Lan cia.
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TH" year the Lancia exhibits are confined to the famous Pentaiota type fours-wheel-brake chassis, of which five examples are shown. For the technically minded great interest will be taken in the stripped chassis, on which the main details of the design can be examined. A straightforward and efficient design, this embodies a fourcylinder side-valve engine with auxilaries very accessibly disposed, a multiple-disc clutch, a four-forwardspeed gearbox, rigidly supported in a species of sub-frame; a propeller shaft enclosed in a torque tube, and a builtup back axle housing a bevel drive and differential.
The frame is of particularly robust construction, the side-members being of tapering section and swept in just behind the dash ; the latter is a rigid casting of aluminium.
The front axle is a particularly robust job of I-section with the flanges reinforced by webs; the internal-expanding front-wheel brakes are simply and effectively operated by means of a cable which passes round a pulley secured to the frame, and then round a second pulley mounted above the steering pivot; from the latter the cable is taken back to the end of the lever mounted on the brake cam spindle. When steering movements occur the cable simply wraps round the pulley so that the brakes are effective. This chassis is shown mounted on Michelin pneumatic tyres and disc wheels, twin wheels being employed at the rear.
Four interesting complete vehicles are shown, these having attractive lines and excellent passenger accommodation. There is a 23-25-seater Perfection type low-loading coach with coachwork by Ltall, Lewis and Co., Ltd., which incorporates a patented under structure and a special Jackson hood and side-screens ; this is attractively painted in red and aluminium ; a four-panel V-screen is fitted, and the seats are arranged in five rows; particularly wide running boards are employed, and ingress to the seats ranged above the rear axle is assisted by steps carried across and enclosing the rear wheels.
A 20-seater Windermere-type saloon coach with bodywork by the same makers is also shown, this incorporating a mechanically operated front entrance door and a rear emergency door.
Another very interesting exhibit is a 26-seater standard service omnibus body by 8trachan and Brown, this also having a mechanically operated front entrance door and an emergency door. Each of the spring-back seats accommodates two passengers, and they are separated by a central gangway ; Strachan patented drop windows and ventilators are fitted to this bus.
Lastly, there is an 18-seater allweather coach with bodywork by London Lorries, Ltd., which incorporates Beatonson patent head fittings and a froitt staircase entrance.
Curtis Automobile Co., Ltd., Curtis Buildings, Park Royal, London, N.W.10.