Curiosity Disinterred

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19732, 10 September 1938, Page 9

Curiosity Disinterred

W/ORKMEN engaged in excavations in preparation for the extension of the works of a well-known British • motor car manufacturer, uncovered a curiosity in motor cars which for years had been buried in the earth. The design was so peculiar that investigations into the history of the vehicle seemed justified. It proved to be a gyroscopic car invented bv a Russian lawyer in 1912, and built by the firm in London.

The vehicle had two wheels set along the central axis and a gyroscope to keep it on an even keel. The car was first demonstrated in April, 1914. and ran very successfully, showing a complete stability at very slow speeds. The war interrupted further experiments, and the idea was never followed.

But how the car came to be buried is a mystery which cannot be explained. It has, however. been cleaned and reconditioned and placed on exhibition with other early models in the company’s private museum.

present, and the trailing one at (he top. Separate operating cylinders are used few each shoe, that for the front one at the top and the cylinder for the trailing one at the bottom. Thus, each shoe is then subjected to (he self-wrapping action imposed bv the rotation of the drum, and each one bears its fair share of the load. An alternative scheme is to mount each shoe on square instead of round pivots, with slots in the shoes instead of holes. These are formed into each shoe in such a fashion (hat application of the brakes makes each shoe move outward into closer contact with the drum at the pivoted ends, instead of leaving the. whole of this force to (he ends operated by (he hydraulic cylinder as at present.

BABIES—LESS TAX SOFIA, July 20. A “Bounties for Babies” Bill is to be introduced by the Bulgarian Government to increase the country’s birthrate. The bill proposes a4O per cent income tax for bachelors and additional relief for parents with more than three children.

FOREST A LLING FASHIONS LONDON, July '2O. The departmental committee on the use of celluloid published a report yesterday urging that a ban on the sale of celluloid cuffs, collars, shirt fronts, side combs and hair ornaments should be imposed now—before they return to fashion, «