MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2503, 2 July 1915, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

[By Clotoh.]

Wairarapa Association, At last Saturday's meeting of tho Wairarapa Automobile Association a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Coleman Phillips for his interest taken in tho furtherance of tho association, as shown by his letter which appeared in The Dominion of June 26, on the proposed road from Wellington to the Wairarapa via the coast. The report of Mr. H. F. Toogood, C.E., on Abbott's Creek bridge was read and discussed. The secretary reported that he had seen tho chairman of the Foatherston County Couucil, who after having been supplied with a copy of the report, stated that lie would bring the matter up at the next meeting of the council. It was arranged that a deputation should wait on tho council and : go into the matter. Attention das drawn to the abrupt baidcs of tho water-race on Moore's Line, Carterton, and it was resolved that the controlling body be written to directing attention to the matter. It was resolved that a. letter of congratulation be forwarded to Major Hart on his services being recognised and being awarded the D.S.O. The circular on the insurance question as well as the articles and constitution of the' proposed company were read and fully discussed. It was shown that with a membership of about 100 ear owners, the company could be started.

As there were several matters that required further consideration, it was resolved that the executive meet again next Saftirday evening at 8 o'clock, in Carterton; m tho meantime the secretary to forward a copy of the circular to every member of the association. The matter of appointing a canvasser was held; over. It' was resolved that members of the executive whose attendance is irregular be notified of the rule bearing on the subject. Hints on Cleaning Bodywork. Thoroughly wash off all dirt from tho under frame as well as the body. Where the grease has squeezed out from between the spring leaves, wash off with paraffin. Touch up all metal parts with paint where they are bare. It is advisable to paint all brake rods and levers, to prevent rusting. When washing down a car, keep it out of the sun. Use plenty of water, applied with the hose or syringe. Be careful not to get water into the body or over the bonnet. If forced water is not obtainable, use a large sponge 1 . Well saturate it and squeeze the water over the panels. The dirt will soften and run off harmlessly. Finish -with a soft chamois leather. It is important the grit should be removed before leathering <>([. Always use two sponges; reserve one for the panels and tho other for the bonnet, wings, and wheels. If a spoke brush is iised, it should bo sparingly, for, in conjunction with road grit, it acts as sandpaper, and effectually removes all varnish from the wheels. To retnovo- stains or spots from the panels, a few drops of furniture polish reviver or linseed oil on a pad of woollen rags will generally suffice. If the panels are very bad, nothing but a regular flatting-down and hand polishing, or oven rovarnishing by tho coaclimaker, will be effectual. A good wash down tvith saddle soap and warm water will remove the dirt from light paint. The upholstery, if cloth, can be effectually cleaned with bran. .The latter is warmed until just moist, and then rubbed into the cloth with the clean hand. When brushed out, all dirt will have been removed. Leather can be effectually revived with linseed oil and turpentine. An equal quantity of each is mixed together and rubbed in with a soft cloth. Leather should never be washed with water, as it usually disturbs the dye. The hood, if necessary, can bo scrubbed with warm water and soap. Do the inside first and then the top, and rinse thoroughly -witli the hose. For washing, it must obviously bo removed from the car and opened out to dry. Polish all metal work well, but bo careful not to get the paste on the varnish or tho upholstery. Silver should be cleaned with the best plate powder; brass may be cleaned with liquid cleaners, but discretion should be used in the sort employed. If the foregoing instructions arc carefully carried out, the owner will bo quito proud of the Tuning and. appearance of his old car, and, incidentally, add much to its value. Always bear in mind that cleanliness and plenty of lubrication'add greatly to fclie useful life of a car.—J.T.O., .in the "Motor." U Million Oars Registered in America. Over half a million cars and lorries were added to the number in operation in the United States during the year 1914. The total number of self-pro-pelled vehicles registered during 1914 in the United States was no fewer than 1,754,570. This represents an increase of 1,007,570 cars in four years. -These figures show the enormous increase in the demand for motor vehicles in the United States, and jt is but natural that production has increased by leaps and bounds from year to year to keep pace with this phenomenal car buying, which is evidenced by the swelling registration statistics. The total number of cars registered ranges from 156,173 in the State of New York to 1487 in the State of Nevada. ■ These figures will show how it is possible for the American factories to have such enormous outputs'as stated, while at the same time comparatively few of the cars find their way to Europe. It shows that while the European trade is of considerable magnitude, it is very small and almost negligible in proportion to the homo consumption of the United Statos. Curing Noisy Brakes. Many motorists who use motal-to-metal brakes are often troubled by their brakes wearing harsh and noisy after lengthy use, and are at a loss to know either the cause or the remedy for this brake complaint. Tho cause is due to the surface of the cast-iron linors having cut up and roughened with wear; the hissiug noise is merely the natural noise caused by rubbing the rough surface of the cast-iron without a lubricant, and the remedy is to re-bed the brakes. This operation can be readily and effectively done by any motorist with hardly any trouble and usually without dismantling any part of the brake, although on some makes of cars it may be necessary to remove the dust 'cover. The procedure is to buy from any good ironmonger's an ounce of turkeystone dust and to mix this to a stodgy paste with thick lubricating oil: this should then be applied to the brake, so that it will work in between the brakednim and the liners and the car run witli frequent applications of the brake, after which its original smoothness of action will bo regained. This mixture, but made much thinner. is also excellent for running in noisy gears, either engine-timing gears, change gear-box, or rear-axle gears; its oliief virtue lies in the fact that it quickly powders away and loses its cutting properties, and no great caro need be talsen in swilling it away after use; whereas if emery powder or similar substances bo used they . may become powerful destructive agents if left in- . definitely in any mechanism, as they appear almost everlasting in their action, and atoms will find their way through every crevice, usually following the flow of the lubricating oil and work'

iiiS havoc with the bearings.— iu tlie "Autocar." Hero and There. Legal lighting-up time for motor-cars and motor-cycles:—To-day, 4.30 p.m.; next Friday, 4.35 p.m. Previous to the war huge sums of money ware annually spent in EVanco by English motorists during .the tourins season. Despite the war. the French authorities, recognising tne importance of this big annual influx of monied motorists, are appealing through the president of the Touring Club of France that where possible English tourists should continue to make their annual trip. ■ Tho new garage building of the American Automobilo Club is particularly interesting, in that the lift is, practically, banished from it, ' the communication from floor to floor being by means of long inclined planes. It is found that fcheso are much more satisfactory than lifts, as there is no waiting. Owing to the growing shortage of rubber in Germany it is reported that tho German Government is offering a prize of £5000 for a satisfactory process of regenerating old rubber. "Orphan cars" is a term adopted in U.S.A. to indicate cars the makors of which have gone out of business —failed; given up making cars, etc.—and for which spare parts must be made speciaJly. It is estimated in London that fully 80 per cent, of English motor manufacturing concerns are at present- entirely devoted to the manufacture of war material in one form or another.