Another Wonderful Stride Forward.

22nd November 1927, Page 113

22nd November 1927

Page 113

Page 113, 22nd November 1927 — Another Wonderful Stride Forward.

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MiT HEREVER one goes in this Commercial Vehicle Exhibition of 1927 one hears the remark that it is the finest display of commercial transport products which has ever been staged in this country or abroad, and the engineering technique which is to be found in the majority of the exhibits is winning universal praise. Even to the non-technical visitor there is a tremendous amount of interesting material, and we are certain that no one Could possibly visit this Show without receiving a deep and lasting impression of the extraordinary developments which have occurred during the past few years, and particularly in the period since the Exhibition of 1925.

Change with a Definite Purpose.

Every vehicle, tractor, trailer or conversion device on view has been designed with a definite object and from the utility aspect. Although there certainly are some exhibits of most unusual types, yet not one can be classified as a freak. In the majority of instances designers and makers have catered for a definite market, and that such markets exist is in itself a wonderful proof of the progress of road and cross-country transport. There are a few machines for which markets may have to be created, but these will no doubt be successful eventually, owing to their intrinsic value. , It is almost impossible to refer to just a few... stands as containing exhibits of outstanding interest, for there are so many new conceptions, in most cases quite unfamiliar to the majority of the public, that to gain a comprehensive impression of the Show it is essential to study the products of every maker.

This year the Exhibition is more international than ever before. Every country of importance has contributed its quota, but amongst all of them those of British manufacture stand out in a fashion which proves that, whatever may have, been said about our commercial-vehicle industry in the past, to-day it is the foremost , in vitality and in the possession of brains and enterprise. British makers have passed through a very trying period which has called for endurance and stamina, and with very few exceptions they have responded in a manner which has surprised the world.

The Buyer's Confidence.

It is noticeable that there is a distinct feeling of confidence amongst users and potential buyers as to the merits of many of the new products. Some which have only been built within the past inOnth or two have attracted so much attention that important orders have been received even before they have been publicly displayed or tried out in actual service. This is remarkable proof of the trust now being reposed in Makers who have won through in the past.

We have in previous leading articles referred to certain of the chief tendencies in design, but it is only by an extended visit to Olympia that one can gain an adequate conception of them, and the differences between the vehicles, etc., which are now staged and. what only a few years ago used to he considered as the last word in commercialveld cle construction are almost startling. We think It almost ,a matter for regret that some such comparison has not been staged, as it is human nature, particularly nowadays, to taketthings rather as a matter of course instead of giving consideration to the enormous labour and thought expended in the wholesale adoption of new ideas and new methods.

The Outstanding Developments.

The outstanding feature is, of course, the great development of the rigid six-wheeler.

Of almost as much importance is the progress made in connection with chassis and bodies affording low platform levels, and practically every maker concerned in the construction of passenger vehicles shows a chassis designed with this end in view.

Great improvements have also been made in engines, both petrol and steam, and a definite vogue has set in for the six-cylindered type for certain classes of passenger transport, and it is quite probable that the demand will spread amongst users for high-speed goods vehicles engined with units of this pattern.

There are other vehicles in which suction-gas producers are employed, and one equipped with a Diesel engine; and, incidentally, in connection with this type of power unit we would like to see greater advances amongst British makers, although, perhaps, it is too much to expect them to make rapid strides in every direction simultaneously.

Better and Better Brakes,

Braking systems have in the main been vastly improved, and in a large number of cases a servo device relieves the driver of much fatiguing effort.

Bodybuilders and chassis makers now work together far more harmoniously than formerly, and " British-built " applied te the body of a commeicial vehicle holds all its old significance.

The tyre makers have also shown that they can. cope with practically every problem in tyring which is put before them, and it is in a great measure due to their efforts that the development of the modern commercial vehicle, and in particular the passenger type, has depended.

Another Wonderful Stride Forward.

Page 113

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