A recent meeting of SPEAKER at a the Detroit section of
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the Society of Automotive Engineers stated that as a result of information gained in connection with the aeroplane during the past two years, anything that can be done with air-cooling can be effected with water-cooling, and with less weight.
This statement is opposed to what a good many engineers have stated in this country, but it is borne out by similar recent experiments in British aeroengine construction.
He' asserted that there is no reason why motorvehicle engines could not be made to weigh only 2 lb. per horse-power, and at no more cost than the present designs, if they were produced on a quantity basis. A 12-passenger aeroplane with three motors and weighing complete about the same as a 16cylinder vehicle can accelerate from zero to 80 m.p.h. in about eight seconds, and there is no reason why the engineering ability which has enabled this to be done should not be applied to the motor vehicle.
A CURIOUS system of payment of taxicab fares has been instituted in Madrid. The passenger has the option of paying approximately 3d. per mile, plus a tip, or an inclusive rate of 5d. per mile. Quite apart from the novelty of the scheme, we think taxi drivers and proprietors in England would be appalled at the low rates.
THE sixth annual
road congress, which meets at Washington between October 6th and 11th, will undoubtedly be an event of the greatest interest and importance. The United States has to-day well in excess of 3,000,000 miles of highway, of which approximately 630,000 are adequately surfaced. The expenditure during recent years has approximated 14 billion dollars annually in an endeavour to accommodate the 26,000,000 motor vehicles which are daily in use aver this vast network of highways.
The State Department has extended invitations to 77 Nations, Dominions and Colonial Possessions to have delegates in attendance, and 43 acceptances had been received up to June 30th. Advices from Great Britain and France indicate that each of these countries will send delegations of approximately 100 representatives.
THE selfish attitude which is adopted by some people to what may be termed mass transport by coach and bus is well exemplified in a letter written to the daily Press by a Colonel King.
This gentleman has observed with great regret the announcement that the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., is building a coach station in the neighbourhood of Oxford Circus, as he had hoped that before long such traffic would be prohibited from coming into the centre of London where, he adds, it greatly increases the congestion of the streets, whilst the passengers and their luggage are an impediment to pedestrians.
We do not know whether Colonel King is a motorist, but, no doubt he would have no compunction in driving or being driven into or through the heart of London, and without giving consideration to the fact that a vehicle for his own use would be occupying at least half as much of the road as would a coach built to carry 24 or more passengers.
pARTICULARLY during the holiday season a good many patrons of coaches are members of families making definite journeys or pleasure tours. One of the reasons for' the choice of the coach in preference to the railway is the possibility of more enjoyable sightseeing.
The modern coach has, as a rule, deep side panels, which means that the bases of the windows are fairly high above the seat cushions. This often makes it difficult for children to enjoy to the utmost the journey. It might prove of considerable advantage in this connection to have a few shallow loose cushions, upholstered in the same material as the permanent seats of the vehicles, and to keep these in a locker when not required. By using one or two of them on any given seat a child could be raised by 6 ins, or more, thus enabling him or her to see out easily. If the children enjoy the journey a more pleasant impression is likely to be left in the minds of the parents and future business will be effected.
A MOST useful aid to the sale of Flexion six-. wheeler conversion sets is being employed by Mr. Leonard Smith, a director of Flexion Products, Ltd., The Hyde. Hendon, London, N.W. This is a compact daylight kinerna, which can show at any time exactly how the Flexion product operates when used in conjunction with a motor vehicle. The films used are only secondary in value to an actual demonstration.