THE BRUSSELS SHOW
Page 38
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ALTHOUGH many American makers decided not to exhibit at this year's 25th Automobile Salon now being held in Brussels, and their action was followed by a number of European makers, the Show, which opened on December 9th and remains open until December 20th, is of interest, and the exhibits serve to demonstrate the steady progress being made by the commercial-vehicle industry in Belgium. The annexe, which is usually devoted to industrial vehicles, was, on this occasion, wholly occupied by the Citron organization.
Oil engines are represented by Fiat, Mercedes Benz, Bussing, Saurer, Renault and the Peugeot-Junkers, which is built under licence in Belgium. The Bussing oil engine is exhibited for the first time. It is a six-cylindered 125 ram. by 150 ram. unit, with the cylinders cast in blocks of three, the total capacity of the engine being 121litres. A Bosch fuel pump is employed, and the engine is said to develop 105110 b.h.p. at from 1,300 to 1,400 r.p.m. Three BussingN.A.G. oil engined vehicles are shown, two in chassis form, whilst the third is a front-entrance bus.
The Morris-Commercial organization has one of the most important stands in the Show. Seven vehicles are staged, including the Leader-six, DX, Dictator, Courier, RE chassis and RE light van.
A newcomer this year is the German Hansa Lloyd Co., which shows a fine 31-tanner. This chassis is a straightforward job, turned out with typical German thoroughness. It has a 94 mm. by 118 mm. six-cylindered 4.9-litre engine with side-by-side valves.
The Fiat oil-engined lorry which is 820 exhibited has a 105 mm. by 160 mm. six-cylindered engine -with a Bosch fuel pump. This engine develops 75 b-hp. at 1,600 r.p.m., and the lorry carries a useful load of six tons. A feature of the Fiat is the provision of two electric starter motors.
The improvement in Belgian commercial body building appears to be well maintained. jonckheeres have a good variety of passenger bodies, including a 50-seater bus body on a Bussing chassis.
Miesse have an unusual exhibit in the form of a mobile searchlight installation. This vehicle has a closed body accommodating a crew of seven men, the searchlight being carried on the tail of the chassis. The light itself is mounted on a four-wheeled truck equipped with rubber tyres, which can be run off on to the ground.
The Mercedes-Benz concern shows three oil-engined vehicles equipped with its six-eylindered oil power unit. Brossel have a fire-engine of the closedbody type for long-distance calls—an idealoriginated some years ago in France. This is a small first-aid appliance. carrying a crew of six and equipped with a Fiat pump at the front.
The Truck and Tractor Appliance Co. shows an interesting refrigerator van in semi-trailer form, also six-wheeler adaptations of Ford and Chevrolet chassis. A curious detail noted on several Minerva coache,s is the fitting of wooden bumpers, consisting of stout spars of polished hickory mounted one above the other.
The only big vehicles to be seen this year are the Bussing and the Saurer 12-ton six-wheeler.