Few Foreigners at the Geneva Show
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A New Sourer for Rough Country Work—Many Examples of Luxury Bodies PARTICIPATION in the commercialvehicle section of the Geneva Show was not extensive this year, the reason obviously being that the Swiss concern of Saurer, with its highly elaborate range of off-engined vehicles, has rendered foreign competition very difficult. Of course, the inexpensive Chevrolet and Ford lorries are sold in appreciable numbers in Switzerland, but both these makers were absentees.
Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Citroiln, Diamond and International were the only foreign concerns represented at Geneva. Products of the whole of the Swiss industry were, of course, present. Berne, showed a big range of industrial chassis, making use of Saurer engines, Schmutz brakes and other components of well-reputed makes. Then there was the Swiss concern of Bahrer, •which exhibited different types of tractor for industrial and agricultural purposes. The power unit is a Chevrolet, but the chassis is made by Biihrer and has independent suspension both at the front and the rear. On this trailer provision is made for the differential to be locked should wheelspin occur. The general finish of most of the Swiss products which were displayed at the show was excellent.
Returning to Saurer, this concern displayed a full range of oil engines operating on the dual-turbulence principle. The new combustion head, mention of which_ has already been made in the British Press, has net yet been released for production. However, a rough-country four-wheel-drive chassis was shown for the first time. The outstanding feature in this is the arrangement of the drive to the four wheels. The engine is slightly tilted to the left and mounted on the forked part of the frame. All wheels are independently sprung and steered. The five-speed gearbox can be arranged to .work in connection with an additional reduction gear, making available 10 different speeds.
Provision is made on the gearbox for a power take-off for operating winches, etc. A special feature of the design is the inter-connection of the springing system, giving better weight distribution when one wheel is passing over an obstruction. The company is also building six and eight-wheeled rough. country chassis on the same principle; these were, however, not shown at Geneva.
The Swiss industry possesses, in the concerns of Lauber, Seitz, Gangloff, French-Hoch and Hess, some excellent coachbuilders. Refinements in coachbuilding which were in evidence at the show are unusual on the Continent. Operators in other countries would hardly think of such costly investments as are more or less commonly used in Switzerland. Most coaches are, of course, of the sightseeing type. They do not believe in streamlining in Switzerland, but curved glass panels between cant-rail and sliding roof are popular. The roofs can be opened and closed electrically while the vehicle is being driven. Another refinement which is now common in Swiss coachbuilding is the provision made to tilt the seats towards the central gangway. For the driver's seat an even more elaborate construction is adopted with full control of vertical and longitudinal movement.