British Products at Paris Tractor Show
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THE Salon de la Machine Agricole, held in Paris from LVIarch 17-22, was more important than usual, in spite of French business depression. Always an international event, it was even more so this year, for, in addition to the products of France, Great Britain, Germany, U.S.A., Italy, Belgium, Denmark and Czechoslovakia, Hollattd and Roumania participated.
The small tractor appears to be gaining in popularity, judging by the number of such machines exhibited. One example was the Bristol, Which, having a horizontally opposed twin-cylinclered water-coaled engine, appeared at the Salon for the first time and aroused much interest.
Another machine of this type was the Fouga, produced by the great Fouga railway-material concern. This tractor has a Peugeot four-cylindered engine and a rather unusual chain-track system, in which there is no mechanical articulation. The weight is distributed over three axles and the central wheels, which are simply carriers, are held down on to the tracks by laminated springs. The rear wheels drive and brake for steering, whilst the forward pair can be moved longitudinally in guides, to obtain the correct tension on the tracks.
An Interesting Track-laying Tractor.
Among other machines noted in the same category were the well-known Lanz Bulldog and the Oltra, the smallest machine of its class in the show. The latter tractor has a C.L.M. (Peugeot-Junkers) twin-cylinclered two-stroke oil engine and a patented system of steering, which includes a reverse drive on each track, allowing the machine to pivot upon itself when turning at the end of a furrow.
Oilers and semi-Diesels were, as might be expected, much in evidence, but the oil engine has by no means conquered the French agrimotor market. Quite a surprising proportion of petrol-driven tractors was to be found.
Giant pneumatics for field work have definitely gained the market in France and the vast majority of wheeled tractors in the show was mounted on pneumatic tyres.
Amongst foreign exhibitors, the Germans made a great effort, in spite of international 'complications, whereas the American contingent showed a falling off in numbers. British tractors were well represented.
John Fowler and Co., Ltd., Leeds, showed its Gyrotiller
tractor, which attracted much interest. The Marshall concern had a much larger stand than usual, displaying half a dozen big tractors with horizontal oil engines, as well as sectional exhibits. The Bristol Machine was sponsored by Messrs. Rothschild, who also staged a full range of Banornag tractors.
Clayton and Shuttleworth had a group of big semiDiesel machines, but a notable absentee from the show, this year, was the French Austin concern, which usually has one of the most important stands.
An example of the extraordinary Deering cultivator for beet farming was shown in a field of most realistic beet.
A newcomer, this year, was the BoIMder tractor, produced by the famous Bolinder marine engine, company, whilst another machine seen for the first time in Paris was the Mos.. This is a rather curious tractor, with a big vertical twin-cylindered. two-stroke engine.
One French tractor merits a special note. This is the Vendeuvre, which has one of the few entirely French compression-ignition engines yet produced. The Ve.ncleuvre engine is a four-ey/indered 100-mm. by 165-mm. unit rated nominally at 40 h.la It operates on the ante-chamber system, with inclined injectors delivering fuel into precombustion chambers on the side of the cylinder heads.
Small Cultivators Popular.
Among the range of small cultivating machines shown by the Somua concern, which has specialized in this line for many years, one was equipped with a neat little waterpump attachment for irrigation and spraying. The pump delivers up to 20 cubic m. per hour and is instantly detachable from the machine by removing a pin and the belt.
These small cultivators, employed largely for vineyard work, enjoy a great vogue in France. In addition to Samna, Bruneau and other concerns make machines of the same type, having waterkooTed engines. An even smaller class of cultivator is employed largely by market gardeners and.others. This pattern usually incorporates a two-stroke engine with positive air cooling by turbine fan. The Sinicar company, amongst others, had a remarkable display of these popular little machines.
The Renault organization showed its full range of oil and petrol-engined tractors, but no changes have been made since last year. Lath l displayed two of its largest tractors equipped for forestry work.
A cdrious feature of the Paris Salon is the continued existence, side by side, of the siiigle-cylindered slow-runriing engine, with outside flywheel, and the multi-cylindered • vertical engine. Each type has its adherents.