The Industry in Central Europe.
Page 23
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
German W.O. Subsidy Grants. An All-the-year-round Agrimotor Exhibition.
By Our Own Correspondent In Berlin.
According to advices from Argentina there were 1429 taxis and 164 commercial cars placed in service in the capital during the past year.
Axle-pressure in Germany.
At the general meeting of the German Automobile Makers' Assotion, which took place in Berlin recently, attention was directed to the rather motorphobic attitude of the road-construction boards, who are aiming at the reduction of rear-axle pressure for commercial automobiles. There was, however, a possibility of a mean being found, whereby too great a limitation of the collective weight of the vehicle might be avoided.
TheKasigiberg Agrimator,Trials It may not be out of place once again to direct attention to the Konigsberg Liberation War festivities, in connection with which the Konigsberger Landwirtschaftskammer will hold an agricultural show, in which motorplough trials will hold a place. I learn that nine entries have been received for these tests, which are to take place (luring May. The show will be opened at the end of May, and will close in June. Interested makers can obtain all information from the institution with the lengthy title which is mentioned above.
A Permanent Agrimotor Show.
On 26th April, in the Vienna "Prater," a permanent exhibition of the newest machines, implements, apparatus, spares and accessories, as well as of complete buildings and equipments for agriculture and forestry, was opened. Exhibits falling under the undermentioned groups are on view (a) Farming of small holdings ; (b) farming of middle-sized or large estates ; (c) dairy farming ; (d) protective contrivances for agricultural machines, and printed works on agricultural mechanics.
Foreign firms may exhibit, and. what is more, the Imperial and Royal Agricultural Society (K. and K. Landwirtschaftsgesellschaft). Vienna, which has undertaken the organization of the affair, is responsible for the creation of a permanent agency for the sale of cheap first and second-hand agricultural machines and implements.
Another Blow to the Horse.
In Berlin, publicans are bound te have their tubular connections and other apparatus for serving beer periodically cleansed by steam, which is supplied from the street by means of wagons fitted with the necessary plant for generating and conducting the steam into the public-house. Hitherto, such wagons have been exclusively horse-drawn, but I notice that one enterprising firm has replaced the horse by a motor ; consequently, by the law of competition, the day cannot be far distant when all vehicles of the kind will be motor-propelled.
Conditional Subsidizing of Motor Lorries by German W.O.for 1913.
Subject to the passing of the Budget by the German Imperial Diet, the War Office has arranged for the distribution of 160 subsidies on the following basis :— Benz and Co., Gaggenau, 18; Bussing, Brunswick, 18; Daimler Gesellschaft, Marienfelde, 18; Mannesmann-Mulag, Aachen, 18; N.A.G., Oberschrineweide, 18; D eutsche Lastautomobilfabrik, Ratingen, 10; Diirkopp, Bielefeld, 10; Fahrzeugfabrik, Eisenach, 10; Norddeutsche Autornobil Lnd Motoren A.G., Bremen, 10; A dlerwerke, Frankfort, 6; Ehrhardt, Zella St. Blasii, 6; Nacke, Coswig, 6; Podeus, Wismar, 6; Stoewer, Stettin, 6.
Plaques are so distributed that 50 per cent, fall to single power units, and the rest to trains (usually with one trailer). Thus, taking the Daimler Co.'s apportionments, the War Office subsidizes nine trains, and as many self-propelled lorry units. The amounts of premiums payable to purchasers have been somewhat modified in this manner : — (a) An initial purchase-premium of 1800 marks (290) for each separate power-vehicle, and one of 3000 marks (Z150) for each train ; (b) working premiums, for the second, third, fourth and fifth years, of 800 marks (240) for each separate power-vehicle, and of 1200 marks (g60) for each train.
Additional subsidies will not be distributed this year in respect of lorries, no funds being at present available.
A German Engineer on Mechanical Ploughing.
Engineer Fritz Brutschke contributes to the official organ of the powerful German Agricultural Association a long article dealing with the enormous difficulties connected with a satisfactory solution of mechanical ploughing. He points out that ploughing is work of a peculiar character, inasmuch as it requires a power which must constantly shift its place of working and deal with varying soils, Such variation is not only peculiar to the land under cultivation, but is also caused by exterior influences arising from changes of weather.
"For these variable demands," says Brutschke, "animal traction possesses an adaptability which has not yet been attained with mechanical powers, and will not easily be attained. In the application of these powers by machines one is always restricted to assumptions within the narrowest of limits, but these easily prove false with every change in the material of the soil."
Hence, successful and economic application of mechanical forces to other branches of industry does not help the agricultural engineer out of his difficulties. Steam has not successfully tackled the problem, nor has petrol. Dealing with the internal-combustion engine, Brutschke remarks that there. is a gross error in the assumption that its lower weight, compared with the steam engine, constitutes the determinative influence on the efficiency and sureness of its 'working. The determinating co-efficient is not the substance of the power, but the friction of the driving wheels on the soil, and the stability of the latter. It matters not whether steam or any other propulsive force rotates the driving wheels. As soon as ever the soil does not offer enough resistance for locomotion, working reliability ceases.
The heavy agricultural motortractor in particular falls under his criticism. This, he says, in effect will succeed as little as the heavy steam-tractor, which sought and obtained a field of activity in cableploughing. Brutschke, it is clear, has little faith in the mechanical plough with rotating cutters, and strongly deprecates the endeavours of impractical professors to make out a case for it by means of theories based on more or less fanciful hypotheses. Rotating cutters, driven by excellent steam engines, failed so far back as half-a-century ago. because they could not crumble the soil sufficiently ; to work them now by motor would not make them more efficient.
Engineer Brutschke, by the way, attended, as expert, the motorplough show in Ebreichsdorf, near Vienna, and has incorporated the fruit of his observations in an interesting pamphlet entitled " Das Motorpflfigen."