The Motosacoche.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 June 1906, Page 207

The Motosacoche.

With the object of proving the practicability, reliability and efficiency of the Motosacoche motor attachment on an ordinary roadster cycle, Mr. Edwards, whose weight is i2sst., undertook a ride from Wellington to Napier, via the Rimutukas, and back over the ranges from Pahiatua to Palmerston, thence via Paekakariki. The cycle to which it was attached was a Royal Saxon roadster, built of tubing as used on ordinary road-racing cycles, but with the addition of a girder to front forks. The tyres were 26 x if Britannia ordinary cycle tyres. The rough and steep grade of the Rimutukas was negotiated by the Motosacoche m a most satisfactory manner, despite the fact that the bicycle carried a spare accumulator, a supply of benzine sufficient for 150 miles, a kit of tools, rain cape, leggings, etc., the complete turnout weighing 72lbs. The descent of the Rimutukas was undertaken in the dark and the cycle received a more than ordinarily severe testing and came out splendidly, thus proving the inventor's claim that the' attachment considerably strengthens the ordinary cycle frame. The run through the Wairarapa proved that the Motosacoche can attain on good roads, a speed of 35 miles an hour, and the consumption of benzine was but half a gallon for 70 miles. When negotiating the Mungaroa grade, Mr. Edwards was stopped by a mob of cattle, and, thanks to lightness and the handle-bar control of the Motosacoche, he was again enabled to mount without trouble and continue the ascent. The efficiency of the Motosacoche special accumulator may be judged by the fact that after the ride of 799 miles, the accumulator, which is of 4 volt and 20 ampere-hour capacity, had dropped only 1 point below 4. On examination of the ordinary tyres, at the completion of the ride, it was hard to realise that they had covered the above distance at the speed, and clearly proves that the cost of up keep of a bicycle with the Motosacoche attachment is infinitesimal.

News has reached the colony that Admiral Percy Scott has been granted the sum of £8,000 by the British Admiralty for his inventions relating to gunnery. Mr. Alfred Beit has presented the city of Hamburg with £100,000 to establish a university.