AGRICULTURAL MACHINES EXHIBITED IN PARIS.
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THE Exhibition of agricultural machines in Paris opened on January 28th and closed on February 5th. It attracted some 350 exhibitors-, but relatively there were few of direct interest to the readers of The Commercial Motor. Brief details of the chief exhibits in the agricultural tractor line will be found below, and in connection with these it will be noticed that the Frencb, constructors are faced with considerable foreign competition, principally American, but the CzechoSlovakia.element, although small, is important. Only one British manufacturer was represented. The details below of the exhibits are grouped according to the country of origin of the machines.
BATES STEEL MULE.—Model D of this machine has a caterpillar drive, but steers by a pair of front wheels in the very reduced radius of 3 ft. The engine has four cylinders and runs on paraffin. The front axle is pivoted to allow tilting. FORDSON.—Two of these Ford productions were staged, together with a range of spare parts, etc. The retail price in France works out at £162 at present rate of exchange.
CLETRAC.—This tractor, made by the Cleveland Tractor Co., was shown in .two models. Two type H models were shown, one being furnished with a capstan and the other with an automatic plough.
lifting device. .A type F tractor was also staged. The engine of the Cletrac will run on paraffin, and gives an effective 15 h.p through the caterpillar drive, or 22 h.p. off the general-purpose pulley. When fitted with a vertical windlass for haulage by cable, a pull of one ton is Obtained, with a maximum speed of 125 ft. per minute. The weight of the machine ia 30 cwt. and the overall width only 4 ft. 2 ins.
MID-WEST.--This is a diminutive and very compact tractor that was exhibited by Chas. Dupuy. It is specially designed to replace efficiently one horse on a farm for any work of which that, animal is capable, and, in addition, to drive farm machinery for which the latter is not adapted. A 520 draw-bar effort of 2 h.p. is obtained, and double that power is transmitted by the pulley for belt drive. The engine has one vertical cylinder, and runs at 1,200 r.p.m.
MOLINE.—This four-wheel machine, well known in this country, is of moderate power, 10-18 hp. The Model D which was shown weighs 30 cwt., and the chief characteristic of interest in the design is the fact that practically the whole of the weight is balanced over the driving wheels. This tractor is equil ped -with electric light for night service.
Other American tractors exhibited included the Globe, Oil Pull, MacCormick, Toro, Emerson, Tito, .Amarieo, Beeman, Mogul, International, Sandusky. and Case.
PEUGEOT.--The model exhibited, type T3, was identical with those supplied in large numbers to the French Army, a portion of the last order for 900 having been cancelled at the Armistice. The engine develops some 40 h.p. and the speed of the caterpillar is up to 5 m.p.h. maximum. It is interesting to note that an example of the Tartrais heavy-oil engine was shown, as well as specimens et the oils used as fuels.
TOURNESOL, DELAHAYE.—This tractor has been specially designed for tackling very large areas. It has three large wheels, all drivers, two disposed on one side of the machine and the third on the other side at the centre (a system originally introduced in the Rudge tricycle). The engine develops about 30 h.p. at 1,000 revs. At each end of the machine rocking ploughs are carried in echelon reversed, and at the completion of each furrow they are automatically raised in turn. The driver steers in the middle of the machine, there being seats on each side of the vertical
steering column. The present price is about £1,100. REN AULT.—The H.I. type model of this machine was the only caterpillar subsidized as a result of the recent military trials. Other models shown on this stand included the company's four-wheel tractor, the rear, wheels only being driven. The power unite of these machines are identical, each having a four-cylinder engine, 95 mm. and 160 rum, bore and stroke respectively, running at 1,100 r.p.m. TOURAND-LATIL.—Chas. Blum and Co. had on view a Tourand-Latil machine, but special attention was attracted to their extra-short model, type T.P., with four-wheel drive. This is a very interesting and powerful tractor of all-round service for agricultural work.
DE DION-I30U TON.—The undoubted advantages of a very ancient system are brought up to date by the De Dion equipment, which consists of a pair of tractors and a rocking plough. The plough is pulled by cables attached to the windlasses of the tractors stationed at each.. end of thevfield, the motive power being supplied by 50 h.p. engines.
DELLEUVIN.—This is an interesting, -machine made by De DionBouton Co., which has five wheels. The fifth wheel is situated between and to the rear of the pair which normally take the drive, and comes into action automaticallp when theatractive effort exceeds half a ton. This wheel is provided with special strakes, whilst those on the other drivers are flush with the centrally p:aced flange, enabling the tractor to proceed over ground without digging in. The engine is a 15 h.p. De Dion.
FILTZ.—Two models of the Filtz were shown, and
• they provide, the choice of direct haulage or towing by cable. In the latter case the driving wheels are strakeless, and the tractor travels on the unopened ground, the plough being guided in the furrows by means of movable capstans anchored at each end of the work in hand. A further model, the Jeannin, is intended for very small operations only. The types A. and 13. have engines giving 30 h.p. and 35 h.p. respectively at 800 r.p.m., and capbe supplied to consume paraffin as fuel. ARA.—The type Alpha is an exceedingly compact little caterpillar tractor which is manufactured by Delannay-Belleville. It measures only 2 ft. 4 ins. overall, but possesses a mofor of at least 30 b.h.p. In spite of its reduced dimensions, the Ara appears quite capable of severe continuous work, with no fear of compressing seriously even the lightest soils. PAVESI.—This machine is quite an acrobat, due to the double articulation at its waist that enables the front and rear pairs of wheels to set themselves at a considerable angle to meet the divergencies of the.ground, and also due to the steering-lock taking its radius from the same point, and thus permitting a turn in about 10 ft. Another feature which enables this really remarkable machine to execute its manoeuvres is the four-wheel drive. The engine is two-cylinder horizontally opposed, of 35 h.p.
Other French makers were represented by the Bauche, Somua, Austin, Dubois, Rip, Nilson, Agro, and L'Auto-Marcheur tractors.
Czecho-Slovakia.
PRAGA and EXCELSIOR.—These two makes of motor ploughs have many points of similarity, both in design and construction, and as regards size, weight, and power, they both dwarfed all other exhibits of the same kind except the De Dion as to power, and the Delahaye as to certain dimensions. The engine of the Praga has four cylinders 105 mm. bore and 160 ram. stroke, and that of the Excelsior 100 mm. bore and 150 mm. stroke, which develops about 40 h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m. These two machines weigh quite four tans each. The front wheels are drivers and the third wheel (trailer on near side) is the steerer' being provided with a deep flange for assisting to keep a straight furrow. Three models of the -Praga were shown, these being of '20 h.p., 40 h.p„ and 80 h.p.
. The Italian industry was represented at the exhibition by the Fiat tractor. The only British tractor shown was the Garner for which Lacour nd Fabre of Paris are the agents.