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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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MVPeters
Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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It would be interesting to find out what the conversion entailed. I didn't realise how little fuel these gas-bags contained - even the bus trailer ones must have had a very limited range.
Also interesting that the Austin has no black-out lights or markings cf the car to the left; perhaps it was very early in the war. _________________ Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S' |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7126 Location: Edinburgh
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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traction39
Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 399 Location: South Wales
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Churchill Johnson
Joined: 11 Jan 2011 Posts: 359 Location: Rayleigh Essex
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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I suggest we all get a conversion done the fuel will be free just plug into the houses of parliament plenty of gas comes out of there. |
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Roger-hatchy
Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 2135 Location: Tiptree, Essex
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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CJ
Be over inflated though |
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Jim.Walker
Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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Rick wrote: | Years ago there was a Ford Model TT at Goodwood, which had (I think) a wood/gas conversion.
R |
I was led to believe that this was quite common in un-developed Countries between the wars and perhaps into the second World War. Wood convertors were often built into trailers.
All that was needed to re-fuel was an axe!
Jim. _________________ Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then! |
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bob2
Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:20 am Post subject: |
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Can see a market for such conversions with the price we're paying for fuel!!!!
If you inadvertently stop without fuel just get the axe from the boot and attack the nearest tree!! |
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Jim.Walker
Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Would you find enough trees in Malta?
Jim. _________________ Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then! |
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poodge
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 687
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:35 am Post subject: |
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During ww2,occupied countries had to rely mostly on this type of installation,as petrol was so scarce,and what there was went to the German occupier's fleet.
Many bus companies resorted to a little trailer towed behind the bus,with several bags of wood piled along the sides,or on the bus' roof.No great distances would be covered,just a very basic route.Additionally,these generators needed to be washed out every morning or evening,not a cosy job in the middle of winter.
I have a book showing photo's of these units,but finding it could be a problem. |
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roverdriver
Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 1210 Location: 100 miles from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:36 am Post subject: |
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I believe that the roof-top gas bag was used even during WW1. Somewhere I have a photo, but can't locate it at the moment, however here is a Ford TT using producer gas.
_________________ Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking. |
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roverdriver
Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 1210 Location: 100 miles from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:51 am Post subject: |
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A newspaper story published in 'The Mercury' Hobart, Thursday 24th January 1918.
MODERN USE OF COAL GAS.
(From "The Sphere.")
A most successful demonstration of I the use of coal gas for motor purposes was given recently in London through the enterprise of "The Commercial Motor" and "The Motor." These jour- nals have carried out a vigorous cam- paign in favour of coal gas, and their enterprise has been most praiseworthy. Over forty vehicles assembled at the splendid new garage of Messrs. Thorny croft, and his firm has done much to help forward the movement.
The conversion of motor vehicles to enable them to run on either potrol or coal gas has been necessitated by the shortage of the former fuel. Early in the year 1916 it was seen that, with the growing shortage of petrol and the difficulties attending its importation, an alternative home-produced fuel would
have to be found. Coal gas was the one fuel readily available. Indeed, the gas was becoming almost a by-product, as the gas companies were largely engaged in the production of other substances required for munition purposes.
The usual method at present for carrying supplies of coal gas is by means of a flexible holder secured to the roof of the vehicle. A flexible holder, costing from £10 upwards, is supported by a light roof, surrounded by a wooden framework. The cost of the gas is equivalent to petrol at Is. a gallon. As for the durability of the installation, I am told that a flexible gas holder which has been in hard service for twelve months on the top of a single-deck motor-bus, and has run more than 20,000 miles on coal gas, shows now little signs of wear. Depreciation may be put at a maximum of one tenth of a penny per mile run.
Coal gas in a flexible container at atmospheric pressure is by no means the last word in gas storage. Experiments are being made with holders constructed of proofed fabric to withstand a fairly high internal pressure, thus permitting a container to be charged to many times its normal capacity. Metal containers holding gas at 200 lb. pressure are obtainable, and small cylinders holding gas at 1,000 lb. pressure are available in small quantities. The difficulty in connection with the use of compressed gas lies in the fact that plant for compressing the gas is not generally available.
It is possible that when the Government has been satisfied that coal gas can be employed in place of petrol for commercial transport and national and essential services, facilities for the provision of high-pressure reservoirs and compressing plant will be given. But underthe best of circumstances all this will take,time, and, meanwhile, transport cannot wait.
It seems that gas fuel will have most vogue for commercial vehicles, as these have sufficient roof space to carry a large bag; but, as is proved in the case of the Lancaster car owned by the Countess of Arran, a town carriage may be adapted to the new fuel without too great a sacrifice of appearance.
This Lancaster can run fourteen miles on one charge. A two-seater car on view at the demonstration had a mileage of twenty-five, and a similar figure was given for a Ford van. A Thornycroft two-ton lorry could run for twelve miles on one charge, and could refill with gas in five minutes.
As most commercial vehicles make short runs in urban areas, it is obvious that for them the gas fuel has very slight disadvantages, and these are far outweighed by the saving in fuel cost and by the fact that there is no limit to the quantity that may be used. Private motorists who cannot procure petrol must either put their cars by or adopt coal gas as an expedient until liquid fuel becomes available again. Undoubtedly liquid fuel is superior in every way save that of cost, but it may be a long time before it can be obtained freely and, meantime, motoring must go on. _________________ Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking. |
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traction39
Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 399 Location: South Wales
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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Nice film here of starting a "gas" powered pickup - in French but silent!
Click on play:
http://tinyurl.com/7zbg89n
Also, name that pickup.... |
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traction39
Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 399 Location: South Wales
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