From Our Berlin Correspondent.
Page 6
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Greece has formulated a iirand-new Customs tariff, which includes hem ier rates for automobiles. The inclustriel class pay an ad valorem duty of 12 per cent.
The •' Berliner Tageblatt " reports that the Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft is building for Imperial use at the next military manceuvres a motor kitchen. fitted up with dressers and what not. To the roof is attached canvas, that can be extended out all round the automobile, which thus occupies, as it were, the centre of a tent.
Beriin's First Aid Association, which works under municipal supervision, has just issued a report for the last two years, and in it I find a strongly-commendatory reference to self-propelled vehicles for ambulance work, The Association possesses four such vehicles, and places it on record that, in many a case, the extra speed has been of absolutely-vital importance. Dr, Ernst Joseph manages the transport department, which dealt with 17,807 cases last year.
Messrs. Stoewer's New Catalogue.
I have received from the Stettin automobile firm trading as the Gehrtider Stoewer their new catalogue of 3(1 odd pages. It is a profusely-illustrated publication showing the various types of vehicles already supplied. Messrs. Stoewer are on the list of firms whose motor lorries bear the military subvention-plate, a fact that certainly justifies them in devoting considerable space to such vehicles in the catalogue. Some of the illustrations in the catalogue are interesting ; on page 18, for instance, is a picture of a Stoewer lorry being solemnly dedicated to the service of transport in the Russian district of Kasen by a Russian priest in full canonivels before an improvised altar, which consists of a table covered with a cloth, and bearing what is apparently a soup-tureen stuck round the, edge with long, lighted candles.
Passing on Calls for Motorcabs.
The Charlottenburg-Berlin Corporation has made arrangements with a number of business houses in various parts of the borough to further telephonic calls for motorcabs to the eearest respective ranks. It is hardly necessary to add that all the requisite particulars will be incorporated in the telephone register.
Berlin's Backwardness in Postalmotor Traffic.
I see that, by 1st July, the London P.O. will have 23 automobile lines radiating into the Provinces. Berlin has absolutely nothing of the kind, and the official organ of the Imperial Motor Club rightly suggests that it is high time the Berlin postal authorities made use of the automobile for improving the parcel-post delivery in the outlying suburbs. Under the prevailing condition of affairs, parcels have to be dispatched to and from these suburbs by goods-trains, which never keep to schedule time, and take 3-1 hours to cover a 14-mile stretch] The suburban passenger trains may not carry the mails, and the main-line expresses do not stop at the suburban stations ; hence, the use of the crawling goods-trains.
Sir Elenry Norman's speech at the Connaught Rooms might be posted to the Poetsekretiir, who could then see how lamentably fierlin lags behind London in the matter of postal-motor traffic. So far as the conveyance of letters and percels hetween district offices is concerned, Berlin will accept
deliyery of 20 new electromobiles in the course of the month. They are to replace the horse-drawn Briefkarriolen for collecting mails from the dis-, trict offices and suboffiees and conveying them to the head office. The automobiles on order incorporate a novelty for Berlin, since, unlike the present types, they will have windows, so that letters may be sorted en route by officials. Their propulsive machinery will consist of Krieger electromotors, fitted to the front hubs, and fed by cells slung under the chassis, midway between the axles. The Norddeutsehe Automobil und Motoren AktienGesellschaft, Bremen, has the contract for all these vehicles.
Makers of "Oryx" Cars Busy.
After exhaustive trials, the German War Office has purchased a number of Oryx cars for the use of the Army Transport Department. The Berlin Corporation has also placed an order with the Berlin-Reinickenclorf Gesellschaft for a vehicle of the same make.
An enquiry at the works of the Berliner Motorwagen-Fahrik, Reiniekendorf-Berlin, as to the reason for their entering neither for the "Prince Bettry " tour nor for the forthcoming voiturette trials in Germany, elicits the reply that they are too busy executing orders to think of constructing vehicles for competitions. They build the " Oryx " chassis, which is now marketed in England by P. B. Goodchild and Co., Ltd., of London.
Haulage of Railway Carriages and Trucks by Motor Lorry.
Time was—and not so very long ago either—when the Munich wagonbuilding firm of Rathgeber had to bitch a dozen horses of heavy calibre to the low, iron trailers used for the transport of railway carriages and trucks from the works to the railway station, whereas the haulage is now done quite comfortably with a 38 lep. Bussing lorry of the subvention-type: witness the interesting photograph which 1 forward for reproduction. As the three-axle post-wagon itself weighed 18tons, and the trailer another five, the BUssing lorry had to carry three tons of ballast in order to get the necessary adhesion for its road-wheels. I believe Scotte wagons did like work. in Paris, 12 years ago.
The First Zurich Motereab Co. has been put into the Bankruptcy Court; this concern was operating with motorcabs which were made by the Ajax Motor Cowhich went into liquida tion recently. This appears to be another case of a misconceived companY which started business before its rolling stock was paid for.
I note that, according to an American Consular report from Hermosillo, in Mexico, the Sonora Railway Co. is giving a six-month trial to internalcombustion propulsion between Impolmi and Guaymas, with highly-satisfactory results so far. The motors are American made. Quite a number of such motor-driven coaches--" Triebwagen " as they are called---has been acquired to work the passenger traffic over German branch-railway lines where ordinary locomotives do not pay, and they, too, appear to be working satisfactorily.
Autos for German Military Hospitals.
Germany's Budget provides for selfpropelled ambulance-wagons being attached to the military hospitals in a few of the larger garrison towns. 'Why not in all such towns?" someone may ask. The reason why only a few vehicles are contemplated is that the military authorities desire to rind a really-serviceable type before committing themselves to a big order ; it rests with the makers to expedite the general adoption of automobiles for ambulance work.
German Chauffeurs' Grievances.
At a meeting of chauffeurs belonging to the German Transport Workers' Union, held at Berlin, it was stated that, owing to the comparatively-high premiums demanded by the insurance companies for even partial insurance in regard to the new Automobile Liability Act, the Union had been compelled to organize an experimental insurance system of its own, with a 50pfennig weekly premium to cover all risks. The men also complained that, under the new chauffeur-regulations, members who had exercised their calling for many years past were suddenly pronounced " disabled " on trifling grounds, and that a fee of 9 marks had to he paid for medical examine
tion, no matter whether the men were allowed to retain their licenees or not. The meeting resolved to send a deputation to the Berlin President of Police.
Freight Automobiles for the Turkish Army.
The Turkish army authorities are experimenting with a few freight automobiles with a view to acquiring a number for military operations. Rumour says that the makes on trial emanate solely from Austrian and German makers. Apparently. British makers do net consider it worth their while to bid for orders in this quarter. We understand that some 30 vehicles will eventually be acquired. They must be exceptionally stout and well sprung, as the " roads" are mostly execrable. But progress in ene direr
tion being ellen conditional upon progress in another, the army authorities propose that two million Turkish pounds should be spent for roads improvement. Meanwhile, they want a tew lorries to go on with.
A Subsidy Scheme for Switzerland.
Following Germany's lead, Switzerland has drawn up conditions for subeelizing motor lorries suitable for military purposes, and they recently came into force. The Swiss Government pays a certain percentage of the selling price, also so much per cent, for wear and tear, as well as for the number of kilometres covered. In manoeuvres, the owner receives 10 francs a day and 1 franc per 1,000 of -the vehicle's estimated value, but, where the service is limited to eight days, he receives a lump sum, which covers wear of tires. The technical conditions coincide, in the main, with those laid down by the German War Office for subvention machines.
Germany's Foreign Trade in dustrial Vehicles.
Compared with the first quarter of 1909, Germany's imports dropped from 37,903 to 30,500 kilo. Some 60 per cent. came in under a duty of 15 marks per 100 kilo.. while about 40 per cent were admitted duty-free as return goods. In spite of the decline, Switzerland contrived to increase her exports from 10,700 to 17,000 kilo. Germany's exports rose from 108,400 to 167,900 kilo., i.e., she sent out 60 vehicles, as against 35 in 1909. Great Britain's share decreased from 29,200 to 22,500 kilo., and European Russia's from '38,600 to 33,500 kilo. On the other hand, Austria-Hungary took 21,500 kilo. in lieu of 6,700 kilo.. and Brazilian sales rose from nil to 25,800 kilo. The total exports of industrials dining the quarter is valued at £35,50, compared with £19,200 iii 7.009. Germany's exports of ears and internal-combustion engines for vehicles have also increased in volume.