GAS BAGS.-A FEW REFLECTIONS.
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By "The Inspector."
INNOVATIONS, however' trivial, however farreaching, invariably meet with .opposition from some quarter or another. Hindrances of this kind are traceable, as a rule, to one of two causes ; they may be part of a general programme of more or less intelligent Criticism of any kind of proposal which emanates from some source not closely identified with the critic or his friends, or they may be that kind of ca'-canny policy which, primarly based on indolence, seizes on the new circumstances as a Welcome and ready-to-hand excuse for the individual's further personal-shortcomings. Of the first, it .can be conceded that it is frequently a spice to the innovators : it also serves excellently as an advertisement, for, be it remembered, it is better to be hated than despised. As to the second, I know of nothing to recommend it.
The motor industry from its infancy has not lacked detractors, nor will it until everyone owns or uses a car of sorts. One can hardly recall any step in advance, during the development of the motor vehicle, when -criticism has not been rampant in connection with it.. Not the least vehement of such critics has been the trade itself. And, with it all, it has thrived on it Pneumatic tyres, wire wheels, monobloc engines, live-axle drives, plate clutches, overtype steamers, battery chassis, worm gearing, roller bearings, benzole, and a hundred and one others ; and now, in a smaller way, it is coal-gas, all of them battle names for inscription on the industry's banners.
Criticism of this latest and most opportune suggestion, to use coal-gas as an alternative to petrol, has, so: far as I can ascertain, been traceable to two sources : Those who, knowing full well the meaning Of' things, cannot see fit to approve anything which they do not happen to have thought of themselves, and those who would find fault with the cans if the Government gave them the petrol. Of the first-mentioned, it may be recorded that their hindrance has been help, and of the second, that, as nothing new pleases them, they must be left to their own devices.
I suppose nearly 2000 other people went down with me to Thornycroft's new garage on Wednesday.of last week, and most of us were keen inquirers for examples of compressed-gas outfits.There were one or two only; steel cylinders being nearly, if not quite, unobtainable, and if they were not es oompressora would still, in these Ministry-ridden times, be things to dream about rather than to procure. It, therefore, domes back to the fact that with petrol strictly rationed, and an expensive luxury at that, the only practical alternative to it at the moment is bags full of coal-gas„a product which, in the making, brings into being valuable manure, explosive bases and other war-time necessities. And with this use we must be content (in the absence first of suitable containers, but particularly of compressors), with gas bags. If those who have sniffed, for other than olfactory reasons, at the coal-gas alternative will produce me an equally interesting ac promising display of vehicles driven, shall we say, by alcohol in these grave times, I will venture the perilous descent into Thornycroft's fine bomb-proof garage yet again and at any time convenient to them.
Coal-gas in bags is obviously only a war-time expedient, and a very valuable one too. Could we use the gas, well compressed, in suitable containers it would be better ; the present wave of interest may produce an alternative method of storage, but of that I am sceptical, knowing the limitations of material
of any kind nowadays. That being so, we are left with gas bags, and with these it is now conclusively shown we can still maintain the use of any type of i.-c.-engined chassis, be it 60-seated char-a-bancs or solo bicycle.
There are drawbacks, of course, but, at least, we are all aware of them, and it is reasonable ta conclude that they may be minimized. First of -all; there is the question of mileage per charge. There is a limit to the balloon one can comfortably stow on any vehicle. I believe we shall, at least, see low compression storage made practicable if the war lasts long enough. Storage by absorption is also under discussion. At the worst, the limitations to fuel-carrying places the petrol vehicle in little worse position than the steam wagon or tractor. Multiplication of 'refilling stations will do much to obviate this disability.
As to unsightliness, I set little enough store by this in war, time. The spectacle of 30 or 40 miniature balloons sWaying in procession on the Embankment last week was an unusual spectacle, and gave great scope for the humorist because of its novelty, but it will • pass unnoticed when there are thousands where ten now exist. There was nothing whatever unsightly in the caie of several of those at the demonstration. Notably, Lyon-Spencer's efforts were neat, lineable, and not out of proportion. The smart Lanchester Iandaulet, for instance, the showpiece of the display,..appeared to have no more than a pile of top luggage compactly sheeted against the elements. The 12 or 15-year-old Wolseley fourtonner belonging to Main's. the gas people, with a big gas bag tucked away out of sight inside the capacious tilt hood, was a capital example. The tilt covering protects the more easily damaged gag bag from wind and overhanging branches alike as from the charge of unsightliness. There was a touring car with a reasonably proportionate canopy tray bearing a capacious gas reservoir, and there was another with an excess of covered luggage strapped on the rear grid, the luggage in question, on examination, proving to be a gas bag in yet another form. .*
I must confess I am not enthusiastic as to the trailer idea, when the connection between motor vehicle and trailer is articulated, except for very, special Circumstances. I watched some marshals at the demonstrationtrying to assist a touring car with one attached to back into position, and, •as I expected, it was a. diverting but not convincing sight. A gas trailer, too. lends itself to puncture by the would-be practical joker, a by no means negligible factor. While gas bags are what they are, they should be kept out of arm's reach. The editorial idea of cylinders on a trailer that is not articulated is a much sounder idea.
I would add a few suggest-ins that occur to ine as possible and probable gas-bag improvements. Why has not something been done on the lines of the foot bali—a semi-rigid container with ,a• perfectly:flexible internal gas holder? Someone has, I believe, already mooted the ideas it appears to me to be the one calling for early development. Alternatively,why not use a semi-flexible holder which would collapse as the engine drew the gas out, but would, at any rate, attempt to retain its shape in all reasonable weather? 'Such a container might be made of two thicknesses of properly waterproofed canvas cemented together, much as are used for portable water tanks for active
service. I wonder if ferro-concrete as a pressure holder. has any other disadvantara than its weights It!robably it would not prove gastight unless lined.