NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20381, 30 October 1931, Page 5

NOTES.

T-vVo German inventors have made what they call an "aeromobile," which is a motct-car driven by an air propeller. Hie air screw is hob installed vertically, however, but. lies horizontally on the back part of the chassis. Above it tiro several parallel piano surfaces forming a sorb of lattice-work arrangement, the angles of which can bo altered. The air streiim produced hy the propeller "breaks through these surfaces, providing the driving power. When tho surfaces nro perpendicular the car stops, when they lean back, it. moves forward, and when they arc pushed forward, the car moves backward. .-A comparatively rare happening is the "blowing'-' ot a fuse in tho electrical equipment; but when it does occur it is usually after dark. So ;i wise precaution is to find out where tho fuses are and whether and where there art; sparo ones available. Fuses are of diitercnt types, e.g., wire cartridge, and strip, in tho garage, with the aid of the instruction manual, there wjll bo no difficulty in finding them and noting how renewals are fitted; but an initial attempt mado on the road in the dark is quite another matter. Many people have wondered why, until now, the King's cars have not ber-h fitted with safety glass. Tho following is the explanation: When it was. suggested that in the interests of safety tlui side windows should bo of safety glass, it was feared that discolouration _ rtiight prevent ! the people from seeing him l . . His Majesty's .advisers are now satisfied that safety glass is lis clear as the ordinary type however, and the five new cars recently delivered at Windsor Castle for Jiimself" and the Queen have safety ill the wind screens and all wirpIn . puk-hasing rubber goods, it is tvel! to remember that there is not a rul bey Sxfrert .in the world who .would simply by looking at it, to My whether or not an article <sf tubber i s of good quality, tlfb ifea'joii Jefr this is that the Shoddiest r n; f ?■ .rubber product can 3i§ iMU'e to ioqk Just liko, a high-grade article. A tyre that would bio# to smitH£i;bens '?.? tiiiles can be thade to look is stand up for twenty c usanu miles. With all this oiibßrtUr -ty for fraud the only safe course fbr a buyer is to phtroriise a reliable wa'.er or to buy gdbds which bear the trade mark of a rbsponsible ihanufacturi'r. .So far this year there lias bben a din unshed demand for rilotbr-cycles iii the Irish Free State, only BC6 machines having been imported into the'country during the five niortths eiided May last, as compared tvith 472 in the corresponding period of 1930. Bicycle tyres can now be kept at a «on.,tant pressure bv a small pump bui't into each wheel. A German .inven'.'or lias demonstrated that this dev;ce, w.hich is driven by a cam on the hub of each wheel, automatically goes into action when the tyre'pressure fall:} below normal, and stdjps when jtt-oper inflation is reached. "Death Is So Permanent" is the frbrding on an American road sign, Warning motorists to drive slowly. . A, provisional programme hag been approved to mako grants in respect of iOOO vehicles in England Vand Wales fßr mobile police arid for 122 in Scotland. , A French motorist lias been a\Vardpd £BO dixhiages against the OiviW of d sheep dog which rushed into the rdad ilhd cbllided with the, car, causihg the clHver Serious injuries. Despitfe a 12{t per dent, i net-ease in the^number of motor vehicles in Berlin, Occidents during the tirtet qtiatter .of 1931 #eie 5i per' fcfent, fewer tlian i'A the corresponding quarter of 1930. Very many complaints of short itieasuro from petrol piiittps have'been tlised iti France duririg recieiit years. These complaints have often enough |£en well founded, but tlie French Weights and Measures Department has Heen hftihpered in the work <lf, examination fend control by, a . Jack ot fehicleS: The Mmistfy of Comiiierce took (ijrt the matter seriously Inst H'fear, Attd conditions arfe improviltg riipidly. * Out of 3832 ]Mimps . Visited fthd exil'mined during 1930, 799 were fdund ttt be inaccurate, a proportion Bf 21 jj'er cent! Thanks to a large iiicrea&s in the fleet of examining 'plrS, 4-742 pumps vver§ visited during .the first four months of thfe present year. . CH.it of these. 837 were found to ■ ofe defefitive, a prooortion of 17.5 per b§nt. £t is honed that bv the middle 'Of lOiteh control arrangements will be SO far "advanced that every numn in •tlie cdtiHtry can be examined three times a year. This will keep the officials pretty bhsy, for 'there are 50,000 ' . »