Horseless Carriages.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 1789, 31 October 1896, Page 2

Horseless Carriages.

Considerable interest was oreattd m Cannon Hill Park, Birminghaxoi recently, by a public experiment with an autocar, constructed by Messrs L'Hollier, Gaseoine, and Co., of Birmingham and Maidstone. The firm has acquired the exclusive right to manufacture and sell the now celebrated " Roger " mechanical carriage m England, Scotland, Ireland, and the colonies. The car is built m four styles. No. 1 Jis a small type for carrying twa.persons^ and is fitted with strong cycle wheels, best solid tyres, steel springs, and a2£ h.p. motor. The motion is said to be quite fascinating—soft, swinging, and easy. The car weigh* 6cwt, is 6ft long and 4ft 6in wide and high* No. T, the Victoria type, has accommodation for two persons, but a frent seat can be added for children and a baok seat for a footman. It is upholstered m leather, with dash boards and mud-pro-teeters, and is suitable i T business; oik < pleasure. Weight 15cwt, length, Bft," ; motor 4 _ h.p. No. 3, Vis-a-Vis type, is '- constructed to carry four. This ear isr well adapted for long journeys, a distance of over forty miles having been covered: with it by its manufacturer m two hours, taking hdls and dales as they came. No. 4, the Dos-a-Dos type, is also built fbrcarrying four persons, or with an additional seat can accommodate six. This carriage is roomy and comfortable. The fuel employed to generate the motive power is rectified petroleum, the, ignition : of the charge m the cylinder being produced by an electric spark. There is therefore no danger of fire, and smoke and smell are conspicuous by their absence. Every part of the machinery is placed conveniently for handling, and a novice can take charge of an autocar after a few hour's practice. Generally speaking, Messrs L'Hollier and Co* construct the carriages to iun up to twenty miles per hour on ordinary roads, and up hills at seven miles per hour.