For Quieter Motoring

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1939, Page 6

For Quieter Motoring

It is not generally realised what precautions are now being taken by the motor engineer to ensure quietness of running. Many of the silencing devices in modern cars are not obvious from casual inspections. Yet liie thorough way in which the car designer has attacked noise is one of the most important of recent advances. For instance in recent exhibits at the Earls Court Motor Show in Londop the* bodies of some cars were soundinsulated with many different materials quite apart from the insulation of the engine, transmission and exhaust system from tiie frame and body by live rubber. Some materials were attached to the steel panels out of sight to eliminate resonance. Others absorbed reflected sound,irv thousands of isolated air cells, while still more produced a blanket effect to deaden transmitted noise. Rubber, asphalt, fibres and felts were the chief materials used. An important consideration being weight, it was interesting to learn that the insulation incorporated in various? models added up to but little more than 221 b. to the total weight of the cars.