From Our Berlin Correspondent.
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Berlin Motorcab Owners Protest against "Mews-Brown.Interesting Points Raised.
The rumour that Berlin's Commissioner of Police, in issuing his order that all motorcabs with internal-combustion engines should be painted " mews-brown," had been inspired by cab-owners themselves, is falsified by an energetic protest from the " Veren Berliner
Kraftdroschkenbesitzer (Berlin Motorcab Owners' Association) " Owners declare that " marstallbraun (mews-brown) " is more expensive than lighter colours, since a body so painted would need varnishing twice a yearl which means not only a heavier item for decorative work, but also diminished earning power in proportion to the time passed in the painting shop. These two items, according to the Association, may be put down at £10 extra per annum. Further, " mews-brown " is a very sensitive colour, scratches showing up more than with light colours.
ext, owners protest against the order as putting an end to competition in suiting public taste —a competition "that has placed Berlin far ahead of all other international cities " in the matter of motorcabs. How far this is correct, I am unable to say from personal experience ; but I do know that Berlin possesses a large number of positively luxurious and tastefully decorated motorcabs. Owners also deplore the tendency o deaden the tone of street traffic, and raise two very interesting points, as follows :— " A further public interest speaks for the retention of as many colours as possible. To-day every
motorcab is a characteristic exterior, which s of no small importance alike for the general public and the police. Fares often leave things behind in a motorcab, the
number of which they have not noted ; and are strongly concerned in a speedy recovery of such articles. Again, how often, in grave criminal cases as well as in contraventions of traffic regulations, have the police succeeded in quickly identifying a motorcab without knowing its number, and solely with the help of a description of the cab's exterior." Very true. But how piquant that it should be left to the Association to raise precisely those points which one might have expected the Commissioner of Police himself to raise ! In his zeal for " mews-brown," the Commissioner has overlooked them.
A German Design of Motor Ambu lance.
As supplementary to Mr. Sturmey's interesting remarks on motor ambulances, I forward some illustrations of a new type of this class of vehicle, which may possibly commend itself to him from several
standpoints. First, 1 should like to point out that. the combination was evolved by the CyklonMaschinenfabrik, Berlin, with the help of specifications supplied by Dr. E. Joseph, head of the Ambulance Section of the Berlin First-Aid Society. Now, as to the dimensions, these work out, in British measurements, thus : —length, 17 ft. 5 in. ; breadth, 4 ft. 7 in. ; height, 5 ft. 4 in.; track, 4 ft. ; wheelbase, 8 ft. 10 in. It will be noticed that the entire propulsive machinery being mounted over
the front wheel, there is no driving mechanism under the stretcher; indeed, the ambulance proper consists rather of a trailer, more or less out of the range of enginevibration. The practical freedom from engine vibration is, of course, important ; but, on the other hand, I fear that, over uneven roads, this might be more than counterbalanced by a tendency of the carriage to jolt in consequence of its relatively loose connection with the fore wheel and also of its light weight. As a matter of fact, these Cyklonettes "kick up" considerably when travelling fast over Berlin's cobbles. For transporting goods they are excellent little vehicles, the tendency in question being here of little consequence. Still, a careful and considerate ambulance driver would doubtless counteract it to some extent by throttling his engine when negotiating bumpy road sections. Naturally, everything has been done by the makers to reduce jolts and siderock to a minimum through the medium of springing arrangements, engine, carriage, and stretcher having been well looked after in this respect.
The frame is inter-connected by three cross-members fastened by screws, and carries a bearing floor fitted with rails for the stretchercastors to run on. Digger springs (shown in the photograph of the uncovered vehicle), connecting floor and side-members of the stretcher, prevent the latter from side-rocking. The stretcher possesses adjustable sides and head. Sailcloth constitutes the covering material, which has two windows, as seen in the illustrations, which also show the method of attaching the cover. Cover and carriage can be very easily disinfected. Propulsion is derived from a twocylinder, air-cooled engine with
chain-transmission, which gives a top speed of 30 miles an hour for three persons. The price of a fully equipped Oyklonette ambulance is ,2175 only, A four-wheeled motor ambulance would cost three or four times as much.
Hungarian Motorpost Lines Also
Pay.
Hungarian rnotorpost lines comprise a network of some 280 miles, and yield 4,1 per cent. The longest line connects up Karlstadt and Grospic (Croatia), and extends over nearly 100 miles. I learn, too, that the Royal Hungarian State Rail‘vity Board has placed an order
with a Budapest firm for three twenty-four-seat motorbuses for the conveyance of State workmen between the western railway station and the firing sheds.
A Tr-car for Controlling Weight of Coal or Coke Delivered to Customers.
Messrs. Berger and Kulp, Berlin coal dealers, are now publicly controlling through the medium of a nimble " Cyklonette " tri-car equipped with an automatic weighing machine, the baskets of coal or coke carted to customers, as coalmen entrusted with the delivery entertain, it appears, somewhat loose conceptions of the eighth commandment, being quite ready to " make a bit " at the customer's expense by delivering " short," and selling the shortage. The fact that the controller has a roving commission, and may, therefore, check the weight in the presence of any customer, will doubtless prevent the coalmen's feet from straying from the path of virtue. I understand that hard words from the coalmen are the controller's lot. His position I can fully appreciate, having myself, as an amateur, at the parental bidding, frequently counted the sacks in respect of tons of coal shot into the cellar of our London suburban villa. By sarcastic looks and asides " I was made to feel that my control was bitterly resented in those days.