From Our Berlin Correspondent.
Page 15
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NVotztoNtO RELIABILITy TEST : DISTANCES. • Berlin's All-Motor Fire Station.
It is expected that Berlin's all-motor fire station in the Schonlankerstrasse will be opened this week. Engine, tender and gas-engine were delivered in the rough some time ago, and now the great mechanical escape has arrived. All four are electric-driven, and fitted with Lohner-Porsche motors.
A Bavarian Honour.
Von Franendorfer, the Bavarian Minister of Traffic, has been raised to the peerage by the Prince Regent in recognition of his services to the State. The new peer has been at all times a hearty advocate of the motor vehicle, and Bavaria's growing system of motorpost lines is mainly due to his work. He has just authorised a new line between Neuiitting and Eggenfelden.
Berlin Corporation Repairing its Bridges.
It may be within the recollection of your readers that the Berlin Omnibus Company was obliged to discontinue working the Alexanderplatz-Moabit line with motorbuses on account of the weakness and general ricketiness of the Schlosshrticke, an ancient structure in the vicinity of the Royal Palace. Your readers may also remember that the company scouted the proposal of the Corporation that it should contribute towards the cost of strengthening the bridge, observing that it was not the company's business to adapt public bridges to the requirements of modern traffic. The Corporation has now resolved to provide the central part of the bridge with a new span of 38 feet, at a cost of ,3,000, subject, of course, to the Kaiser's approval. Next spring will see the alterations in progress. It is expected that other Spree bridges will la, brought up to date.
Austrian Industrial Vehicle Trials.
The general outlines of these trials, which are lo constitute a test, not only for working reliability, hut also for fuel consumption per kilometre-ton useful load, I furnished in a recent communication, and I here translate in an abridged form particulars of the newly published regulations. First, I may observe that the competition is open only to the internal-combustion types.
VEHICLES.
All vehicles, tractors or trailers, must answer to the regulations of the authorities and must not weigh more than 9,000 kilos. under full load. Practical bodies, especially in the case of omnibuses, must be built on chassis. For seats of omnibuses a minimum width of 45 centimetres (17.7 inches) is prescribed, and where there are two classes, these must be partitioned off. Each vehicle must possess a tank carrying sufficient fuel for a whole day's run. Two persons must be in charge of each vehicle (motorcycles excepted), weighing together 140
at least (2 cwt. 84 lb. io oz.). The observer may be taken in lieu of chauffeur's attendant, in which case the controller is reckoned as dead weight.
Distance for vehicles over 2,500 kilos. useful load : 800 kilometres (500 miles). Ditto for lighter class : 1,200 kilometres (75o miles). For both classes the daily termini are identical.
WEIGHING : BALLAST.
Competing vehicles must be submitted on 19th October for determination of weight (time and .place not yet known). The ballast is to consist of road mil al or metallic bars, laid in mukilo. cases. Omnibuses must carry too kilos. of ballast per seat, this weight including 30 kilos. for luggage. [Vehicles suitable for motorpost lines are obviously contemplated, not so much omnibuses for municipal traffic. —En.] 'fhe observer's weight, fixed at too kilos. (inclusive of allowance for luggage), counts as useful load. Driver and attendant are dead weight.
Adequate arrangements are made• on paper, at all events—for an effective control they need not be particularised, being of the usual kind. I may, however, say that one of the duties of an observer is to see that the driver does not exceed 2 5 kilometres (15-16 miles) an hour, Minimum rates of travelling vary according to the classes and tires (sec " THE CommERCIAT. • MOTOR " for the t3th of August last), and these must be observed under pain of forfeiting claim to diploma. The Austrian Motor Club undertakes to have the necessary fuel forwarded to the various termini, at the expense, of course, of competing parties, who are supposed to supply the Secretary-General with information respecting the quantity (also brand, if considered necessary) required per too kilometres. The 29th of October is the date of the fuel-consumption test; the course has not yet been determined.
PRizES.
Besides the diploma, which is awarded to every competitor covering the course under the given conditions, there are two special prizes presented by the Ministry of War to vehicles securing diplomas and conforming to the following special requirements : (a) Light Military Vans.
1. Four-cylinder engine with mechanically-operated valves and developing at least t8h.p.
2. Four speeds and a reverse, with gate lever.
3. Automatic lubrication, regulating itself according to revolutions of engine.
4. Loading body with collapsible . sides.
5. Length of platform about S feet 2 inches, breadth about 4 feet 6 inches (2,5oo and 'I ,400M m s. respectively).
6. Winch arrangement on rear axle or wheel.
7. T.ocking device on differential.
8. Maximum running weight, inclusive or weight of driver, 1,500 kilos:
9. Normal loading capacity, 1,500 kilos., with a maximum of 2,000.
to. Wheelbase at least 9 feet to inches (3,000mms.).
it. Useful load, composed of 55 cases each weighing 27.5 kilos. (6o lb. 9 oz.); must be so disposed on even roads so that rear and front axle pressures do not exceed 1,5oo kilos., driver's weight being regarded as part of vehicle's own weight.
tz. Average speed of fully-loaded vehicle over give-and-take roads not to fall short of 20 kilometres (121 miles) per hour.
(b) Military Motor Trains.
I. Maximum axle pressure of unloaded tractor and loaded trailer to be 1,5oo kilos., including fuel for too kilometres and weight of driver.
2. Wheelbase of tractor and trailer at least 9 feet TO inches.
3. Useful load for motor trains must be at least 6,000 kilos.
4. Trains must take gradients of 3 in 20 without difficulty, the same applying to single wagons.
Two prizes presented by the Post and Telegraph Department for the best results of fuel competition. Every competitor finishing without a repair receives the great silver medal of the Austrian Motor Club. In the brake competition the great silver medal of the Austrian Motor Club to the best, the great bronze medal to the next best in the following categories :—
(a) Wagons with useful load up to 2,500 kilos. (b) Wagons with useful loads over 2,5oo kilos.
(c) Motor trains.
BRAKE CompterrTION.
Subject to the permission of authorities, braking tests will take place on the 3oth of October (time and place to be announced later), in six tries at speeds of 6, 12 and 30 kilometres an hour, once each on macadam and once each on setts. Speeds will be fixed by a pilot wagon, fitted with a speedometer. Results based on a formula.
COLLECTIVE WEIGHT.
On the conclusion of the trials, wagons will be exhibited in the Rotunda, Vienna. Exhibition as well as brake contests are obligatory for all competing wagons.
EXTRA FEES, ETC.
Entries not later than 3rd of October, 1908, to Oesterreichen Automobil Club, Wien, Karntnerringto. Vehicles carrying a useful load not exceeding Too kilos, have to pay an entrance fee of 30 crowns; not exceeding t,000 kilos., 75 crowns, For every 500 kilos. in excess of t,000, an extra 25 crowns has to be paid; maximum not to exceed 5,000 kilos., the entrance fee for which is 250 crowns. Motor trains pay the last-named amount.