Where are the Steam Cars?

Progress, Volume I, Issue 10, 1 August 1906, Page 281

Where are the Steam Cars?

so simple that they can be placed in the hands of any man of average intelligence after a short tuition, with complete success. — We are, etc. Turner's Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., J. B. Dumbell, Managing Director.

The Editor, Progress. Sir. — We have perused with interest your article in the issue of March ist, " Where are the Steam Cars ? " We cannot agree with your statement that the machinery in a steam car is more complicated than that of a petrol car, or more liable to get out of order. We claim that a steam car is less complicated than a petrol car and less liable to get out of order, and we think we could bring ample proof of the justice of this contention. Will you permit us to call your attention to the following two letters which appeared in different motor journals. The writers oi both these letters are private individuals without any mechanical experience :—: — "Re Turner-Miesse steam cars. I have had mine for over 7 months, and have driven over 1,800 miles. I have never had anything happen to any part of the car or machinery, and I have not looked at the engine or ground m a valve. I clean the nipple each journey, and don't have any trouble with the furnace. I have had to tighten the brakes (owing to wear), but the engine, pumps, and generator have given no trouble at all, and I have had but one puncture. I drive the car myself and a boy does the cleaning down. If I were to sell this car, I should buy another with a larger body, as there is ample power. I went to London recently with five up, and had a good tour round, altogether about 3<;o miles, and no trouble at any time. My first stop was at Bishop Stortford, 80 miles, and I filled up with paraffin and water as it was a handy spot. I consider the great advantage of a good steam car lies in what it has not got, viz. sparking plugs, accumulators, coils, gears, clutch, etc , and another thing : I once had a rare bang on the arm in starting up a petrol engine, and don't want another. By all means go for a TurnerMiesse • treat it properly and you are bound to have complete satisfaction." " Your correspondent ' W.R.C.R.' wishes to know of the good points of steam driven cars. Let us consider the ultimate aims of the makers of petrol cars which are reliability, power, ease of control, flexibility, cheapness of running, ditto of maintenance (including tyres), silence, simplicity. The Turner-Miesse cars have all these good points, and in addition, no changing of gears, no clutch, and no electricity. As a private owner, I have driven one of these cars (a 10 h.p.) for a year and a half, and am very pleased to be able to say n good word for them." Further, you state the cost of running per mile is greater with a steam car than with a petrol car. This, again, we do not consider a correct statement. The consumption of paraffin or kerosene, by a 10 h.p. Turner-Miesse steam car, carrying a load of four or five passengers, is approximately ij gallons per hour. You will observe that the Turner-Miesse steam cars use kerosene as fuel, and we think you will admit the great advantage of being able to use a fuel which, we understand, can be readily obtained m your country at a moderate price. We feel quite sure that you are entirely unprejudiced, and that you will grant us the necessary space to remove any misapprehensions that may be caused by the article in question. We are pleased to say that the modern steam cars of the type of the Turner-Miesse are growing steadily in popularity in this country. We are increasing our output every year, and if any of your clients are desirous of taking up an agency, we shall be pleased to send full particulars on receipt of enquiry. We should also like to take this opportunity of infoimmg your readers that we are now manufacturing light steam commercial vehicles, using ordinary kerosene as fuel, carrying a load up to two tons, or 16 to 20 passengers. The construction of these vehicles is