arm of each of these T-pieces forms a lever, and a connecting rod maintains these levers constantly at a fixed distance apart, and therefore the wheels parallel to one another. Any movements transmitted to this connecting rod will be transferred to the wheels. through the levers, which latter will, however, pass through different angles when shifted. This steering gear enables the carriage to be turned very easily, and with a short radius. On the other hand, however, it is open to the objection that the steersman would apparently be liable to sustain violent shocks when passing over rough or uneven surfaces.

The carriage illustrated in Fig. 7 weighs about 13 cwt. 3 qrs. when empty, and about 17 cwt. 3 qrs. when loaded. The speed attainable with four passengers is from 9 to 15 miles or even 22 miles per hour on a moderate grade. The consumption of coke is about 3.5 lbs. per mile, and the cost of lubricating oil from to I centime, the above figures being deduced from observations made on trial runs of about 200 miles.

Le Blant's Steam Road Carriage.

Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrams representing respectively in plan and side elevation a Le Blant steam

carriage, suitable for the delivery of goods from extensive establishments, and adapted to meet the requirements of French customers, who demand a strong and

FIG. 10. Le Blant's Steam Road Carriage (Plan).

easily managed vehicle, capable of passing through the narrowest streets and up the steepest inclines to be met with, having a closed compartment of, at the

O

FIG. 11.-Le Blant's Steam Road Carriage (Side Elevation).

very least, 65 cubic feet capacity, and able to carry a minimum load of 1 ton.

Mr Le Blant is one of those who has taken what is in all probability the right view of the value of motor

cars, viz., that their chief mission will be found to be for comparatively heavy work such as omnibuses, and diligences for passengers, and goods waggons for use in town and country. Therefore whilst having devoted some attention to the construction of brakes and other pleasure carriages, his main object has been to produce an efficient vehicle of the type shown in the illustrations, and also of large motor cars capable of drawing heavy trailing cars.

The vehicle shown in the sketches is built of iron, except the wheels, which are of wood. The frame is of channel irons stiffened with cross-bracings, the latter also of channel sections and 4 inches deep, with a flange 2 inches in width.

The wheels, which are as above mentioned of wood, have crossed spokes, as shown in Fig. 12, and are mounted to revolve upon the bearings of a fixed axle. In some later built carriages, however, owing to the trouble experienced with wheels constructed of wood, the inventor has substituted ones made of iron and steel.

FIG. 12.-Le
Blant Wheel.

The engine, which has three cylinders, each 3.94 inches in diameter, is secured to a frame of channel and angle irons, the crosshead guides being made of a special quality of cast-iron having a considerable degree of elasticity. Steam is admitted during fourfifths of the stroke, which latter is of 4.32 inches in length, and the engine can be run at any speed up to one of 700 revolutions per minute, one of 250 revolutions corresponding to a rate of II miles an hour,

The cranks are placed at an angle of 120 degrees, and a pinion on the crank shaft gears with the crown wheel of a differential motion fitted on an intermediate shaft. Power is transmitted to the driving wheels by chain or sprocket wheels and pitch chains.

The steam generator employed is one of the Serpollet type, which has already been described.

The disposition of the mechanism will be apparent from the drawings, wherein it will be seen that in order to ensure as much adhesion as possible, the engine and boiler, as also the fuel and water compartments, are located over the rear or driving axle. The compartment for the goods, which has a capacity of 141 cubic feet, is separated from the boiler by the feed-water reservoir, and any overheating of the said compartment owing to its propinquity to the boiler is thus avoided.

Within easy reach of the conductor or driver, who sits in front, are the injection pump lever, which acts as a speed regulator, the steering wheel, the operating wheel of a screw brake, and two pedals, the one controlling the amount of feed, and the other a strap brake passing round a drum on the axle. A pressure gauge, placed in front enables the said driver to ascertain at a glance the steam pressure available. The stoker or fireman, who is located in the rear, looks after the stoking of the boiler, the variable exhaust, and a hand oil-pump for lubricating the slide valves.

The steering mechanism consists of an ordinary fore carriage, the turning ring of which carries a circular. rack with which gears or meshes a pinion upon the lower extremity of the steering wheel spindle or pillar. The teeth of this rack and pinion are of a special form, which has been patented,

De Dion & Bouton's Steam Road Carriage.

The latest type of the De Dion & Bouton motor car is in reality a small road locomotive, which is intended to be coupled to and draw a trailing vehicle, and in fact to take the place of a horse. It is somewhat inaptly styled by the inventors a steam bogie. Owing to the purpose for which it is intended, this motor car, when viewed by itself, gives the impression of being unnecessarily heavy and unwieldy in construction, which, however, is not really the case considering the duty it is required to perform.

A motor of the De Dion & Bouton type performed

FIG. 13.-De Dion & Bouton
Steam Road Car (Plan).

FIG. 14.-De Dion & Bouton Steam
Road Car (Side Elevation).

good work coupled to a four-seated victoria, in the Petit Journal competition of 1894. This machine has a horizontal frame formed of bars V-shaped in transverse section and 2 inches in depth, which frame is supported on the axles through coach springs, and carries the boiler, feed-water tank, fuel store, and engine.

The disposition of the various parts is shown in the diagrams Figs. 13 and 14, which represent respectively a plan and a side elevation of the vehicle. The fuel store, it will be seen, almost entirely surrounds the boiler, and the chimney dips downwards and is carried