Developed by Tankettes C/O Ronald Trist & Co of 229, High Street, Watford in 1919.
The Tankette — a link between the scooter and the motor cycle.
A Development of the Motor Scooter which will be offered to the Public in Quantities.
The question Why stand? will not be asked by potential purchasers of the Tankette, for, although the germ of the idea behind this little vehicle was the scooter, it is provided with a seat, and approximates to the lightweight motor cycle more than to the Auto-ped.
Weighing 135lb, and measuring 6ft 5in over all, the Tankette will be marketed by Messrs Ronald Trist and Co of Watford, who for many months have experimented with various forms of scooters, commencing with a small toylike machine with 10in wheels in diameter. Just one step further, and the Tankette would be a light-weight motor cycle ; hence it can be regarded more as a competitor of existing light-weights than of the scooter proper.
It is proposed to fit a 2¾-3 h.p. two-stroke engine, located at the rear, and driving to a countershaft gear placed before the wheel, and hence back again to the rear hub. This makes the primary drive about 28in. and the secondary drive about 15in. between centres. The frame is constructed of flat steel strips about 1 ¼ x 3⁄16 in., built up so that there are six members parallel at what would be its weakest point. Both front and rear wheels are sprung on leaf springs, the centre of the pivotal rear stays being coincident with the centre of the driving sprocket.
A twin wheel is used at the rear, fitted with two 20 x 1¾in. pneumatic tyres, with a free connection from one to the other, so that on going round curves the air pressure remains constant and the two friction points where the tyres meet the ground are maintained. Both tyres can be pumped from one valve, but, if a puncture occurs, the connecting ...
The Motor Cycle, April 3rd, 1919.
Side view of the Tankette. A hand starter is provided, and on future models a hood and screen will be fitted.
An Ambitious "All-weather" Design.
Steel-strip Frame and Hand Starter.
REFERENCE has already been made in these pages to the Tankette, and we were recently enabled to see a rough preliminary model of this extremely un- conventional vehicle at the works of Messrs. Ronald Trist and Co., Ltd., 229, High Street, Watford.
The frame is of peculiar design, being built up of mild steel strips bolted together with a cradle for the engine in front.
The forks are of the spring variety, employing laminated springs, but in future models the more conventional type of motor cycle fork will be employed.
The engine is a 2¾ h.p. Union two-stroke (70 mm. x 85 mm.) situated well in front of the frame. The drive is by chain to two cone clutches on the countershaft, thence by two chains to the rear wheel. The disc wheels are 20in. x 2in. The twin rear wheel is carried on quarter-elliptical springs, while radius rods are fitted, enabling the chain length to be kept constant. The hub is provided with a hollow spindle, so that it is easily withdrawable.
An Experimental Model.
As we have said before, the present Tankette is a rough model, and this accounts for certain crudities in its appearance. We are given to understand, however, that the final model will be considerably improved in many details. For instance, a cylindrical form of petrol tank will be employed, and a hood and screen will be fitted, while the method of mudguarding will be altered for the better.
The Motor Cycle, July 17th, 1919.
