A STARTLING INVENTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 97, 14 October 1911, Page 11

A STARTLING INVENTION

VALUABLE STROKE ENGINE. A startling innovation in motor construction will be placed on the market by a well-known Italian motor concern at an early date. The new feature is a variable stroke, which is actuated from the steering wheel, the same as a throttle lever, and by which the stroke of the pistons in the cylinders is shortened or lengthened, thus effecting the volume of explosive mixture and the speed of engine. For three years the inventors have been quietly testing the variable stroke engine 011 the roads, and the results have been so satisfactory that the company —which is a most conservative one —are now going to manufacture the new type of engine as one of their standard models. The big advantage claimed for the variable stroke engine is its flexibility—for, like a steam engine, tho power can be increased at will, thus doing away with all gear changing, the only gear needed being the reverse. What this means only motorists can appreciate. The change speed gear box is one of the most expensive parts of the motor car to construct, and its elimination would be a great advance towards the perfect motor, llow the variable stroke is obtained has not yet been disclosed, lmt further particulars of the Italian invention will no doubt be available at an early date.