Austral Motorcycles

Mr Percy Hunter, of the Daily Telegraph, and Mr W. J. Elliott, of the Austral Cycle Agency, who left Melbourne on the motor cycles with a despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria to Lord Beauchamp, met with an accident after leaving Albury, near Germanton. Going through a creek, which proved deeper than was expected, the induction coil of one of the machines got wet, and this delayed the journey for 24 hours. After another start, the riders determined to make up time and travel by night. On approaching Germanton, a bridge culvert was met with, and on riding over it Mr Hunter's cycle got entangled in a loose board on the bridge, which knocked the machine about to such an extent that it was decided to abandon the journey for the present. After temporarily mending the machine, Mr Hunter rode into Wagga, arriving on Friday night at about 9.30., and caught the express train to Sydney. Mr Elliott remained at Tarcutta, whence he was towed into Wagga by the coach.

On being interviewed Mr Hunter said that it was the intention of Mr Elliott to make the trip again. Both riders are satisfied that the machines are able to do the work in record time, barring accidents. The machines, on good rood, put in about 15 miles per hour. In one place the cyclists were chased by a bull!

Murrumburrah Signal and County of Harden Advocate (NSW) Sat 17 Nov 1900

THE MOTO CYCLE.

A WONDERFUL INVENTION.

Yesterday afternoon the Cycle Austral Agency gave a public exhibition In George street of the motocycle, which Is causing, such a great deal of public interest throughout the world. Since the advent of this machine in England, France, America, Germany, and other countries, It has caused an enormous amount of newspaper controversy. The machine has been attached to carriages and different kinds of vehicles, and many of the London and provincial papers have published Illustrations purporting to show that in the course of a few years carriages drawn by horses would be rarely seen. Already races have been held, for a few months ago a race took place from Paris to , Bordeaux and back for motocycle, or horseless carriages, as some choose to call them, and it proved to be very successful. Fully 100,000 people witnessed it. A race has also been held In America. The Prince of Wales has had several rides In one of them, and the mall which arrived In Sydney on Tuesday brought word that his Royal Highness had ordered one, so that it Is likely to become very popular.

The motocycle yesterday was a complete success. Long before the time fixed for the exhibition, people began to congregate round the Austral Cycle Agency In George-street, and when the machine was brought out at 4 o'clock there must have been fully 5000 people present. In fact, George-street was completely blocked, and it took the services of a number of police to clear enough of the road to allow the 'buses to pass. Mr. H. Knight Eaton, belonging to the agency, had charge of the machine, and ho rode It down George-street to the Circular Quay and back. Mr. W. J. C. Elliott led the way to clear the track, and Messrs. Lewis and Davis on a tandem followed, hut they were unable to pace it, so fast did the machine travel. The machine is driven by benzol, and will run at a speed of 40 miles an hour on good roads. Mr. Eaton has ridden It at 32 miles an hour, and when at full speed the engine develops a three-horse power. The weight of the machine Is 250 lb., and the machine Itself is on the same lines as a bicycle, except that there are no pedals. The benzol gas, mixed with air, Is carried to the cylinders from a tank fitted above the engine, near where the sprocket wheel Is on a bicycle. It Is then compressed Into hollow nickel tubes, fitted Into the base or the cylinders, and these are kept heated by a benzol lamp, specially made for the purpose. Gas Is exploded in the nickel tube, supplying the power to the engines. Both cylinders are single-acting, and as one Is filling, the other Is driving. The filling of the cylinders Is regulated by valve gearing specially constructed, which is worked by an 'eccentric running on the driving wheel of the ma chine, which, of course. Is the back wheel. The exploded gases are carried away under the machine, so that there Is no smell or annoyance to the rider. The machine is controlled by a lever fitted with a cone screw, attached to the right of the right handle bar, and by this the speed Is regulated. Two gallons of benzol will run the machine 200 miles, and Mr. Eaton has already travelled many hundreds of miles.

The machine is to be exhibited at the Agricultural Show, and Mr. Hanslow, on behalf of the league, last night concluded arrangements with Mr. Elliott, the manager of the Austral Cycle Agency, to give an exhibition of pace on the Agricultural Ground on April 25, at the race meeting which is to be given to Messrs. Lewis and Megson prior to their proceeding to England. The machine will pace probably Lewis or Megson a mile, and then will run five miles at its top speed, under the care of Mr. H. Knight Eaton.

The Daily Telegraph Thu 26 Mar 1896, Page 6
Courtesy Trove NLA
N.B. An illustration of a Hildebrand & Wolfmüller motorcycle features in the article.

FIRE IN HAY-STREET.

Perth, Friday Evening.

This afternoon a fire broke out in Dean's chemist shop in Hay-street. The shop and the Austral Cycle Agency adjoining were both gutted whilst their front portions were damaged by water and smoke.

Great Southern Herald (Katanning, WA) Sat 19 Dec 1908 (Trove)