COMMERCIAL MOTORS AT THE BERLIN SHOW.
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Tendencies in German Lorry Design Run Towards Ample Strength. The Popular Three-wheeled Light Van.
BERLIN, September 28t1t.
THE commercial vehicle section of the German automobile industry has not developed to the extent attained in England, and quite a small section of the Berlin Show—itself smaller than Olympia—suffices to house the exhibits of the truck and passenger vehicle concerns.
But what the exhibition lacks in al:4ml numbers it makes up for in variety and completeness, and, in addition, there is quite a lot to be said in favour of holding both commercial motor and private car shows under the one roof and at the same time. At least, that seems to be the ease at Berlin, where the reco4I attendance has kept the truck exhibits thronged with spectators in-a way not commonly seen at an exclusively commercial show.
A word of commendation may well be given to' the ruling body of the German' automotive industry for having decided, in 1911, to have the present fine Show building specially erected for the primary purpose of housing motor shows, as the then existing buildings were so unsatisfactory: Of course, there are other exhibitions held there from time to time, but it was the motor industry which took the initia= tire, and it. may be that our S.M.M. and T. may some day follow this good example. Only four miles from the centre of Berlin, the Show is located among beautiful surroundings, and now has the advantage ofhaving the recently opened 12 mile speed track just two minutes' journey away. Thus, all motoring' interests are .centred at the one spot. Compared with the 58 stands devoted to the private ear, the eommercial motor has 30 exhibits, comprising all the firms whose names have been_ familiar to British ears in the past, and manrnew as well. Bussing, N.A.G., Durkopp,lnes) Daimler, and other stands have quite a familiar look—not that the acquaintance stands much present hood of closer renewal, for prices in Germany axe high and are rapidly increasing month by month, in inxerse ratio to the falling value of the mark.
Apart from the light vans, all German commercial vehicles share the quality of looking massive in size. One look a with admiration at the huge N.A.G., fitted with giant pneumatics, 40 ins. by 8 ins., twin tyres at rear, and imagines it to be something new in 8 tanners. But the makers list it as a regular 4-tonner --doubtless, however, figuring liberally upon the badness of the German roads and the likelihood of overloading. Anyway, 'it is the largest commercial motor that probably anyone has yet seen.
This N.A.G. Co. is reputed to have a very fine business both in -trucks and passenger-carrying lines. All the Berlin buses are N.A.G., and they run well and smoothly at a pace considerably faster than their London brothers. However, the total number in use (reported as less than 100) is small, becausetof the • efficiency of the tramway services, which run everywhere and at a high average. speed, .owing to their being run on tracks which are (on Most streets) separate from the-rest of the traffio., . It is quite the regular thing for the big trucks to be run with trailers, and at the Show are many examples of the latest ideas in twe and four wheelers. One such has a seat in front for an attendant, who has his own brake to operate. Some -Of the truck bodies are of sheet steel, and look very strong, whilst every conceivable type of loading device and of tipping mechanism is displayed.
So far as chassis design goes, there is hardly any novelty to report, everything being co.ostrneted on standard lines and there being very little change from 1914 designs. Electric lighting is, however, now a standard fitting on most of the best trucks.
Passenger-carrying vehicles are 'mostly of the omnibus or saloon type—the char-h-banes has not..eaught hold of the popular fancy in Germany. Nevertheless, there are several very fine examples of open pase senger coaches, N.A.G., again to the fore, having an open 16-seater, with single front door, equal in detail and finish to any touring car.
Electric vehicles are well developed in Germany, as would be expected 'from a country,which is doing so much to develop high-tension power transmiseien over long distances. Hansa shows some fine examples of trucks and tractors, and several smaller firms have developed the parcel delivering van for city use—a branch which might well receive more attention from our British makers. The standard type of pneurnatietyred and high-geared 12-15 cwt. petrol enginecl delivery van has to stand a lot of driving abuse, whieh could be better guarded against by the electric, which, for town deliveries, would be working -under the most favourable eonditions.
Most of the small electrics are three-wheelers, with the one-driven wheel, and also the driver, in front. This is a logical development, because there are so many small three-wheelers, both passenger and goods _delivery, in use. Both Phanomen and Cyclonette, the successful makers of three-wheeled passenger cars, do a good business in 8-8 cwt. vans.
Incidentally, Berlin is surely the one city iii the world where one looks in vain for the usualig ubiquitous Ford van, During a week's stay, your representative has so far failed to see one—or a Fuer:rear, either.
A motor' sleighon the Aquilon stand looks strarge to British eyes, but, having in mind Germany's lion share of the pre-wax Russian market, one presumes that there is going to be plenty of business in the North. It is claimed that the Aquilon system enables a truck to be converted from wheels to snowequipment in two hours.
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There is an absence of the springs wheels of which one heard so much during the war while Germany was short of rubber. A few taxis and old trucks are to be seen on the streets thus equipped, but it would seem that the war experience was not sufficiently favourable to encourage a development of the spring wheel for normal use.
Our erstwhile friend, the Continental tyre, is everywhere displayed, and the heavy cord covers are fine-looking jobs.
In conolusion, while there is no outstanding novelty at the Show which calls for active attention of; the British maker, the development of the light parcel• van and the small electric is worth watching, and, in any case, One must net ignore progress, for there is now a new, and generally peaceful, Germany, which 'has overcome most of its labour difficulties and which is going to be a formidable competitor of England in almost every line of business.