Motors Motoring

Progress, Volume VI, Issue 5, 1 March 1911, Page 569

Motors Motoring

OLYMPIA. Progress in Motor Body Construction. (By 11. Waymouth Prance, A.1.E.E., A.M.I.A.E) At the time of the Olympia Show one annually looks round to see what progress has been made in the various branches of the motor world, and in late years the department with which I propose to deal in this article, that of motor body construction, has been noteworthy for the vigorous strides which have been made, and for the striking innovations which have taken place. In order.to best gauge the progress which has been made it is advantageous to consider the ends and ideals which are being aimed at in the perfecting of bodies foi motor vehicles. As in all other motor matters, the final design is one of compromise, but this compromise is made up of several independent features, each of which must receive its due consideration in the course of the de- . velopment. First among these aims may be mentioned comfort, the primary object of the body-work being the carrying of the passengers with as much comfort and convenience as possible. Appearance also is an important factor, whilst lightness - and strength, features which have distinct bearings one upon the other, enter largely into the calculation. In these days of the popular ear, wearing capabilities and-moderation of price also have to be reckoned with, whilst, controlled perhaps by wearing capabilities, is the essential feature of noiselessness, and abiding the factor of appearance is that of the desirability of low wind resistance. Having briefly reviewed the factors upon which progress must be based, it is interesting to consider the stages of development since the early days of the motor vehicle. Taking the horse-drawn carriage bodies, generally of the dog-cart type, as an ideal, the motor body builders produced the uncomfortable motor vehicles of the nineties. Developing to a further stage, the tonneau body became popular, and in striving to add to the appearance of the ungainly looking vehicle then in vogue the Roi-des-Belges body was produced. At this time came the period of a striking innovation, the side-entrance body, which immediately became popular and ousted all * , .„. ,l~r,';™~r. jGrmer designs.Up to this v period the . comfort of the passenger had not • received serious consideration, beyond the providing of wellsprung upholstery, whilst the driving seat remained as in the very earliest days ..the

motor vehicle, the driver being practically without any protection other than that afforded 'by a low dashboard of the horse vehicle type. Between this period and the development which was shortly to take place a few body builders commenced to add doors to the front seats, but these for the most part were exceedingly low and of veiy little use in affording protection to those occupying the front seats. Last year's show will always be remembered for the next development in the progress of motor body building, the popularising of the torpedo, flush-sided, and boat-shaped bodies, as they are variously called. From this it must not be understood that torpedo bodies have not been built before, designs indeed of this type having appeared on numerous occasions, but it was not until the display of the 1910 models at Olympia was made', that these bodies were to be found.upon practically every make of chassis. Undoubted-

ly competitions and road races such as the Prince Henry and Tourist Trophy events have had their influence in the development of motor body construction, and it is noteworthy that low-pitched todies .with high doors and practically flush sides were to he seen in these competitions long before the body of the pleasure car had reached' development on these lines. : • • , .. , At the Olympia Show now in. progress 1 many bodieswhich for the sake of conciseness may be termed torpedoes— excellent design are to be seen, this type . being practically universal, whilst the lines have also invaded the realm of the closed body. It must not, however, be taken that finality of the torpedo design has by any. means been arrived at; certain points at which, apparently, different, body builders are at variance still remain to be decided, whilst further development in the reduction of wind resistance and the improving of appearance is readily possible! As an example of this it will be noted by those inspecting the exhibits that certain of the torpedo bodies are narrower at the

rear than at the front, whilst some are of the same width throughout, 'and instances are to be seen of those which are wider at the rear than at the front. It would be without the province of this article to discuss the stream-line effects of these various forms, but it is obvious that there must be a best among these as regards non-wind-resisting and non-dust-raising properties. Concerning this latter point it is perhaps worthy, of remark that few makers, although very pronounced regarding the merits of their flush-sided bodies, have made any attempt to obtain flush underlines, a feature which has not as yet received the attention which it deserves either upon the road or the racing track. It is also worthy of note. regarding these properties of wind resisting and dust raising, that no disc wheels, such as have become -'So, popular atßrooklands, are to be found upon the stands. Perhaps among noteworthy developments . of this year's Show may be mentioned the provision of access to the driving seat from either side, a point which is of very considerable added convenience, the popularising of the two-seated coupe, : and the development of the fully f< open or fully closed double-pur-I pose vehicle. W Of the latter the cabriolet body is to be found in various shapes, and it is interesting to note that of the many examples shown several are to be found which are considerably lighter than have been the majority of these bodies since they came into prominence a short time back. Of closed bodies of the limousine type development would appear to be restricted to the further added luxury of the interiors and the production of fancy lines such as instanced by the postchaise bodies shown upon some of the stands. Ventilation of closed bodies is now receiving some attention, and examples are to be found of roof ventilators and of sliding roofs. This attention to the proper and efficient ventilation of large enclosed cars, the interiors of many of which more closely resemble ladies' boudoirs than travelling vehicles, may be marked down as a distinct step in progress. , Of hard-wear bodies very little development has taken place, judging from the exhibits at Olympia, and in the course of my examination I did not notice a single example of the matt surface unvarnished body with painted metal work, for which there would appear to be a certain demand. An example of painted metal work, in which the head lights, side lights, horn, acetylene generator, wind screen frame, hood irons, etc., are painted and lined to

match the body, is to be seen, and gives the appearance of remarkably smart and serviceable finish, but in this instance both the body work and metal work are highly varnished, as usual. . Tool space and lockers have, in the bodies shown this year, been given ample consideration, and in this, respect the progress is distinct over former years. Body fixings remain much as before, and the insulating of vibration and twisting strains has not received the attention which it doubtless will in the course of time. Summarising, then, the Olympia Show of 1910 is remarkable for the further development and popularising of the torpedo body and for the many varied examples of bodies of all types based upon the lines of this design which are shown, whilst the adoption of the double-purpose .body, the popularising of the coupe, the furnishing of ample locker space and the provision of access to the driving seat from either side, are each points which mark the progress displayed at an Exhibition which may truly be said to be a triumph of the eoachbuilders' art.

Useful Notes. ('' Motor-car Journal.'') It is bad practice to sit in a car and allow the motor to run for an indefinite period. Stop the engine and start it when ready to go, thereby saving the petrol and oil, besides unnecessary wear and tear on the engine. * # * There is nothing so important to motorists as the ability to analyse noises. "When the engine is in good running order it runs along with a steady quiet hum that is musical to the ear of the driver, there being no variation in the sounds as long as everything is going along all right. The moment, however, that some part refuses to perform its function, properly, or is not receiving . its requisite amount of oil, the engine begins to "talk" and its various protests and noises convey to the trained ear in many cases the exact cause and location of the trouble. In the event of a stoppage in the petrol pipe from' the tank to the float-chamber of the carburettor, the union may be un-

screwed and ; the rubber end of the tire pump connection pushed over the end. A few sharp strokes of the pump will usually remove any grit or debris in the pipe. * * # Carburettors in which adjustment is provided for the amount of petrol supplied to the jet very often require readjustment when a different grade of motor spirit is used. This should be carefully noted, as frequently erratic running arising on this account has been wrongly attributed to other causes. ,* * * In lubricators, where a gauze is used to filter the oil to the suction pipe of the little pump, close inspection will generally reveal that the gauze has become choked, and that little or no oil is reaching the pump. * * * In the case of a slipping leather cone clutch a little Fuller's earth will prevent the trouble for the time being when the car reaches home a good dose of castor oil well rubbed in will make all good. If no Fuller's earth can be procured, a little dust or very fine sand will do, but care

should be taken to clear away all traces of the same on arriving home. Motors for Exploration. Among the good things done and projected by a Labour Government of Australia, is the exploration of the Northern territory which Labour recognises must be filled with a white population soon, if it is not to be swarmed over by Chinese and Japanese hordes hungry for land. The Queensland Government has in this matter recognised the motor-car as a most valuable preliminary auxiliary, where prospecting has to be done for national purposes. Therefor, for that Government's explorations of the Transcontinental Railway route a motor-car is being requisitioned for the trip of about 4,000 miles, which it is expected will have to be made. A special body has been fitted to a Talbot car, designed to give a maximum accommodation with a minimum of weight, the latter being essential on account of the large amount of petrol, oil, stores, etc., required for the trip, it being anticipated that the car will have to travel between 600 and 700 miles between replacement of supplies. >