The Mitchell 1907 Car.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 5, 1 March 1907, Page 171

The Mitchell 1907 Car.

In John \V. Bate the Mitchell Motoi Car Company have an engineer whose foresight and knowledge of shop economics ha\ c done more foi th> cai mdusti) than perhaps any other man as witness the fine models that hrm is renowned foi Mr Bate turns out thiee models viz — (1) 14-18 hp 2-seat iiin-about 4c> 1 3>" x 4". (2) 18-20 hp 5-seat light tomm« car" 4 cyl 4" x 4J" (3) 24-30 hp .5 seat large touring cai, 4 cyl 4'" x y \\l thiee types aie ampl\ ])o\veied as the cylinder volume shows and aie icallj lated well below the actual hor>e-po\\et lor on woikin» out the above, it comes out Mi Bate s iy->, that the 14—18 is actually 22 h p the 18-20 is actually 2') hp, and the 24-30 is actually 44 li p , a liuly lemarkable instance of under-iatmg the available powet, and one which can be demonstrated any time, Mr. Bate believes, by brake test \ll these car-> aie piovided with standaid sliding geai transmission of an unusually substantial n iture, and also a very special design of clutch,

new visitor to our shores a good welcome and can say that for easy riding, accompanied by that confident feeling that the car always has ample power in reserve, we know of no make better provided Messrs Holmes & Allen, of Brandon street, the sole New Zealand representatives, have to be complimented on introducing so up-to date and practical a machine.

w Inch although on the core principle, is as smooth, if not "smoother, in engagement than the multiple disc , the principle being that the leather face is mounted on a flat spring ring over the clutch cone, which while being compiessed gradually, puts the car up into speed and then holds fast , and obviating danger of shock from a clumsy pedal engagement to the machinery or tyres 1 lie frames ot the cars are of heavy gauge pressed steel cold riveted, all cross-members being reinfoiced with gusset plates The valve action of the motois is both dnect lift and lever, Mr Bate using a directly lifted intake valve at one side ol the combustion chambei, and a level-depiess-ed exhaust valve in the middle of the cylinder head This central placing of the exhaust valve clears the cylinder extremely well (a point which many designers neglect), and it is tne valve placing that governs the speed of an oil engine, and the Mitchell cais have engines which can be run at extremely high speeds efficiently if necessary, and with gieat economy. These cars show a decided tendency to substitute high grade bronze for both steel castings and chop forgings Ihe tough and endunng qualities of bionze — though costing more — being considered bettei practice The fiont spring hangers aie also ot bronze Pai'on's manganese bionze only being used lhe spark is conti oiled by a hand lever under the steering wheel while there aie both hand and pedal foi the throttle The descnption of the Mitchell muffler has been refused till now This important part of the car is worked exactly the re\ erse of the otheis, except one, b^ discharging the hot exhaust unto the lai gtst muffler chambers, and discharging it fiom the smallest of the three chambei s lormed b\ three concentnc shells 4 in outside diameter and 20 in long Messis Holmes & Allen mioim us that this procechue is based on Bath's theory that since the hot gases ha\e the laigest volume they leqmre not onl\ the laigest space, but also the coolest — the cooling lmmcdiatelv l educes the \olume and lcsults in quite a silent exhaust with a back pressme not e\en enough to blow the exhaust t\pe of horn Taken all round, fiom upholstciv and finish to the internal economics, we have to gi\ c this