6O Materials and Their Handling 



truck found in a wide range of sizes. It is de- 

 sirable that the platform be as low as possible to 

 avoid unnecessary lifting of the loads, although 

 the best height may vary for different conditions. 

 Usually, anti-friction bearings on the wheels will 

 pay. In the larger, modern shops, electric trucks 

 are coming into extended use. These carry 

 heavier loads and move faster than the ordinary 

 hand truck. They are built of pressed steel and 

 have solid rubber tired wheels. The motor is 

 driven by a storage battery through a gear reduc- 

 tion to one of the axles, and the batteries are 

 arranged in trays, so that they may be removed 

 when dead and charged batteries quickly substi- 

 tuted, giving a continuous operation of the truck. 

 Their capacities range from 500 Ibs. up and the 

 speed averages four to six miles an hour. 



There are a number of trucks on the market 

 which are operated either by hand or electric 

 batteries and are designed both to lift and carry 

 materials and finished products, usually individual 

 pieces or goods in containers. Some of these are 

 equipped with scales for weighing the material as 

 it is picked up, obviating a second handling. 

 There are also trucks with platforms which may 

 be raised to any height necessary for the purpose 

 of stacking and removing boxes, barrels, and bags. 

 These trucks are efficient both in conveying ma- 

 terials and in utilizing storage space to the limit. 

 Their platforms are low enough to be run under 

 skids or containers made for the purpose. The 

 platform is then raised up by a motion of the 

 handle of the hand truck or a switch on the elec- 



