NO GEARS TO CHANGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 454, 8 September 1928, Page 9

NO GEARS TO CHANGE

JOY FOR MOTORISTS REMARKABLE NEW DEVICE THOROUGH TESTS MADE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Thursday. A revolution in motoring is indicated by a successful 25,000 miles test in various parts of Britain, concluded to-day, of a geariess device for a motor-car. This is described by a well informed expert in the “Daily Telegraph,” who tried it out in the thickest traffic in London, as a marvellous invention. This expert says the device reduces motoring to mere steering braking, and driving—a child’s task. A number of well known manufacturers ordered sets in order to give them prolonged tests in their own chassis, and it is expected that several cars will be fitted with the device at the motor show at-Olympia next month. The inventor is Mr. J. H. Robertson, who has done a great deal of experimental work for the War Office in connection with tanks. So far he has Spent £20,000 of his own money on the invention. The car which was tried out was an ordinary standard model. It was fitted with the new automatic variable gear, which transforms the roughness of a low-priced car into the smoothness of a steam locomotive. The car has no clutch, and no gearchanging is necessary. The automatic gear selects the right ratio according to the speed. The “Telegraph’s” expert says it was a magic performance. The car glides rapidly from rest without a shock. Tens of thousands of motorists in all parts of the world will hail cars fitted with the device as the greatest delight of their motoring careers. The acceleration is wonderful. The car crawls through the traffic with ease.

The most important point of all is that the invention can be applied to all makes of cars. Small wonder, therefore, says the writer, that the chief manufacturers are hastening to test and apply the invention. &