A TWO-STROKE BOOM?

Is there to be a two-stroke boom ? The answer is that there is every probability of it.

A few years ago the two-stroke engine was stated to be practically extinct ; to-day it is more popular than ever and those engaged in its manufacture are extremely busy. It is far simpler than the four-stroke, containing, as it does, only three moving parts—the piston, connecting-rod and crank-shaft. It has no valves or timing gear and it fires every revolution instead of every other revolution ; the power transmitted is therefore more smooth and even than that of the four-stroke : it is simple to manufacture and there is practically nothing to go wrong.

It may be thought by some that the four-stroke engine will always be superior to the two-stroke as regards sheer speed, but it must be remembered that the latter type is, so far as design is concerned, much less developed than the former. In its present three-port form it is entirely satisfactory, but it is obvious that if two-stroke designers get busy they have a far bigger field for experiment as regards speed than those who deal with fourstrokes. Continental designers of both cars and motorcycles have made experimental two-stroke engines which have given remarkable results and it may well be that before long the two-stroke engine will come into its own and will startle the motoring and motor-cycling world by the development of hitherto undreamed of power.