SUCCESSFUL ENGLISH TESTS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 June 1933, Page 12

SUCCESSFUL ENGLISH TESTS

“As far as they have gone tests of cars fitted with engines driven by coal gas have been eminently successful,” said Mr. F. "VV. J. Beiton, engineer 13 the Christchurch Gas Company, in an address to the United Burgesses’ Association in Christchurch recently. Mr. Belton was asked if he thought there was any possibility of cars being driven by coal gas in the future. He said that for the last two years he had been in communication with the piomeers of the work in England. Cylinders of a high tensde steel had been developed for carrying the gas. These cylinders were five-sixteenths of an inch thick, and could carry gas at a pressure of 3009 pounds to the square inch. They could be dropped from a height of 30 feet on to a concrete floor without bursting; and, if they did burst, they did not shatter, but just split along a seam. The British Board of Trade had passed them for use on commercial vehicles. It was too early to say whether the svstem could be used with success in New Zealand. It would be an expensive matter to bring the necessn’v gear to New Zealand He was watching the developments carefully and was seeking all information. It seemed +hnt gas'was ideal in cars. PracticnE iy all manufacturers used coal gas for “running in” new engines, as it was not necessary to dismantle them afterwards for decarbonising.