CYCLE AND MOTOR NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 15, 16 January 1913, Page 7

CYCLE AND MOTOR NOTES.

“DUNLOPS” ON TOP. An interesting and instructive feature of the recent Olympia Motor Show in London, the Premier Automobile Exhibition of the V oriel, was the marked popularity of “Dunlops,” this British made tyre being fitted to nearly 50 per cent, more cars than all the other makes of tyres put together. The actual figures were 1356 “Dunlops.” All other makes combined 875. Not only are a majority of the English manufacturers now fitting “Dunlops,” hut a number of foreign firms have found by experience th.it the British made tyre is unrivalled for strength and durability. Few motorists in this country are aware that the “Dunlop” motor tyre made in 'Australia by the Dunlop, Rubber Company is in every sense identical with the tyre that' has scored so heavily at Olympia. The same rubber formulae is used, the same high-grade fabric,, and the same scientific mode of construction, the covers being built up under the supervision of experts, Thought out from the Dunlop Tyre Company’s English mills. The only difference is that, more rubber is placed on the walls of the Australian made cover to guard against chaffing of casig on our rougher roads. These tyres are to-day being used by thousands of motorists in Australasia, and what is more to the point they are giving better service than the imported foreign

tyres^ THE “LOW” PETROL ENGINE. An interesting new type of motor engine has been invented in England by Dr. A. M. Low, its chief characteristic being the use of forced induction for the petrol supply. The experimenal car fitted with a 16 h.p. “Low” engine has given" some most astonishing results. On the bench it has developed over 100 horse power at 3000 revolutions. On Brookland’s track a flying lap (2J miles) at;98.4 miles an hour, and oh a petrol consumption of 10 miles to the gallon. On the road the car did that could only bo expected from a 60 h.p. engine,, and yet at low engine speeds; gave wonderful pulling power.‘in its main details tbit engine resembles the ordinary fourcylinder, but the cylinder flanges are very heavy, arid the fly-wheel and outer bolts extra large. Each cylinder has a liner bolted into it, leaving a space between its outer surface and the cylinder wall. This space is used for warming the petrol; -othenvise it would condense under the high pressure used—viz., 16001 b. to the square inch. The petrol is pumped from the tank to tire jacket, where it partially evaporates, passing then into plugs over the inlet valves, in which are situated oscillating rockers operated from the pistons, or from a separate cam-shaft, for convenience in experimenting. As the piston descends on the inducting stroke, the mechanically operated inlet valve opens, and pure air is drawn in. This is compressed on the upward stroke, the petrol vapour being admitted through a hole at the moment of highest compression. In the experimental engine under notice, the mixture is ignited by a magneto at the commencement of a stroke only; the compression being 1501 b. per square inch. In later engines a continuous spark will be used. The pdtf'6l is admitted for about an inch and a half of the stroke, and burns steadily, giving off power, after the fashion of a steam engine. This' “Low” engine has created a very favourable impression amongst the motor experts who have had an opportunity of testing its capabilities, and when through its experimental stages may have a big imiflence on motor car engine construction. ■ • GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY. The growth of the motor car industry is the most astounding in the history of industries in the world. In a little over twelve years the motor car business lias jumped with such immense strides that the official returns from America, England, and France arc almost incredible. In America there are to-day - nearly one million cars registered, those include commercial vehicles. The increase during the last nine months in pleasure cars alone totalled 256,113. The value of cars registered in the United States up to the end of last October was over £200,000,000. The ratio of ears to population in America is about one car to every 92 people. In England it is about one to 180. In Australasia about one to every 300 inhabitants. In London alone, 56,002 motor cars and 4868 heavy motor vehicles wore registered last year. In France, the onetime huh of the motor car industry, there are 76,771 private cars registered, and including taxi-cabs, motor buses, etc., there are now close on 92,000 motor vehicles in that country. In five years the number of cars in France lias trebled. In America n ten years they have jumped from below 9000 to nearly a million. In 1912 alone it was estimated tiiat 310,000 cars were manufactured in the United States, an increase of over 110,000

above the figures of 1911. With such a tremendous output of cars, it is ntt-K wonder that America is keenly looking for oversea markets.