COAL-GAS FOR MOTORCARS. 1000 PRIZE.
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A prize of £1000 is offered by the Automobile Association for the best invention' enabling coal-gas to be used with advantage as a propellent of motorcars and motorcycles.
It is offered to encourage the production of a practical, convenient and inexpensive method of utilizing coal-gas as a motorcar fuel. Owing to war conditions and the scarcity of materials it is unlikely that 'the winning installation could be utilized while the war lasts, but it is felt that every endeavour should be made to have such a device ready for the time when it will be possible to manufacture.
The conditions are framed with the idea of enabling motorists to carry sufficent gas in a small space—not exceeding 19 cubic ft.—to provide the equivalent of between two and three gallons of petrol, and so ensure the possibility of runningoars distances of approximately 50 miles on one charge of gas. The weight of the installation must not exceed 140 lb., while the cost to the motorist must be limited to £20 or an annual hiring charge of £5. The expense of establishing and working the plant for charging the containers must be such as not to add to the cost of the gas fuel to the motorist more than 3d. for such amount of gas as is equivalent in propelling power on a motor vehicle to one gallon of petrol.
The conditions are so drafted that the winner of the prize must place his invention at the disposal of the British motoring public on terms fair to himself and users.
Intending competitors may obtain copies of the entry form and the conditions upon application to the Secretary, Automobile Association and Motor Union, ranum House, Whitcomb Street, London. W.C. 2.
Conditions of the £1000 Prize Offered by the Ahtomobile Association for the Best System for Enabling Coal-gas to be Satisfactorily Used as a Fuel for Motor Vehicles.
1. The quantity stored* must be equivalent in propelling power to not 'less than three gallons of petrol. The teat is to be by road trials.
2. The space occupied by the container or set of containers for the above quantity must 'not exceed 19 cubic ft. 3. The weight of the container or set of containers must not exceed 140 lb.
4. The retail price must not exceed £20 or an annual hiring charge of £5. 5. The expense of establishing and working the plant for charging the containers must be such as not to add to the cost of Ithe gas fuel to the motorist more than 3d. for such 034 amount of gas as is equivalent in propelling power on a motor vehicle to one gallon of petrol. .6. The use of the system must not raise the rate of insurance of the vehicles using it.
7. The material for the plant must be of such a, nature as to be easily obtained in sufficient quantities,, and the plant must be capable of being installed by ordinary motorcar repairers. .
8. The winner of the prize must enter into an agreement Or agreements for securing the use of the system to the British motoring public on terms not less favourable than those stated in conditions 4 and 5.
g. The judges will be appointed by the Executive Committee of the Automobile Association and Motor Union, and their decision shall be final.
10. The competition will be closed on the 31st December, 1918. There is no entrance fee or charge of any description.
In the first instance a typewritten description should be sent, and in no case should drawings be forwarded until _ arrangements are made for the examiners to deal -with them.
This also applies to exhibits of models or the actual device. These must not be sent or delivered to the office of the Automobile Association 'until after the necessary preliminaries am arranged. , Note.—In para. 5 of the Conditions, line two' the expression
" " employed is "chaoging the containers. We take tins to be a.typing error, and have altered it to "charging the containers."