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TNTEREST in Diesel
erigined vehicles is growing keener every day on this side of the Channel and we have had many questions about progress on the Continent since our return from the Paris Show. Many inquiries concern
the silence question. An incident prior to the opening of the Show will be of interest. A Peugeot lorry, belonging to a concern of stand fitters, was delivering goods in the Grand Palais and was held up on the gangway while a Press photographer was at work.' Its engine was ticking over, but when it accelerated the vehicle moved off with no more noise than is usual from a lorry of that capacity and age—it was by no means new. Three hours later we saw the bonnet raised, to reveal a Peugeot-Junkers Diesel engine.
ROADS that are too narrow or otherwise unsuit able for heavy vehicles are scheduled as such, but a certain Sussex by-road, much frequented by heavy traffic, is at present rather a pitfall for the unwary. The Post Office authorities dug up one side for a telephone cable and the other was excavated by the water company for laying a new pipe, so that 3 ft. on each side is now avcided by motor traffic. Meanwhile, in theory, this is a good second-class road. IT was recently re
ported that M. C T. Weymann had predicted the decline in popularity of the Weyrnfum flexible fabric body, but he assures us that this is not the case, and that he has never entertained Ruch an idea. His only reason for producing a metal-panelled flexible body was to meet the preference of the French public for a body with a highly polished finish. M. Weymann is certainly right when he says that the Weymann fabric body is not a fashion, but is an accepted method of construction.
IN the latest Halley engines each combustion chamber of the aluminium cylinder heads has screwed into it, and riveted over, a plug of duralumin, this being tapped out for the sparking plug. The reason is that aluminium is not considered to be a good medium for plug threads, being soft and liable to strip, whilst the coefficients of expansion of the two metals are equal.
IT would indeed be most interesting to know to which concern at Olympia the last order was given before the curtain was finally rung down on the Commercial Motor. Exhibition. In the absence of news to the contrary, the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., claims to be the fortunate concern. Mr. Williams, of the Ronil1y Motor Co., Ltd., Cardiff, the A.E.C. distributor in South Wales, received an order, and deposit, on the A.E.C. stand at 8.52 p.m. on the final day, after the band had played the National Anthem, and while visitors were being played out by a chorus of electric horns, hooters and bells.
THE National Automobile Chamber of Commerce
of America annually holds prize-competitions for the pupils of elementary schools in the United States. In this manner an endeavour is made to induce the school-children to take a greater interest in the problem of street traffic and its regulation, with a view to engendering a spirit of thoughtfulness and thereby reducing motor fatalities. The contests have produced good results, and it certainly seems that the idea is worthy of being copied in the schools of this country, and we commend the suggestion to the notice of the National "Safety First" Council, which
is fully alive to such problems and is doing good work•in the promotion of street-accident prevention.
AT Olympia it was the universal rule, where a chassis was shown, to exhibit it in a complete form ready for body mounting. In Paris, however, the fashion was somewhat different. jn many cases, the chief object was to show as clean a chassis as possible, and, for this reason, brake rods, certain engine auxiliaries, high-tension wiring and controls were frequently removed.
This was done intentionally, because various chassis which were driven into the Show under their own power were next morning, at the time of opening to the public, displayed stripped of many vital components.
IT is not generally realized that, in spite of serious commercial set-backs, Japan is developing to such a degree as to be manufacturing its own motor chassis. An official report states that the Ishiltavvajima Motor Car Manufacturing Co. is specializing in the manufacture of motorbuses and has an output at present equal to about 300 vehicles per annum. Commercial motors made in Japan benefit by a subsidy, and this has encouraged the industry.