Page 5 Advertisements Column 1

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 145, 25 July 1914, Page 5

Any car which is not equipped with a Two-Speed Direct Drive Axle r does not embody the most progressive development of the day. "The Autocar/ 9 , one of the leading "motor publications of Great Britain, has this to say:— When the Cadillac system of combining ignition, lighting, and engine starting in one electrical system was introduced "two years ago, it was very properly regarded as a bold step, and it was certainly the most interesting innovation which had been made for a long time, while experience has shown it to be as successful as it was bold. To-day the Cadillac designers have made another innovation, which, personally, we regard as even a greater improvement than the very important one of two years ago. After once experiencing the delight of-two direct and noiseless drives one feels that it is difficult'to outline an ideal car which does not contain this feature, and we feel fairly safe in asserting-that the Cadillac successful of an old idea will be followed by other makers. "The Motor/' another prominent British authority, cominents: — We have the Cadillac in the highest esteem, and admired it . as a criterional example of high-grade American construction. The charm of the dual drive to the rear axle is compelling and entrancing, and as one merely touches the little lever at the side and, on depressing and allowing the clutch, to rise, .finds a higher direct drive available, wonderment is aroused as to the undoubtedly simple manner in which so" great an advantage has been brought about. • The luxury of driving a touring car at» 20 or 25 miles an hour with/a direct drive and final gear ratio of 2.5 to 1 is quite a new fascination. Now re-crossing the Atlantic and coming back to America, we find the following in "Motor Age/' one of the leading trade papers of the country:— Adoption of the two-speed rear axle by one of the larger makers of motor cars for the coming season may be taken as a criterion of the efforts that are general throughout the industry toward easier maintenance. In this case, the ease of maintenance attained is indirect, none the less present. The effect of doubling the number of speeds obtained in the gearset is believed to make for longer life of the motor since it need not be worked on a hard pull or made to turn over so rapidly at high car speeds. In other words, the increased flexibility of the power plant is expected to result in its greater useful life. And in "Horseless Age," another of the leading American publications, we find:— It seems at least possible that the two-speed axle may confer upon the four-cylinder car sufficient flexibility and accelerative ability, without recourse to noisy geared speeds, to satisfy the public demand for these qualities, and, if this should prove to be the case, the demand for six : cylinder cars, with their somewhat more costly, more bulky, more complicated and less economical motors, might be materially reduced. It can hardly be doubted that the advent of the double-direct drive is one of the most important happenings of recent years in" the automobile industry. We might continue quoting from authorities almost indefinitely—but what's the use? The two speed axle is the greatest real advance in automobile development since the Cadillac electrical cranking and lighting system two years ago—which as you know, nearly everyone else has "come to." Do you wonder that the other fellow is worried and doing everything he can to befog the issue? DEXTER & CROZIER CHRISTCHURCH & AUCKLAND " BROWNING'S for 170 HIGH STREET