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The History of The Fork Lift Truck
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 Episode 3 - 1924-5: UK & US Innovation
Warehouse & Logistics News is proud to bring you the third instalment in an exclusive series on the history of the forklift truck, the technology that has transformed the face of materials handling around the world.
The writer is James Brindley, an acknowledged authority on forklift trucks. In James's distinguished career he has worked in engineering and management roles with BT Rolatruc and served as a Director of the Fork Lift Truck Association, before setting up the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre in 2004.
You will be hearing a lot more from James and the Heritage Centre in these pages, as we will be telling you just why the Heritage Centre needs your support. Now sit back and enjoy the third part of our new series.
The History of The Fork Lift Truck
By James Brindley, Director, National Fork Truck Heritage Centre
1924-5 was a particularly important time for the efficiency of the battery-powered truck, and especially for D.P Batteries of Bakewell, Derbyshire, a British company at the forefront of battery supplies. In 1924 D.P.B. achieved a massive leap in battery and charging technology with their new "SHORT FIRST CHARGE" cell, which had a huge impact on the time spent recharging. Previously batteries took around 50 hours to recharge; the new product reduced this to a mere 15 hours.
During this year these cells were put to the test at the British Empire Exhibition, where they powered a fleet of modified industrial platform trucks used to carry visitors around the site. Called "Railodok" Electric Cars, they carried up to 12 passengers and were the main form of internal transport for the duration of the exhibition.
 These examples of platform trucks from this period stand out for their general interest, but are not necessarily the earliest models produced. Other companies such as Lansing Bagnall B.E.V and Greenbat were certainly also manufacturing platform trucks and tractor units around this time, but information is limited.
Although goods could now be moved faster and more efficiently through the use of platform and tiering trucks, loading and unloading was still done by hand. This situation remained until the idea of "unit loads" was introduced. For those not familiar with the term; a unit load can be defined as a quantity of goods or materials which are assembled in order to permit their handling as a single object. The unit may need to be restrained, as in a stillage, or arranged so the items are rigid enough to retain their shape and positioning whilst being moved or stacked.
The time of the forklift truck was now imminent, and in the same year, 1924, the Clark Company produced their prototype machine. Its power unit was the same as that used for the tried and tested `Duat` three wheeled tow tractor produced in 1923, and the lift unit comprised of a single stage mast and carriage that was coupled to its front end. Its operating mechanism was very basic and relied totally on open linked chains for its lifting capability. Due to this machine having no tilt facility, to mast or forks, it is extremely doubtful that it was ever designed to handle unit loads.
 As such the Yale Company was the first to see the potential in producing a truck to deal with unit loads, and in 1925 built the first battery powered truck to have raising forks and a mast with a tilting capability. Its tilt function was achieved by using an electric motor to operate a rack and pinion mechanism. These items are unguarded and mounted between the rear of the mast and the battery compartment bulkhead, within easy reach of the unwary.
All functions on the machine are carried out through mechanical linkages, including the electrics for the drive motor. The driving position ensured that both feet were needed to operate two pedals, one for the release of the brake and the other so that a direction could be selected. Their positioning ensured the operator was standing within the confines of the truck whilst in motion.
To be continued in next issue.
- Wanted urgently - any information or archive material on forklift trucks made by the Elwell Parker Company.
If you would like to support the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre,
call James Brindley on 0780 195 4167
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