. An All-weather Head Operated 'from. the Driver's Seat.
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THitOLVEL the agency of the Mechanical and General Inventions Co., Ltd., 10, Charles Street, London, S.W.1, a new type of all-weather equipment, of French design, is being placed on the market under the name of " Solcar." We have already, inspected a head of this make fitted to a private ear and hope shortly to be able to publish full details of a six-wheeled coach, incorporating this equipment, which, we understand, is now. being built. It is stated that the chassis employed for this vehicle is of a certain French make which is particularly well known and popular in this country, and which is used on longdistance services recently established.
The driver can open or close the Solear head without leaving his seat, the operating handle being conveniently
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placed under the forward fixed crossmember, which connects the, cant-rails. The head works on the endless-chain principle—by means ofpinion gearing and two transverse shafts supported by the said cross-member, the handle, when turned, actuates a roller-type chain running in grooves in each cant-rail. The hoopsticks are attached bymetal brackets to the • chains and, cense quently, slide with them in whichever direction they are moved. When open, the loose hood material folds neatly down on to the top section of the rear panel of the body, which drops back automatically as the head opens. Incidentally, a safety catch is-fitted to the handle to prevent unauthorized persons from tampering with it, and the hood can be opened or closed with ease and speed. The entire construction of the equipment is carried out on very. robust lines and it should give satisfactory results, even under arduous conditions of service.
We learn that the company is proposing to arrange the Solcar equipment so that it can be operated by an electric motor, the driver Ai:Only throwing over a switch when it is desired to open or close the body.