TRAFFIC SIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 73, 30 March 1929, Page 22

TRAFFIC SIGNS

_ New York City lias adopted a distinctive arrow-shaped form for its signs. All directional signs take the torm of a horizontal arrow; cautionary ones that of an arrow pointing upwards; and all "stop" signs, that of an arrow, pointing downwards. The arrows art finished in white with their various meanings'painted plainly in black letters. ■ *

Similar sign systems have been adopted by many other cities, but there is not as yet any (standard system for all cities in the United States. Highway Commissions of all States have adopted a standard system of signs for marking State highways, however, and these markers of uniform type are now being installed as rapidly as possible everywhere.

In connection with the parkin" problem, it is interesting to note- what a department store on Fifth Avenue, New York, has done in providing facilities for its customers who como m motor cars. Upon arrival at tho store, the car can be turned over to an employee, who drives it to a garage located in a nearby section of the city. When tho customer is ready to depart' tho car is driven back to the store by an employee from the garage. A small chargo is made for this service which is refunded when proof is given that a purchase was made at the store.

Many engines are curiously prone to over-oiling, even though the oil supply is cut down to the minimum, and the cylinder barrel and piston rings are in perfect condition. In consequence, sparking plugs foul quickly, and decarbonisation of the engine is required at too frequent intervals. To overcome this trouble an English firm has produced a scraper ring for fitting to the

lower groove of practically any piston on the market. This now ring is inado in three distinct patterns, bovellcd, stepped and slotted. The first two are suitable for pistons having a bevelled lower piston groove with the oil return holes drilled at an angle, and the slotted typo is for use with pistons with ordinary ring grooves, but having the oil return holes immediately behind the lower ring. With this type- the surplus oil is actually passed through the scraper ring.

Motorists who are accustomed to watching engine heat indicators, and to taking them literally, are tempted to become needlessly alarmed when the rate of temperature rise seems too great. If they would just stop to realise that the newer engines carry motor thermostats and built-in radiator fronts, the behaviour of the heat indicator wouldn't seem so puzzling. With these efiiciency devices added to the car, it is natural that the engine heats up to normal operating temperature quickly. That is what these devices are for. Thus if the heat indicator jumps from a zero reading to 160 degrees within a comparatively short time, there is nothing to become alarmed about. Things are just as they should be.