FOUR-SPEED GEAR-BOXES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 5

FOUR-SPEED GEAR-BOXES

A. FLEXIBLE ENGINE

Four-speed gear boxes are increasing in popularity, states an English motoring journal.' In a manner of speaking this is curious but understandable. It might be thought that, with the steadily improving flexibility of engines, the increase in engine size and the reduction of car weigiit, four-speed gear boxes were less of a necessity than they were in the days when engine speeds ranged from 300 to 2000 r.p.m. To-day, 'however, an enthusiastic car driver demands* not only flexibility on top gear, but a hurricane acceleration as well, for this is necessary to him when endeavouring to thread a way through traffic. Given a really well-calculated ratio, a third-speed gear is of immense value in this respect, and it also comes in exceedingly useful for climbing mild hills quickly. It is a very notable matter that so much work is being done upon the development of really quietrunning gear boxes in the "silent third or the "twin top" variety. Judging by the demand or, rather, the absence of it, the larger section of the public which buys ordinary motorcars at low prices does not seem to be nearly so much interested in easy gear changes as might have been expected. To put it another .way, the public do not intend to pay more for a car with an'easy gesfr change; they are quite willing' and anxious to have an easy change, but expect it to be included in the price of the car. The point is that so many ordinary drivers do not even want to'go to the trouble of learning gear changing, and that is why the type of car which will do everything on top gear is so popular.