De Dion Bouton (1907), Limited.
Page 17
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Exhibit:—Standard, London-type Omnibus Chassis; one-ton and two-ton Lorries; stngle-cglinder Commercial Travellers' Brougham; small Hotel Bus; and new London-regulation Cab.
The name De Dion-Bouton has so long been almost a household word in the automobile world, that it alone is sufficient guarantee of excellence of material and thoroughly sound design. The most remarkabl testimony to this latter quality is the fact that the complete designs have probably changed less than those of any other single large manufacturer for a number of years. The De Dion-Bou ton arrangements represent almost a distinct school of construction, and, when compared, on a commercial vehicle basis, with other makers who favour a stiffer and heavier type of construction, we are invariably reminded of the relative qualities of a well-made but yielding basket, and of a strong stiffly-braced, metal trunk.
The exhibits on the stand at Olympia are quite representative of the various types now current. An example of the familiar London bus chassis is shown. One hundred and eighty similar machines have already been de
livered to the London companies— mostly to the London General and afterwards to the Vanguard. Th: company has had equal success with its smaller type of omnibus, propelled by a t5h.p. engine, and seating 12 passengers. One hundred and fifty of these have already been delivered for service in Switzerland and Italy.
The main features of the engine and transmission are so well known, and have so often been dealt with in our columns, that it is unnecessary again to repeat them in detail here. The two-ton exhibit has a four-cylinder engine; with the driver's seat arranged above it, a design favoured by some makers to obtain a more compact
machine with a shorter wheelbase. A single-cylinder, 8h.p., one-ton lorry, with standard chassis details, plate clutch, three-point-suspended gear box, and internally-toothed gearing for the final drive, is a useful little machine. A small hotel -.is to seat six has a sheet-steel body, which is constructed in rather a novel manner. The rivet heads are inset into the plates, which are pressed in cup-shape, and the sketch shown herewith clearly indicates how the shear, which normally is taken by the shank of the rivet, is in this way assumed by the bulged 'portions of the plate. The maker claims that this method will have many applications.
In common with most other makers of light commercial vehicles, De Dions . show a new London cab. It is built on one of the standard ioh.p. chassis, to Metropolitan Police requirements. The gear-change is effected by a so-called vertical gate-change, which has been in use satisfactorily on the company's pleasure vehicles for a considerable time. The cab body has the new form af driver's seat, giving ample room for carrying light luggage, which is now being adopted by most constructors o n their latest vehicles. Special type of riveting on steel van body.