The Constantinesco Converter

Last year in Motor Sport, under “V-E-V Miscellany”, you mention the Constantinesco Torque Converter, of the 1920s.

My Christmas present for 1928 was a book entitled ”The Book of Remarkable Machinery”. I still have it and it contains a very good description of the Torque Converter. An illustration shows a twin-cylinder engine fitted with the device, and another shows ten men standing on a Sheffield Simplex chassis apparently powered by the same engine.

A Meccano demonstration model of the converter is also featured—not surprisingly, for the Editor of the book, one Ellison Hawks was the Editor of the famous Meccano Magazine. Should your correspondent be interested I could probably arrange to obtain some photostat copies of the article.

Incidentally, how does the mechanical efficiency of the device compare with presentday hydraulic converters with their 2% slip?

Sutton Valance S. U. Belsey

[I recall the Meccano model, but did anyone here ever drive the car?—Ed.]