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Loose Leaves.

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22nd November 1927

Page 114

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Page 114, 22nd November 1927 — Loose Leaves.

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A USEFUL suggestion has been made—and it comes from a man who had been associated with the steam vehicle industry for many years but who has now retired—that owners of steam wagons should form themselves into a body under some such title as "The Steam-vehicle Owners' Association," in order that they can concentrate solely upon the problems which now face steam wagon operators, and deal with matters that vitally affect their interests.

When we heard of the proposal we ourselves urged further consideration of the advantages which are offered by membership of the Commercial Motor Users Association. These are admitted, but it is felt that a body which solely specializes upon the one type of vehicle will do much more for its members than can be done by a body which embraces many other interests.

We understand that the preliminary meeting is to be held at Olympia to-morrow (Wednesday) afternoon at 2.30, and all owners of steam vehicles are invited to be present to consider the proposal that will be made by those who have initiated the project.

EVEN to a much greater extent than we expected we find the Steam Wagon Demonstration has definitely drawn attention to the steam wagon, its merlin and its claims, and a proposal is afoot on behalf of the manufacturers to carry the idea considerably farther. Our own suggestion has been that the Steam Vehicle Committee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders should, next year, organize a definite trial of steam vehicles which shall serve to demonstrate their economy of operation, their reliability and their compliance in general with the requirements of transport, at least so far as medium and heavy loads are concerned. An association of owners of steam wagons could materially assist in any such project, and by its sympathy and support give it added value.

WE understand from Mr. G. Hoare, who is acting as secretary of the proposed association (and whose address, by the way, is 20, Mountfield Road, Finchley, London, N.3), that at to-morrow's meeting owners of steam vehicles will be encouraged to suggest matters that are likely to be of practical value to the heavy transport industry. If we might make one suggestion ourselves, it is that the association should at once commence to bring pressure to bear upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to amend the scale of taxation of steam vehicles so that the present crushing handicap of high taxation may be removed from a type of vehicle which gave extraordinarily good service to the country during the War and which must be definitely saved from extinction in the interests of home industries (to wit, engineering and coal mining), and which again would be wanted in the event of hostilities (which, next time, are almost certain to prevent oil from reaching this country!).

CONSIDERABLE interest ought to be shown in the

Mercedes-Benz engine, operating on the Die.sel principle, which is on exhibition at Olympia. It is a type of prime mover for which the staff of Temple Press Ltd. has always shown some predilection, perhaps because the single-cyfindered 30 h.p. engine installed at Rosebery Avenue was one of the first three to be' erected in this country many years ago. It was a great curiosity in those days, and perhaps ifor that reason it was given a model engine-room with tiled walls and parquet flooring. It was then able to run the whole of the plant and to light the building. To-day, so greatly has the place grown, it is, not powerful enough to provide our lighting current I Herr Diesel, himself, visited our installation on one occasion and was particularly interested in the way in which we bad overcome certain exhaust valve troubles which had occurred. THE Diesel engine should not only give fuel economy in the operation of commercial motors to the extent of about 25 per cent. in the weight of fuel, but if its merits are such that its use should extend, the reduced demand for petrol would be a help to operators of passenger vehicles and of the lighter types of vehicle for which the petrol engine would be better suited. It is very interesting to know that the speed range of the Diesel engine is being extended both upwards and downwards, for perfect combustion at low engine speeds and with all reasonable throttle variations is vital and essential. The Bosch demonstration tomorrow should be interesting.