High Flying at Morris Show
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE release of 3,50 pigeons at LongI bridge on Tuesday to mark the opening of the Morris Show symbolized the basic purpose of the exhibition—to spread the reputation of Morris adaptability. The ceremony was given added point by the fact that the special vehicle from which the birds were released affords facilities for this traffic that cannot be provided by the railways.
Described as unique by the organizers, the Luton-type carrier is based on an FF 1(140 7-ton chassis and was built by Service Garage (Brighouse) Ltd., Rakehouse. Yorks. An operator will run the vehicle for the West Yorkshire Federation (of pigeon clubs) for journeys of 70 to 500 miles at home and on the Continent. Water is metered to the 192 cages and an expert supervisor travels in the vehicle. Collections are made from the fanciers' lofts.
The show was officially opened by Dr. Louis Glass, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and will remain open on weekdays until May 14.
Exhibited by B. and W. Motors Ltd., Wolverhampton, a Morris-York articulated outfit is of special interest because the prime mover is based on an FG 1(60 3-ton chassis, the wheelbase of which is reduced from 145 in. to 100 in. and the. rear springs are of the type fitted to the FG K80 4-ton chassis. A York Cl CityVan trailer is coupled to the tractive unit; the unladen weight of the outfit is 4 tons 2 cwt. and it has a turning circle of 31 ft.
A fire-control unit of the Surrey County Fire Service features an allplastics, colour-impregnated, doubleskinned body built by Wadliam Bros. (Coachbuilders) Ltd., Waterloovilie, Hants, which is based on an FG ambulance chassis. Equipment includes two two-way radios and a public address system, current being supplied by a Lucas alternator.
Designed for the easy loading of heavy plant the recently introduced Bri-Mec multi-purpose, self-loading, drive-on type of body is shown mounted on an F1-I 160-in.-wheelbase 7-ton chassis by Stewart and Ardern (the body is produced by Bristol Metal Contracts Ltd., Bristol), hydraulic rams being used to tilt the platform and move it to the rear. Also in this category an alligator low-loading hydraulically operated semi-trailerwith lift-up wheels is displayed by Charles Pitt (Barton Stacey) Ltd., Winchester, Hants, and is coupled to an FF 12-15-ton g.t.w. prime-mover.
Many vehicles equipped for easy handling of the load include a special drop-sided body mounted on an FF longwheelbase 5-ton chassis displayed by Burgess Motors Ltd., Stafford, which is Fitted with a side-mounted hoist and a winch. A 1-ton tailboard lift is shown by U.S. Industries (Engineering) Ltd., Welwyn Garden City, Herts, on an FG 3-ton drop-side truck which is used in conjunction With floor-mounted rollers for loading special stillages. R. A. Neaverson Ltd., Leicester, demonstrates the company's latest type of Pannar wheeled stillage which is now produced in collapsible form to enable three empty stillages to be packed together in the space of one erected unit; the Neaverson manually operated, two-speed tailboard lift is also shown on the same van which is built by the concern and is seen mounted on an FG 2-ton chassis.
Bulk vehicles are also prominent at the show, notable examples including a special four-compartment, retail-delivery beer tanker exhibited by Thompson Bros. (Bilston), Staffs, on an FG 5-ton longwheelbase chassis and a Pengco selftipping demountable bulk-grain body (equipped with an auxiliary engine) on an FH 8-ton, 160-in.-wheelbase platform truck.
There is particular chassis-component interest in an all-plastics British Bakeries bread van with aluminium racks shown by the Metro-Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd., Saltley, Birmingham, on a 12 16-18-cwt. chassis-cab with a Borg-Warner 35 automatic transmission.