From Our Berlin Correspondent.
Page 17
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A Prosperous German Concern.
'Tim huge Berlin electrical firm known as the Allgemeine Elektrizitats-Gesellschaft closes its business year with the enormous net profit of 18,425,225 .marks (L921,271), and will pay a dividend of 14 per cent. (13 in 1908-9). This means that the net profits have risen by £100,000! which profits have been realized on the sales of manufactures alone. We may remind our readers that the A.F.G. is the parent-firm of the Neue Automobil-GeselLschaft. Of a truth, "mamma" seems to be doing tolerably well.
Technical Requirements for Lorries Suitable for Military Transport : Subvention-year 1911-12 (Germany). Below, in a condensed form, are the main requirements for lorries and trailers eligible for the 1911-12 subsidies paid by the German War Office to successful participators in special trials :— STYLE OF CONSTRUCTION.
I. As regards form, quality of materials, manufacture and assemblage, the vehicle (chassis and body) must be thoroughly up-to-date, and able to run reliably in winter.
2. Visibility and accessibility of all the main parts. 3. The motor must sun with as little noise as possible.
ENGINE.
1. The motor shall be placed tinder a roomy bonnet, in front of the driver; the bonnet must be fitted with safety locks. 2. The engine must give 35 b.11.1). at 850 r.p.m., and its speed to be controlled by means of a regulator. 3. Accelerator. For the 1st and 2nd speeds, with the engine running free,
the accelerator must permit of increases up to 1,000 r.p.m. For the 3rd and 4th speeds, the. accelerator must be mechanically reeked.
4. The carburetter must admit of the permanent use of light and heavy petrol, or benzol and other driving fuel of a like quality.
5. A device for the use of low-flashpoint fuels, especially for winter operations, must be present.
6. Throttle-valve lever. It must be possible to regulate the supply of gas by means of a hand lever mounted on the steering wheel, 7. Cooling arrangements must be adapted for prolonged runs at slow speeds up steep gradients; the water must not boil or run over. At all lowlying points of the cooling device drain-taps must he fitted. 8. The lubrication system must be reliable, and observable at night from the chauffeur's seat. Steps must be taken to keep the oil in a liquid slate during the winter months.
The pedals for the clutch, brake and accelerator are to be provided with inscriptions. The clutch pedal shall be situated to the left of brake-pedal. Clutch and brake pedals must operate independently.
CHANGE-GEARS.
The change-gears may be separated or mounted in a single housing. They shall provide for the following speeds when the engine is running at its normal speed of 800-850 r.p.m.:-1st, 3-31; kilom. 2nd, 5,-1-1% kaolin ; 3rd, i11 idiom.; 4th, 16 kilom.: reverse, up to 3:1j kilom.
Comparatively-small deviations !lip to 10 per cent.) will be allowed up to 31st March, 1913. The maximum speed is fixed at 16 kilom. per hour.
FINAL DRIVE.
If chain, it must be of standard army pattern.
_BRAKES.
Positive-acting brake on rear a-heels, likewise on one of the gearshafts, the latter brake being operated by a foot lever ; the gear-brake must be watercooled, and the wheel-brakes compensated.
A spin must be provided and the splash-board must bear a device which shows the position of the sprag at any momen t
TANKS.
The tanks are to he placed under the seat or at rear end of frame, and they must be fitted with draining contrivances and detachable filters.
EXIIA UST.
A minimum of noise from exhaust is essential ; the end of the discharge pipe must not be bent towards the side and down wa rds.
COL PLING FOR TR AILF.R.
The coupling must be springmounted in the frame of the motorwagon, and arranged for both pull and thrust: its height is to be about 85 centimetres, and it must be placed so far back that, in a right-angled position, there is a clearance of about 30 centimetres between the rear panel of the motor-wagon and the nearest part of the trailer.
Whnnts
The wheels must conform to the legal regulations, and be constructed in such a manner that devices for enabling flue vehicle to travel over ice or snow-covered roads may easily be attached, and the motor-wagon must, in all circumstances, possess a set of rubber-tired wheels; the wheels may consist of wood or iron.
STEERING.
With a maximum wheelbase of 4ie-, metres, the vehicle must take a curve of 0, metres diameter at the track oE the inside wheels.
TIRE NI EASUREIIENTS.
(a.) Front wheels. I. Inside diameter, 670 ram. 2. Outside diameter, 830 mm.. 3. Tread, 120 mm.
(b) Rear wheels.
1. Inside diameter, 850 mm. 2. Outside diameter, 1,030-1,040 min_ 3. Tread (double), 140 mm.
Maximum weight of loaded lorry, irkeluding attendants, is 9,000 kilos. Minute instructions are also laid down for the trailers, which, however,. may be passed over. Unlike the moturwagons; their wheels may be iron or rubber-shod.
What Bavaria Is Doing For Motor Transport.
The 1st October will witness the inauguration of an interesting service ot motor transport in connection witIvz the motel-post lines radiating from: Pottmes to Sehrobenhausen, Aichacla and Augsburg. These four Bavariam towns, together with their respective, environs, in so far as the latter ore. suitable for .heavy-automobile traffic.., will form a " Itollbezirk," or lorrydistrict, for the transport of piece_ goods. By way of a beginning, it is; proposed to work a weekly service 44: two or more lorries, according to the demand, over the first two of Elie. above-mentioned lines. Unless the. P.O. he otherwise advised, goods forwarded per railway to the Akin-telt or Scbrobenhattaen railway station with be transmitted thence by motor lorry. to the consigaees. In order to assist, the P.O. in coping with the traffie im question, interested parties are each: supposed to have a goods-station of some sort at Aichach, Schrobenhausenz and Piittmes. Buildings on an elaborate or expensive scale the authorities. do not require; their main object is: to form an idea of the demand, and to> shape their arrangements accordingly.. Depots at. Augsburg also fall within; the scheme. The lorries running between this town and Pottnies will deal chiefly with the transport. of milk. and what Germans call " smalt cattle," i.e., sheep, goats, pigs and so, on. The postal officials dwell upon '.,he. urgency of as wide a use as possible. being made of the new service, lie order that " empty " runs may be. avoided. It will be highly interesting.. to follow up the working of this newscheme, which furnishes another striking instance of the Government's alspreeiation of mechanical road-transport.