuilder, mounted on 16-in. by 4-in. wheels and tyres, identical to those on the tractor. Under the fore part of the body is fitted the screw-down ball which fits into the'lwin drawbar sprung coupling; mounted on top of the Raebilt. Screw-jacks are filled at the front and rear.
The unladen weight of the complete outfit is I ton I cwt. The maximum gradient it is likely to meet in the area in which it will operate is I in 11., and the eight-mile range available should prove ample for the needs of its owner.