From Our Berlin Correspondent.
Page 14
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Freight Autos in the Swedish Man 2 uvres.
For the first time, freight automobiles, six in number, played a role in the Swedish army manceuvres in the vidinity of Stockholm. One of the vehicles was a Daimler-Marienfelde, the rest being home makes. Although only three-tormers, the lorries proved themselves a bit too heavy for Swedish "roads and bridges. Planks formed part of each lorry's equipment. Sweden must overhaul most of her country roads before heavy lorries can he worked on them to any extent. Motor lorries have given the self-complacency of many a road board the rudest of shocks. They do touch the weak spots, don't they f A New German Commercial Tr-car.
The " Tourist" Motoren-Gesellschaft brings on the market a very light tri-car for commercial purposes, and I send you a photograph of one of these vehicles. It is steered on the Heyele principle, bevel gearing connecting up the head of the frontwheel fork with an almost horizontal steering pillar. A 7 ktp. air-cooled engine serves for the vehicle's propulsion. Lubrication is by a small rotatory oil pump, driven from the motorshaft. The gearbox, on the transverse shaft, from which power is transmitted by chains and sprockets to the back wheels, provides for two speeds and a " free engine " position. The frame is of pressed steel and is well sprung both in front and rear. There
are two independently-working brakes. No attempt has been made to keep dust and dirt from entering the propulsive machinery from underneath.
Electric Trolley-buses for Stock..
holm.
Stockholm is on the eve of possessing electric trolley-buses, eleven in number, Managing Director fijalmar Oldenburg, of Saltsiabaden, near Stockholm, standing at the head of the group interested in the projected concern. Apropos eleetromobiles in Sweden, a big company has been constituted at Malmo for the introduction of this class of vehicle into the country. Messrs. K. G. Krakau, K. Liinnquist, C. Svensson, K. A. I-Thrje and E. Horstedt founded this com pany.
Germany's Foreign Trade in Freight Autos.
During the first three quarters of the current year Germany imported 54 freight autos. (45 in 1909), valued at 646,000 marks. France lost ground, but Switzerland pushed along merrily, increasing her sales to Germany from 21,900 to 84,200 kilos.
Germany's exports rose from 340,100 kilos. to 482,800 kilos., valued at 1,211,000 and 1,960,000 marks respectively. In other words, she sold 166 vehicles in lieu of 118. Great Britain's share was lower than 1909, but trade with European Russia and Austroliungary improved, so, too, that with Brazil. British firms might note that Germany got 102,200 kilos. into Rus
sia, as against 72,100 kilos. in 1909; and that the Brazil sales rose from 26,900 kilos. to 91,600 kilos.
Austrian Trade.
From 'January to July of the current year Austria imported 38 freight automobiles, collectively valued at 540,900 crowns (crown = 10d.). Twenty-four were light vehicles. Her total imports represented a value of nearly 11,000,000 crowns. She exported freight automobiles only, and these are valued at 117,290 crowns. Austria has a passive balance in her international motor trade, imports and exports standing in the ratio of 4 to 1 so far as value is concerned.
The Russian Market.
The Belgian Consul-General for South Russia sends a long report to his Government on motors in Russia. Motor omnibuses and freight u to m obiles, he states, have a big future there, Russia's railway system being far from adequate to the transport requirements of so extensive a country. Minerals, wood and agricultural produce are mostly won in districts very far away from a railway line or river, so that one is dependent for their transport upon horse-drawn vehicles usually of a. decidedly primitive character. Although the majority of the roads and ways are not suited to automobile transport, very many are quite passable in the dry season. Several roads are modern constructions and in good condition. The more progress is made in road improvement, the greater will be the automobile imports into Russia. There are a number of post roads in Russia, especially in the Caucasus, which are adaptable to motor traffic. Tiflis and Vladikavkas have long been connected up by a motorbus line, worked by Belgian vehicles. Several other lines bring neighbouring towns into touch with one another, and work the traffic in summer with the health and pleasureresorts. Business might be done here. But the Consul builds considerably upon the Russian farmer as a future user of automobiles. German, American and Italian firms, lie observes, are straining every nerve to " collar " the Russian market. On English efforts the Consul is silent. One American house, which has Sol d more than a hundred vehicles, advertises by means of price-lists in Russian.