HORSELESS CARRIAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9991, 30 November 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

HORSELESS CARRIAGES.

An exhibition of horseless carriages was held on October 15 on the show ground of the Tunbridge Wells Agricultural Society, nnflor the superintendence of Sir David Salomons. Two carriages driven by Daimler motors, a tficyclc also propelled by a motor worked by petroleum spirit, and what was described as a " steam horse," which was, in effect, a small road locomotive of special type, may be dismissed very briefly, it being quito unfilled for use on tho highway. It gave forth a pood deal of steam ar, times, was noisy, and dropped burning cinders. The two carriages were both from Paris. One, made by Messrs. Panhard and Lovasier is (says tho Times) tho property of the Hon. Evelyn Ellis, who drove the carriage, and recently made a trip from Micbeldever to Hatchet in this carriage, being accompanied by Mr. F. R. Simula. Tho other carriage was made by Messrs. Peugeot, of Paris. It weighs 13cwt, and [ is intended to run ISO to 200 miles without recharging, The horse-power is said to bo and tho speed on a gradient, of one in ten is stated at about fifteen inilos an hour. The mechanical tricycle, manufactured by Messrs. do Dion and Bouton, of Paris, was a particularly neat vehicle. It was described as being worked by petroleum motor with electric spark ignition, and tho weight was about ()()lb. The vehicles made excursions round the field which forms the show ground of the Agricultural Society, and they afterwards made a trip on the road to tho railway station. The trial was sufficient to show that the carriages wore completely nndor control, being steered with groat facility, and stopping with rapidity. In this respect theso moclmnical carriages seem to havo an undoubted superiority over horse-drawn vehicles. In this respect these mechanical carriages were also fairly noisoless, and there did not. appoar to bo much smell from the 'exhaust vapour. Tho most unpleasant feature we should judge to be the vibration set up by tho working of tho machinery. It. was sufficient to bo distinctly unpleasant, and, we should think, would be very fatiguing on a long run. This objectionable feature is probably inseparable from ft|iy motor working on tho Otto cycle which, doubtless, is that adopted. Tho fact of only one stroke in four being elective produces aif unequal turning moment which leads to vibration, unless a very heavy flywheel be used or several cylinders drivo one shaft. It i», perhaps, fair to say that the Serpollet steam carriage, which was brought ovor to England from Paris some time ago, ran without displaying tho objectionable features of noise, hot cinders, mrjl a visible eecapo of steam. .