Points at the Paris Show.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 6, 1 April 1909, Page 193

Points at the Paris Show.

A correspondent wrote to the Times immediately after the big show, a most interesting summary of the much- discussed " Salon." The Salon de l'Automobile is held this year in two distinct sections, at different dates. The first is strictly limited to ir.otors for lown use, for touring purpose », and for cars for luxurious travel, whilst the second, which will open about i fortnight later will be confined to motor vehicles for heavy loads and for industrial purposes, and it will also include the departments of navigation and aviation. The general impression gained by a somewhat detailed inspection of the first portion of the exhibition is that novelties in mechanical features are rare this year. The pleasure car remains pretty much as it was during the previous year, and the only changes are in slight matters of detail. All the chief efforts of the manufacturers have been expended on the production of moderate or low-powered vehicles, ranging from 8 to 15 and up to 25 h.p. Each of the principal makers display one or more types of such vehicles, and it may even be said that this is the real novelty of the 1908 show. Manufacturers who have hitherto confined their attention to the building of high-class motor-cars now enter into competition with the less important firms engaged in the production of voiturettes, and there is little doubt that these latter will thereby suffer somewhat severely. Very few racing cars are shown and French manufacturers would seem to be in-

terested no longer in vehicles of this character. This feeling prevails, moreover, to such an extent that many makers are said to have expressed their firm intention to abstain from any further participation in trials of speed. There is at the outset a general consensus of opinion that, for cars of high power, the use of the six-cylinder motor has become general. In spite of the decrease in the number of exhibitors of such cars, the number of six-cylinder motors is greater than it was last year. For cars of average power, motors with four cylinders, two cylinders, and even a single cylinder are all favoured by manufacturers. For powerful cars the employment of the chain still remains the most prevalent system of drive and is the favourite one, but for moderate powers the use of cardan transmission has greatly extended and has grown in a very remarkable way. Attention may also be called to the almost unanimous adoption of the high-tension magneto for ignition, and only the following firms who cling to the low-tension magneto are noticeable, viz.: — The makers of Bolee, Mercedes, Itala, Berliet, More, Brasier, and Cottin-Desgouttes cars. The improvements introduced for the purpose of lubrication should likewise be noted ; most of the firms have adopted forced lubrication, involving the use of pumps absolutely automatic in their action.