Collings & Bell’s New Premises.

Progress, Volume VII, Issue 4, 1 February 1912, Page 990

Collings & Bell’s New Premises.

Messrs. Collings and Bell, of St. Mary’s Beach, Ponsonby, Auckland, have found it necessary to erect new premises to cope with their growing business. Their new workshop consists of two storys, the bottom floor being 80ft. x 30ft., used for building the heavier and larger launches. On this floor is installed the circular saws, planing machine, etc., which are driven by a gas engine. There is a boiler for steaming and bending timber, and a paint shop. Provision is made for taking up centre of bottom floor, which enables truck for launching to be placed under vessel, which can then be run out on tram from shop to water, thus saving handling and any danger of scratching paint. The top story, which is 64ft. x 42ft., consists of show room for Doman and Perfection marine oil engines, K.W. coils, magnetos, spark plugs, and all motor boat accessories, office, store room, large

drafting floor, where designs can he drawn out full size. There is also ample room for building the smaller launches, pulling boats, dingeys, etc. The motors for the launches are taken in on the top floor, lowered through trap doors on to the engine beds of launches building below, thereby saving labour and risk. They have just delivered to the order of Mr. C. J. Parr, Mayor of Auckland, a 38ft. launch of handsome appearance and design, the cockpit of which is self-bailing, being lined with lead and placed above the water line. The cabin is eleven feet long, having, wide berths, and will sleep four. Drawers are fitted under bunks. There is a handsome wardrobe with bevelled plate glass mirror on the port side of cabin, a combined sideboardbookcase on the starboard side. These are in picked rimu, as is also the table. The cabin is finished in white enamel, the engine and forecabin is fitted with bunks for two, cooking stove, cupboard, lockers, and a sink which discharges

below the water line. The engine is an 18 h.p. three-cylinder 6in. bore, Sin. stroke Doman (for which Collings & Bell are

agents), heavy duty, having dual ignition, air pump for whistle, plunger pump runs half-speed of engine, a very sensitive

governor is fitted, half time wheels are all inclosed and work in oil, lubrication is by splash and force feed to cylinder

valves are easy of of access, and their push rods are adjustable. Electric light is supplied by dynamos through storage battery. This engine runs very smoothly and quietly, turning a 26 x 36 propeller, which gives the boat a speed of 10 miles per hour. This is the third launch and engine they have ' supplied to Mr. Parr’s order, Mr. W. J. Quelch, of Newton, is very pleased with his 35ft. x Bft. 6in. launch “Dorothy,’’ which is fitted with a 12 h.p. Doman engine. This boat is a fine type of cruiser, having plenty of room and comfort, with a good cruising speed. The cockpit is self-bailing, and will seat 14 persons. Prom the cockpit, both in this boat and Mr. Parr’s, the reverse lever from engine are placed so that the boats can be handled by one person, and picking up moorings, making landing, etc., can be done with far more ease and certainty. There is a very roomy cabin and wide bunks 10ft. long, and will sleep four. There are lockers, cupboards, glass rack, etc., and the cabin is neatly panelled and well ventilated. The engineroom is forward. Also two bunks, cupboards, sink discharging below the water

line, fresh water tank, cooking stove, etc. This is Mr. Quelch’s third launch and fourth engine supplied by the firm