A GEARLESS CAR.

Northern Advocate, 13 October 1928, Page 14

A GEARLESS CAR.

For years past many of the cleverest brains in the automobile and engineering world have been endeavouring to evolve mechanism that would enable manufacturers to discard the gear-box. Many inventors have been heralded from time to time, but the manual operated gear-box is still an integral part of the present-day automobile.

j Electric and automatic gear-shift-ing mechanisms have been marketed, | but have failed to make the progress j that would certainly follow a really successful device to eliminate gear changing. From London now comes news of a 25,000 miles road test in England by a gearless motor car, and, accoi'ding to cabled particulars, the device—the invention of Mr J. H. Robertson—has, so it is claimed, solved the problem of transmitting power from the engine to the driving wheels without the use of gear-box or clutch. It is claimed for the invention that it reduces driving to mere steering and braking. The gear is operated mechanically by means of an automatic governor of the bob-weight type within a fly-wheel, which is the actuating mechanism, according to the speed of the fly-wheel itself. The accelerator pedal is the only control required, the gears are changed up and down as the engine speed demands. The neutral gear engages automatically, if there be any risk of the engine stopping through excessively low speed.

According to all reports the device can be applied to all makes of cars; and the cost of installing it in old oars will be in the region of £IOO. Mr J. H. Robertson, the inventor, has authorised the announcement that two leading British cars will be fitted with the new device before the end of the year. It is understood that he is also designing for London omnibuses and leading British motor car manufacturers.

For over thirty years the sliding gear set has been standard equipment on nearly all cars. While other and more necessary developments have demanded the attention of the car designer, the gear-box has had to wait. It always happens that real heed finds its answer in the brains of inventors and developers. We have had the self-starter, electric lighting, and a dozen other improvements which have made the modern motor car what if is today, and still the old-time gear-box has retained its place, in the mechanical unity of the car.

If this new invention of Mr Robertson’s will do what it is claimed it will almost revolutoinise motoring, and thousands of motorists throughout the world will hail it with delight, Further details, of the invention will be awaited- with interest by all motorists in this country.

AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS FALL. The imports of motor vehicles into Australia for the first six months of this year show a reduction of 36,831, compared with the same period in 1927, If is therefore likely (says the Australasian) that for this year there will be 76,000 fewer motor cars (chassis) imported into the Commonwealth, compared with 1927. If 1928 had been a normal year the respective State Governments would have received an additional £500,000 in motor taxation. It would appear that the employees in Australian body works will receive this year £1,800,000, less in wages due to the reduced imports. The principal reduction in imports into Australia is as follows: From United Kingdom - 10,581 From Canada 8,969 From America /15,865 From Europe 1,416

REMARKABLE INTEREST IN NEW

CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH

When the new Chrysler-Plymouth was introduced into America, public enthusiasm amounted almost to a stampede. The police had to be called to control the eager crowds who came to view it. Every city had stories to tell of excited buyers and enormous orders.

A certain glamour attaches to the name of Chrysler. To enter such a competitive field as the car industry, and to leap in four years to third place in the industry, spoke of a remarkable personality and a remarkable product.

When Chrysler announced, therefore, that he was introducing a new four-cylinder car in the low-price field, the whole world was interested.

Their interest was more than justified. The Chrysler-Plymouth is in many ways an advance even on previous Chrysler conceptions. It has a new beauty, new graceful flowing lines, a new silhouette effect. It sets a new standard of driving-ease, ease of control, comfort and performance, for low-price cars. It has many new costly features hitherto exclusive for far more expensive models. The Chrysler-Plymouth will shortly be showing in New Zealand, where it is awaited with keenest interest.

The used car problem is not peculiar to Xew Zealand, the United States, or Great Britain. The 'German Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has formed a company to attend to the valuation of second-hand cars. Traders submit used ears to the company and the values are estimated by experts. The result is that second hand cars do not go the round of the garages for competitive values.