ENTHUSIASTS' DIRECTORY: No. 8, Tyre Equipment

ENTHUSIASTS’ DIRECTORY: No. 8, Tyre Equipment

INTRODUCTION

WITH the winter season in full swing, many motoring enthusiasts will have forsaken the cold garage for warmer indoor pastimes, hut there are many of us who regard this part of the year as a welcome respite from the many summer maladies of the older car, and it affords us an excellent opportunity to carry out necessary repairs and maintenance.

When thoughts turn to stocking workshops and tool-boxes with the bare requirements the season is usually well advanced, and purchases are often made without full consideration of what is needed or of what is available. A fine selection of pumps, jacks and tyre gauges can be found. however, at prices to suit all pockets, and some of the principal manufacturers of this type of equipment are listed below, with prices of their products where available. More new lightweight jacks have been introduced lately to cope with the modern sports cars requiring low-winding-position models with long handles, hydraulic types being more popular than ratchet ones and side jacks predominate for light cars. Tyre punips and gauges have not changed character much in recent years, small foot pumps are in greater demand than hand-worked examples, and double-acting models of both types exist for those that prefer them. Tyre gauges have reached a high standard of efficiency and few additional models have been introduced, though a super-accurate model with flexible couplings can be purchased by the connoisseur. —1. G.

BAILEY & MACKAY, LTD.

A tyre-pressure gauge guaranteed accurate to plus or minus 1 per cent, of the maximum calibration is claimed by the makers for their products, which are made for general-purpose, racing or giant tyres. All these gauges are chrome-plated solid brass, have luminous spots for use in the dark and come in an attractive leather case. Price 22 2. Flexible couplings 5s. extra.

Manufactured by : BAILEY & MACKAY, LTD., BALTIMORE ROAD, GREAT BARR, BIRMINGHAM 22.

DESMO

On entering the showroom of Messrs. Desmo, Ltd., one is confronted with an interesting array of all manner of accessories for the motor car, and on this occasion a choice was made of a tyre-pressure gauge and foot pump. The former was a well-made general-purpose instrument for low pressures and retails at 8s.; the latter, a sensible foot pump which has a very easy action and long travelling lever, the whole being finished in maroon stove enamel: a point of interest is the unusual lightness of the ankle compared with some other makes. Retailing at 26s. 6d., this seems to be value for money and a buy for the practical motorist.

Manufactured by : DESMO, LTD., 229. SHAFTESBURY AVENUE. LONDON W.C.2.

EPCO

For some time the Epco Minor has been a favourite of many motorists. It consists of a hydraulic lift to take 15 cwt. and is fitted with steel castors, being the exact replica of large garage models. The actual weight is 32i lb. and the traverse is 9 in. Price 211 lie.

Manufactured by : EPCO, STAR WORKS, LEEDS 7.

EVERSURE ACCESSORIES, LTD. This firm manufactures hydraulic jacks only, prices from

firm manufactures hydraulic jacks only, prices ranging from 59s. 6d. for a neat aluminium die-cast model for lifting up to 30 cwt., to 170s. for a 10-ton model weighing 38i lb. and giving a 12-in. lift. Another excellent sample is the model BJ700, which is an unusual side-operated hydraulic jack, again in die-east aluminium, and having numerous different fittings to suit the built-in jacking points of many of the new cars. Four other intermediate models are available.

Manufactured by : EVERSURE ACCESSORIES, LTD., KINGSTON ROAD, BIRMINGHAM 9.

IIALFORD

Lifting jacks, pumps and tyre gauges are all readily available at Raiford stores throughout the country. Prices for screw jacks suitable for light cars start at 14s. and foot pumps at 20s., again for light cars. Larger models retail at 45s. for foot pumps and 63s. for a double-lift jack. Hand pumps are available at around 9s. and tyrepressure gauges from 5s. 9d.

Manufactured by : TILE HALFORD CYCLE CO., LTD., 4$, CARPENTER ROAD, EDGBASTON, BIRMINGHAM 15.

HARVEY FROST & CO., LTD.

Makers of heavy transport service equipment, this concern also markets a number of hydraulic and screw-operated jacks for cars and lorries. Popular models are the /IF cracker jacks for 1and 3-ton capacities at £1 14s. 8d. and £3 6s. 8d., respectively. A wide range of screw-type low-loading models and several singleand double-ram hydraulic heavy-duty examples for lifting 8 tons or more can also be obtained.

Manufactured by : HARVEY FROST & CO., LTD., BISHOP’S STORTFORD, HERTS.

KISMET

Specialists in tyre maintenance equipment for many years. Messrs. Turner manufacture several good quality tyre-pressure gauges, a popular small foot pump, a two-cylinder two-stage foot pump having high and low-pressure cylinders, enabling the same easy action to be continued throughout the travel of the lever. A further example of the precision equipment offered by this firm is a handoperated model for easy inflation by the quadruple compression principle which is the great feature of the pump. The main barrel is double-acting, which forces the air into the inner cylinder, from whence it is delivered to the tyre, thus reducing the effort and time required to the absolute minimum.

Manufactured by : WILLIAM TURNER (KISMET) LTD., EYRE WORKS, SHEFFIELD 1.

PRIMA INDUSTRIES, LTD.

Motor and cycle accessory makers, this concern produces a considerable range of jacks and pumps. Several light bumper-jacks, an extremely efficient lightweight screw-type hydraulic jack, and • useful range of medium-weight hydraulic models constitute the main products, along with single-acting hand and foot pumps.

Manufactured by : PRIMA INDUSTRIES, LTD., BARTON ROAD, DUDLEY, WORCS.

ROSS, COURTNEY & CO., LTD.

It is very pleasant to come across an article that is well made, attractive in appearance and efficient in operation, which was the case when sampling the “Little Jackie which has been made by this firm for several years. A compact, hydraulic, lever-operated 5-in, model was supplied for test. This is capable of lifting up to 2 tons, has a 24-in, pump lever with a small travelling arc which, in conjunction with the low initial height of the unit, makes it a handy instrument for the sports car. A separate release valve is fitted which is worked by a square socket in the handle, so obviating accidental lowering. Two models are available, 5 in. and 6 in., and are priced at approximately £4 10s. An excellent example of a firstclass engineering product.

Manufactured by : ROSS, COURTNEY & CO., LTD., ASHBROOK ROAD, UPPER HOLLOWAY, LONDON, N.19.

SCHRADER

Since the advent of the pneumatic tyre the name of Schrader has been associated with valves and tyre gauges. The principal products are valves, cores, caps and pressure-testing instruments of all kinds relating to tyres.

Manufactured by : A. SCHRADER’S SON, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

SUTTY

A strong and reliable small foot pump is made by Sutty Motor Accessories, Ltd., who supply both hand and foot pumps for fitting as standard equipment on many British cars and tractors.

Manufactured by : SUTTY MOTOR ACCESSORIES, LTD.. GLADSTONE ROAD, FARNBOROUGH, KENT.

SMITHS

This well-known company has engaged itself in simplifying the jacking-up of motor cars and has devised a range of side jacks which are screw-operated either by separate handle or by using the carwheel brace. In some eases these jacks are for attachment to the bumpers. Going a step farther, built-in mechanical or ” Red Jackall ” handor power-operated hydraulic jacks can be supplied.

Manufactured by-: SMITHS JACKING SYSTEMS, LTD., JACKALL WORKS, EDGWARE ROAD, LONDON, N.W.2.

WALTERS & DOBSON, LTD.

Makers of tyre-pressure gauges and pumps for many years, Walters & Dobson show several types of pressure gauge, starting at 8s. 6d. for a pocket instrument with chrome-plated brass body, to a ” Dubltest ” combined compression tester and tyre gauge which retails at 15s. This latter instrument, which is threaded 14 arm, and 18 mm., screws into the spark-plug hole, enabling one person to test compression, and it will also cheek tyre pressures. In the hand-pump range there is the ” Wad ” two-stage model which will deliver a maximum pressure of 200 p.s.i. and costs £4 158., and oneand two-stage foot pumps start at 22s. 6d. for a small 44-1b. model giving 75 p.s.i., up to V• for a two-stage 9-1b. example giving 210 p.s.i. and which is fitted with a pressure-testing valve to allow the pressure of the tyre to be taken without uncoupling the connector from the tyre valve. A range of garage compressor gauges and tyre connectors is also available.

Manufactured by : WALTERS & DOBSON, LTD., BAILEY STREET, SHEFFIELD.