Automatic Control for the Ford Carburetter.
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A Device which Promotes Economy by Regulating the Fuel Supply According to Advance of ignition.
One of the most useful Ford fittings which we remember to have examined, the utility of which is particularly apparent at the present time, is that described as the Berdea automatic control. AlI users of Ford vehicles, whether for commercial or touring use, are acquainted with the hand control of the jet. This is normally operated from the driver's seat by means of a small disc which is attached to a rod, the other end of the rod being forked and engaging with the top of the screwed needle which controls the size of the jet orifice. This peculiarity of the Ford carburetter, that its jet size can be increased or decreased by revolving the screwed needle, has been taken advantage of, and A. Deacon and Son, Ltd., automobile engineers, of Llandudno, has patented a fitting whereby the control is rendered automatic. The peculiar and special advantages of this fitting, however, do not end with automatism. The control is so arranged that the jet opening varies with the position of the thsottle lever and—her.e we come to the novel and most important part of the device—with the position of the spark advance lever. Opening the throttle opens also the jet ; advancing the ignition reduces the jet opening.
The actual result of this control is a very considerable economy in fuel. The company guarantees, if the owner is in possession of a standard Ford car, to reduce his petrol consumption to such an extent that he can do an additional distance per gallon of not less than 10 miles, Such an assertion of degree of economy is a startling one, and although we could not ourselves make it convenient to conduct a consumption test, from reports in our hands it would appear that the claim is substantiated.
Mr. Berry, a director of the company, told us one or two interesting stories about users notions of mileage per gallon, but it should be noted that unless the owner states that he actually gets well over 20 miles to the gallon, the company does not consider it worth while to test mileage, but guarantees a straightaway saving to the amount stated above, provided the chassis. is a standard one. On one occasion, Mr. Berry informs us, the guarantee was successfully made in the case' of an owner who was actually, at the time when he presented his ear for the fitting, doing 31 miles to the gallon. The Berdea automatic control was applied, and the mileage rose to just over 41. Mr. Berry himself on his own ear regularly obtains over 40 miles per gallon. The price of this fitting is 30s. It can be attached by anyone with a pair of hands, and with the capacity to distinguish between the carburetter and the commutator For a commercial user doing, say, 300 miles per week, on a present consumption of 20 miles per gallon, this would mean a saving of 5 gallons per week ; assuming that the net cost of his petrol is 2s. a: gallon, he would save the .cost of the fitting in three weeks. The attachment does not in its operation effect a reduction in the power of the engine.