Units for Assembled Chassis.
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S. Smith and Sons, Ltd., Enters the Market with a Series a Sets o Components Suitable for Various Sizes of Chassis.
Publication is now permissible by us of a reference to an innovation on the part of S. Smith and Sons, Ltd., of 179, Great Portland Street, W.', the well-known accessory and speedometer manufacturer. This company has for some time had under consideration the advisability of branching out into the business of the manufacture and sale of units, in complete sets, for assembling into chassis. The immediate result was the acquisition of a works at Cricklewood, and the extension of the Portland Street premises. It is proposed eventually to manufacture m quantity at the works, but for the time being the units offered are well-tried examples of American make.
Assembled Chassis.
The assembling of vehicles from purchased units, instead of from parts designed and made on the same premises as those in which they are erected, is, of course, not new to this country. We might point to several examples of commercial-vehicle chassis so constructed. • The majority of English makers, however, pride themselves on the fact that the units of their products are, in the main, designed and manufactured by themselves in their own shops. It is to be under.stood, of course, that the usual reservations are made regarding electrical fittings, tires, and, in the majority of cases, of specialized parts like frames and wheels.
E48 Assembling Means Economy.
In the United States, the commercial-vehicle-manufacturing industry has developed on different lines, and the assembly of finished chassis from various ready-made units is in much greater vogue. Those of our readers who have studied, through the medium of this journal, the construction of the half-hundred different models of American chassis, which have been brought to this country for sale during the past 12 months, will have realized that what is over there called the "assembly proposition," is a popular .machine. Given suitable components and the supervision of their selection and assembly by a man with some knowledge and experience in the designing of heavy vehicles, there is no reason why such machines should not give service almost equal in quality to that rendered by their one-shop brethren. Moreover, by reason. of the fact that as a general rule each of the machined units is the product of a specialist, who makes that unit only, and produces it in quantity, the result, owing to the economies in manufacturing costs rendered possible by this method of production, is a chassis saleable at less cost than the other, with profit— other factors, of course, being the same. This last consideration, when examined in regard to the necessity of fighting American-competition, is a vital one. The p-xiibility of building up from such un s has
been considered seriously by many prominent members of the industry of late. This new departure on the part of Smith and Sons, Ltd., therefore comes to the front at an opportune moment.
Units for a. One-ton Chassis, We have ourselves personally ex; amined each of the individual units of the one-ton chassis, and these, we understand, are characteristic of the series. The engine is a fourcylinder one, with overhead valves, all of which are rendered immediately accessible after the removal of one cover secured by two nuts. The four cylinders are cast en bloc, the bore being 31 ins, and the stroke 5 ins., the h.p. by R.A.O. formula equalling 19.6. It is built so as to be four-point-suspended from-an underframe, and carries, bolted to the flywheel housing, the threespeed and reverse gearbox with leather-lined cone clutch. For transmission to the rear axle, a universally-jointed propeller shaft is listed. The rear axle is a threequarter floating one, providing a final drive by bevel wheels' with a reduction of 6 to 1. Both brakes are arranged to take effect on drums attached to the rear wheels; The frame is a pressed-steel one, With substantial cross members where necessary.; springs and the necessary fittings can be purchased at the same source. For a one-ton vehicle, the springs seemed ample, both as regards length and strength. S. Smith and Sons Ltd,' Components—con, T-he Radiator: L.G.O. Practice rollowed.
Due regard has been had to the needs of ibe commercial vehicle, as distinct horn the touring car, in considering the design of the radiator, this being of a type similar to that to which London readers arc well accustomed, since it is exemplified on the front of each and all of the London General 1i-type omnibuses. The front axle is an " I " beam, and the wheels are carried on roller bearings. The steering-gear unit of this set is of the irreversible worm and -sector type, and is complete with large wheel and the necessary control levers and rods. All Parts Necessary for Con-. struction of Chassis.
Reference to each and nil of the parts which go to make a chassis, and which, it should be noted, are all available under this scheme, is unnecessary, besides taking up much more of our valuable space than we can at present afford. Smith and Sons, Ltd., has issued a very handy booklet dealing with these parts. The company's name, well-known as it is amongst users of touring cars and commercial vehicles alike, is almost a sufficient guarantee that these units are, so to speak, "the-goods." We recommend our interested readers to corn. municate direct with Great Port• land Street We understand that a staff of draughtsmen is avail
able to co-operate with clients in the construction of any projected chassis, but that Smith and Sons, Ltd., does not, under any circumstance, erect the complete vehicle.
Our Illustrations. Spare Parts.
Our illustrations, which we include on this page, will suffice to give a good idea of the design of these components. The possibility of need for spare parts -has also been kept in view, and each of the units is plainly stamped with the name " Smiths" and a number. A stock of spares is always on hand, and, in order to facilitate prompt despatch, it is requested that the number stamped on the part and on the unit be given as a reference when ordering.