New-York tribune., 1907-11-27
TIMELY AUTO TOPICS.
What Recent Developments Shoe in
Transmission Systems.

The Paris Automobile Show developed much the
same tendencies as the recent American League
Of Automobile Manufacturers show in Madison
Square in New York. The interest centred in the
same types of cars ard the novelties Of each show
had much in common. Among the higher powered
and priced cars there were noticeable n standard
izatiOn Of design and the elimination Of the freak
suggestion common in previous shows This
same feature was noticeable TO the visitors at the
recent New York shows.
The cable dispatches received report that the
one novelty of the Paris show was the several ex-
hibits Of the gasolene-electric mixed system It is
peculiar, too, that the same trend of manufacture
Is shown by two American manufacturers, though
proceeding on different lines in working out the
idea. The fact remains that certain foreign and
certain American makers proceeding along
similar lines of development, all holding the me-
chanical transmission as weak element Of chassis
units and all working out in measure the
substitution Of electrical control and application
OF gasolene power
In Europe a well known imported car the Auto
Mkt of Belgium is showing models of gasolene
cars, the power being applied and controlled cleo
tricaIly. Different applications and combinations
are employed TO arrive at this system.
A gasolene motor drives a generator, converting
the gas engine power into electrical energy
converting this electrical energy into mechanical
power While this system provides method
for MULTIPLICATION of the driving effort, the need
Of such multiplication is not nearly so necessary
for the European town service for which these
cars are said be ideal. the roads being excellent
and much weight being saved. there being diff
ferential needed with the twin motor drive. The
auto-mixt system used in the Belgium makes
of the apparatus previously described, and in
addition makes Of a storage battery
While the systems described possess advantages
over previous mechanical power transmission
practice. each has disadvantages which objectors
TO the system citing. In there is no
means provision for multiplication of the driv-
ing effort, and a considerable addition of weight
in the electrical apparatus. while the weight in
the system using storage batteries auxiliary
emergency supply IS a serious objection.
The so-caled Entz system made OF in the
new high powered Columbia car for 1908 possesses
the great advantages of electrical transmission and
control Of power. and does not allow Of the crit-
cisns previously described. II employs no storage
batteries; il provides OF multiplication Of
driving effort and the weight of the electrical an
paratus IS only one-fourth Of what would be re-
quired If the system a straight combination
system Of conversion Of gas engine power into
trical energy and its reconverson into mechanical
power through electro motors, and also there is
made use OF a much higher percentage of power
created in the gas engine than in any other sys-
ten Of motor caI power transmission either
mechanical electrical.
Yet the interest OF Europeans in the efforts 10
dispense with mechanical transmissons of the
ioothed engagement planetary and individual cIut,S
types has the chief interest in the great Paris
show. and those who attended the Garden show will
recall that the electrical transmission in an Amer
lean car. the Columbia. considered the one
chassis novelty Of that show.