MOTORING & MOTORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 19617, 25 July 1927, Page 12

MOTORING & MOTORISTS

[BY RADIATOR.]

' TIME FOR LIGHTING UP. To-dny ... ... 5.22 Tuesday IS.2$ Wednesday. ... 5.24 Thursday 5.2 d Friday , 5.27 Saturday ~, ... „... ... S.2S Sunday 5.21)

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. The ‘Radiator’ lor Julyj ‘Highway Magazine’ for June. HINTS AND TIPS. —Dashlight Made from Tyro Valve.— All that is necessary to make quite a serviceable dashlight is to obtain an old tyre valve cover and body, a small pocket lamp bulb, and a bulb holder, which can he obtained at any cycle shop. Cut down tbc valve body, and into it solder the bulb holder, taking care that the centre screw is well insulated from the remainder of the metal. Cut a slot in the valve- cover to allow tho light to be thrown where required, screw in tho bulb, and if tho dash is of wood screw the lamp thus ,iuacl£ on to the dash, attaching one of fill) battery wires to tho central screw and the other to tho base of the lamp. ■ If tho dashboard of the car is of metal a wooden block should bo inserted so as to make sure the central screw is kept well away from any metal. A small switch may be lilted at any convenient spot, and if accumulators arc already in use a -1.5-volt pocket lamp valve may bo used. If it is desired to have an independent supply a small torch battery will give about 15 hours’ intermittent lighting. -—Drilling Blind Holes.— 'When drilling holes for studs or other purposes where a hole of a given depth is required it is often difficult to tell when ono has drilled deep enough. Take a very small elastic band and twist it several times round tho drill, so as to fit tight to it, and before starting to use the drill adjust this to tiie same distance from tho point as the hole is required deep. With this it is quite easy to see when the hole is deep enough. —ldentifying Leaks.— A very good plan to tell whether the engine is leaking petrol, oil, or water is to -spread a newspaper under the front of the ear when putting it away for the night in the garage. Water or petrol will soak through tho paper, whilst oil will tend to stay on top. Tho smell of the saturated piece cf paper will. convey to tho owner or driver whether it is water or petrol. SCOTLAND YARD'S NEW FLEETS OF GARS. Scotland Y’ard has acquired two more fleets of cars for tho police service. Certain inspectors are now to ho provided with cars in connection with their duties, of which were delivered recently. For the criminal investigation department a,fleet of faster cars, Brooklands models, is being provided. These cars have a-guar-anteed speed of 70 m.p.h. Each carries a sign bearing the words “ Metropolitan Police.” This sign is not visible m the ordinary way, being carried under the hood, but it is dropped into a visible position by means of a lever. It can bo illuminated at night.' These ears also carry under the boiinet a bell giving a distinctive note. When tliis boll is sounded and the sign is made visible it will give the police ear the right of the road, as, for instance, when chasing suspects.

THE STEERING WHEEL. When the question is raised as to what good effect racing can have on touring car design it is generally taken to mean how are chassis and engine design and such-like affected? Scarcely ever does one associate racing with the development of the smaller, but none the less important, components or accessories. There is one part, however, m which a profound effect lias beou exerted, and this is in the very unexpected quarter of the steering wheel. Now, practically every engine has during some part of its range of revolutions what is known as a critical period, amd during that period vibration to a greater or smaller degree is set up and transmitted throughout the i car. It reaches the driver through his hands. To obviate unpleasant effects on the drivers of racing cars from such a cause, and also to increase safety, there was produced some time ago in Franco a laminated springspoked steering wheel named the Reno Thomas, after tiie eminent racing driver. The impossibility of fracturing the spokes in an accident, and thereby transforming the "steering column into a lance which might pierce the unfortunate driver when he is no longer protected by the wheel, is undoubtedly a great feature of the Romo Thomas wheel. With this wheel there is no trace whatever of vibrations reaching the driver. Quito slight, but nevertheless appreciable, up-and-down springing of the wheel appears completely to absorb such vibrations, and renders driving exceedingly comfortable in all conditions. The wheel should appeal particularly to those who'Suffer from neuritis or any muscular affliction of the hands or arms. ADJUSTING HEADLIGHTS. The following interesting article on the elimination of glare from automobile headlamps by proper focusing has been supplied by General Motors, Melbourne. . Automobile headlights arc so easily adjusted that the motorist is rendering au injustice 'uot only to him-i self, but to fellow-drivers, by not obtaining the full illuminating qualities and preventing glare, it is impossible for a driver to get maximum road illumination from glaring headlights, because part of the light rays arc projected into the air at a comparatively high distance from the ground, where they are naturally of no value to the driver, and a source of annoyance to the passing motorist. Once the theory of the reflector is understood it is a simple matter to adjust the bulbs in the reflectors for correct focus. If all lights were correctly focused and tilted slightly downward there would be no necessity for dimming lights, as the light rays would all strike the mad, and any that reached the eyes of another motorist would be too weak to cause annoyance. The methol of correctly focusing a headlight can' be easily explained. First, bo certain that, the device for moving the bulb backward and forward in the reflector, is free from rust and properly lubricated. Usually this adjustment is made by means of a screw, the head of which is accessible from the rear of the headlight. Make certain that the bulbs used are capable of adjustment in the lamp to which they are fitted, by using the lamp recommended by the car manufacturer. If it is necessary to purchase a bulb in an emergency, the position of the filament with relation to the prongs on the side of the base is as important as the voltage and candle-power. To focus, place the car on level ground, about 25ft from a light colored blank wail, and remove the headlight lenses unless they are plain glass. Disconnect or cover up one lamp, and test each separately. Screw the bulb forward as far as it will

Brief accounts of holiday trips, roads, and places of interest are invited lor this column,

go, and a black spot will appear in a ring of light on the wall. Then screw the bulb back slowly until'the black spot just disappears. Next screw the bulb still further back, and the black spot reappears in a ring of light. Finally screw the bulb forward again until Ihe spot just disappears, and the lamp is correctly focused, Results other than these indicate that the bulb is unsuitable. If the filament is shaped like a letter “V ” the lamp socket should be set with the “ V ” in a horizontal plane. The purpose of the “ V ” is to make the beam of light cover more road f surface. The. top of the light beam on the wall should bo no higher than the top of the lamp on the car. The latest cars have an adjustable bracket for raising or ■ lowering the light beam, on older models it it is sometimes necessary to slightly bend the headlamp brackets to got the beam clown where it belongs, which is about 4ft high at a distance of 25ft. After both lamps have been adjusted the lens may bo leplaoed, and the driver can rest assured that Ills lights will not glare. _ _ “I SKIDDED.” WEAKEST .OF EXCUSES. ‘‘So sorry, old'boy—l skidded.” So said the leather-helmetcd driver of the sports car that had crumpled up the beautiful fashioned domed wing of the all-weather saloon. In the appropriate spaces of the claims form that his insurance company sent him in due course ho put down skidding as the primary cause of the accident, and estimated his speed as 9 m.p.h. (Ho was at the time in a ten-mile limit, says the ‘Motor.’) , The previous week he was driving in a classic reliability trial, and bo managed to claim a baulk in the non-stop section. That urns a kind of providence whereby a number of omissions—being some minutes late at the next check, in particular—might be successfully excused. He seemed to look upon a skid in pretty much the same light. Were lie at the wheel of a liner that had carried away a pier he would have excused himself on the grounds that'his' vessel had been carried sideways by the current. He would have considered the president of the court a very harsh man when told that it was his business to be acquainted with all currents and to make due allowance. “1 skidded.”—Yes, but why? Newton’s law about motion in a straight line applies just as much to motor cars in this year of grace 1927 as it did to apples in his time. It is only when there comes a sudden attempt at change of direction or at retardation that skidding occurs. , “My bridge collapsed because tlio wind blew it over,” says the incompetent engineer. “My patient died because ho could not stand the treatment,” says the incompetent doctor, and “I bumped into him because I skidded,” says the incompetent driver, GEARBOX LEAKAGE. It is always advisable to use as thin an oil as possible in the gearbox, as the thicker the oil the greater the amount; of power wasted.' It is sometimes found, however, that even with a very thick oil or a mixture of oil and grease, lubricant is lorccd out around the rotating shafts. This is often duo to the generation of pressure within the gearbox. The churning of the lubricant generates a certain amount ol; heat, which causes the air trapped in the gearbox to be raised to a considerable pressure and thus torco the lubricant' out through any opening. A euro can sometimes be effected by drilling .1 small hole in the lid of the gearbox and fitting a ball release valve which will allow aim to be forced out of the gearbox, but will prevent air being sucked in. If glands are fitted to retain the lubricant, those have most probably worn. They are usually of felt, and can be replaced very cheaply.

A NEW FORD. The American ‘ Motor ’ states that Mr Henry Ford has admitted that lie will present a new line to the public at some date which will bo announced later. The competition of the Chevrolet (American) and Morris (British) cars is considered to lie the deciding factor which has really forced Mr Ford’s hands in the matter,, as the sales of the former, due to the aggressive world-wide advertising and sales' campaign, conducted by the .General Motors Corporation, has resulted, in-the Chevrolet cars outselling in the United States during the first three months of 1927.. Mr Ford is considered to have realised at last that price alone will not sell his cars in the accustomed quantities, although ho is admittedly giving greater value than ever before and paying more attention to economy and appearance. The whole gigantic Ford production was built around a single car. so that it is obvious that once the experimental work on a new line is completed, and the new car is ready for the market, some time must elapse before it can be produced _ in large quantities, unless it is very similar’in design to the present lines, except for the motor, and in that event the extent, of its acceptance is problematical, The American public, however, expects the new Ford line will bo something different from anything' previously produced by this company. TEMPERATURE OF ENGINES. In the present cool weather many drivers find difficulty in getting their engines to the correct working temperature of about ISOdeg Fahrenheit. The motor thermometers so universally fitted to either radiator caps or dashboards of cars may never indicate that the engines have reached this desired temperature even during a long day’s run, unless the car is fitted with a thermostat or some means of reducing the current of cooling air propelled by; the fan past the cylinders. Quite a: large number of cars are to be seen iittted with useful and ornamental shutters, which can be operated from the dashboard, which will partially or wholly prevent the passage of air, through the radiators. Others have automatic thermostats, which prevent the circulation of the water until it lias reached a temperature of about, 120 deg, while many of the competitor drivers,, with, the same object .in view, have their cars fitted with small roller blinds, which may be. adjusted as required by means of a cord from the driver’s seat.; ■ A SCIENTIFIC MIXTURE. A novel instrument which analyses the exhaust of a petrol engine and indicates whether the . mixture is correctly proportioned,, is being used in England. The device is fitted to the exhaust pipe-and the engine is run. A graduated dial shows the proportion of the mixture,_ and by adjusting the carburetter while the engine runs it is possible to obtain any reading on the scale. The instrument depends for its operation on the content of the exhaust gasses. In a correct mix* ire an exhaust contains 14.5 per cent, of carbon-dioxide gas. A weak mixture will show the presence ok an excess of oxygon in the exhaust. The ’iistrument costs £6O, and it is claimed to save the waste of much petrol expended in testing by the efuder methods

GARS FOR £l2. HENRY FORD’S NEW IDEA. How would you like to be able to buy a, re-conditioned and guaranteed second-hand car for the price of a very “ j!luim«\v ” second-hand one? says an oVerseas journal. “ Impossible,” you say. ‘‘Nobody could ever do business on that basis.” Well, you can’t purchase such a car yet, but you may be able to do so very shortly. For the wizard of the motor nvorlcl, Mr Henry Ford, has launched out on a. new scheme that will bring •motoring within the roach ol everybody. ■ ••Briefly, Air Ford is applying mass production principles to repair work. He is remaking old cars at Detroit, and turning them out in a. condition equal to new. The cost at present is £l2 per car, and it, is expected that this will soon be reduced. So, oven allowing for the second-hand price, profits, and distribution expenses, it will bo possible to sell these cars at a very reasonable figure. The remade cars should open up a new market which has not yet been tapped, and which has enormous potentialities. Once again Mr Ford hqs “got in first.” In the circumstances it is not surprising that he has refused the offer of Mr John W. Prentiss, a Wall street banker, of £20,000,000 for his motor ear business. Yat.it was only in 1903 that the Ford Company was organised, with a capital of £20,000, of which less than half was cash. But by 1913 the shareholders had received £40,000 for every £2O they had invested COMPULSORY MOTOR INSURANCE. ■ During the last year attention has been directed to this question in all parts of the world, and it is not,surprising that renewed interest has been aroused in this country (writes a correspondent). As recently as March 15 last a question was raised in the House of Commons as to whether the Minister of Transport bad decided to make insurance compulsory on vne part of motorists against third-party risks. Tlio Minister's reply was as follows “This question has been under my consideration in connection with Urn Bill for the better regulation of road traffic. The draft Bill provides for a certain measure of compulsory insurance in the case of public service vehicles on the part of persons or companies who are not in a position _to carry their own risks. The extension of this provision to all motor vehicles presents considerable difficulties. I am at present inclined to the view that it would be desirable to gain practical experience of the working of compulsory insurance in connection with public service vehicles before attempting to extend its application to all motor vehicles.” —American Ideas.—

In Massachussels (U.S.A.) a law has recently been introduced under which it is the practice to have registration plates having on one side the application and on the other side a form to be filled in by the insurance company cer,til'ving that the applicant for registration has received a policy conforming to the statutory provisions. Particulars of the model, engine number, car number, and amount of insurance premium arc shown, and a copy of this form must bo lodged with the registrar of motor vehicles, a further copy being retained by the insurance company. In Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Belgium such legislation is already in force, and other countries are giving the matter their careful consideration.

There are, of course, many arguments both in favor of and against the adoption of such a system, some of which it is proposed to examine. The opinion of the leading insurance companies has not yet been made known, and it is not proposed to do more in these columns than to indicate the principal arguments which might be raised by the companies. From the point of view of the man who is seeking new business, such an innovation would probably be welcomed, but it has been said on very good authority' that there is little doubt that in this country something between 95 and 93 per cent, of the motor cars on the roads are insured against thirdparty risks. The. increase in business would therefore bo very slight indeed. —Uninsurable Risks.— Such legislation would make it compulsory for all cars, including the oldest now upon tho road, to be insured, and it is amongst t he latter that the worst claims experience would have to be anticipated. Tho present practice demands increased premiums for old cars, with the alternative of a compulsory excess, and would naturally complain that, having been compelled to insure, he would lie allowed to insure at least for the lowest current rates. Probably the majority of cars whielvi-are nob insured are those on which the insurance premium would amount to more than the car value, ns in the case of certain old high horse-power cars whoso values do not exceed, say, £2U. Compulsory insurance would naturally tend to increase carelessness on the part of certain drivers, as they would bo aware that, tho insurance being compulsory, the insurance company would be compelled to pay any claim which might bo brought under the third party section of tho policy. In American circles the view has been expressed that were “every car to carry liability insurance as a matter of law, there would be a decline of personal responsibility, the results of which might be distressing in the extreme.” In Sweden the view lias been expressed that, whilst the premium income of tho insurance companies will be considerably augmented, having regard to the fad that two-thirds of the motor cars in that country are now uninsured, and will in future "become insured automatically, the percentage of claims will similarly he" increased, but on a considerably larger scale, having regard io tlie fact that each and every claim will fall to be settled, and after the introduction of tho obligatory liability the insurance companies will be compelled to include in’ their experience what wore previously regarded as inferior or unacceptable risks. —-A Government Department ? It is not without interest to discovei what arrangement would be necessary for the insurance of cars at presem regarded as uninsurable owing either to the nature of the car itself—i.e., extreme age or unusually bad condition or owing to the proved reckless ten dencies of the driver. Having made insurance compulsory, the authoritie would he compelled to .arrange _ some means of insurance for risks previously declined bv underwriters. This wouk either result in insurance companies being compelled to accept each and every risk offered to them, or alternatively the Government would be compelled tr open an insurance department, a, prodeeding which would doubtless he disadvantageous to all concerned. In the event of the companies being compelled to accept these risks, the experience

would naturally bo affected, with the result that rates would eventually bo raised all round.

[At the conference of tho motor unions of the North and South Islands at Wellington last week a motion was carried that no car should bo licensed for use in the dominion unless an accident policy was produced covering all third-party risks without any exceptions, even if such car has been stolen or is being used without color of right. —‘ Radiator.’]

MOTOR CYCLING NERVE AND JUDGMENT. The irresponsible who tears round corners, cuts in and out of traffic, and generally makes motor cycling unpopular, is not a good rider. *Je may boast of how fast a time he'completed a jmtney, or how close he was io an accident, but all this means nothing. llis friends simplv think him a 1001, and predict his end in a crash. Such a rider is a menace to the road, and should not bo tolerated in any club, and club members should do their besd to endeavor to instil slencc into the madcap. Tho best racing riders of to-day are the most docile road users, _ and surely their example should be sufficient for the present-day youth. Iho exporl< realises that nerve —the quality Oi which one hears so much is altogethei secondary to judgment. THE A.C.U. STOCK TRIAL. The fact that fifty-two of the eixtytwo machines entered lor the English Automobile Cycle Unions stock tunl finished tho course would suggest that the tost this year was too easy. Only a rider who has tried to average twenty m.p.h. over a course of 7CO miles with checks every fifteen miles can appreciate the severity of the trial. The test was actually more rigorous than any previous stock machine trial, and it is estimated that tho distance was equivalent to 3.000 miles to 4,000 miles of ordinary road work. In spite of the gruelling nature of the course, nearly all tho machines finished in perfect mechanical order, and the performance of tho various teams was exceptionally good. A point which is liable to escape attention in tho comparison of results i.s in regard to the performances of these teams. If a team is to gain a team award each of tlic three machines in the team must obtain a gold medal, The results show that A.J.S., Ariel, 8.5. A., Calthorpc, Douglas (two teams), Humber, Matchless, Enleigh, Sunbeam, and Triumph teams gained these awards. Tho A.J.S., R.S.A.. Sum beam, and Tirumph teams did not lose a single mark.

FOOTBALL ON MOTOR CYCLES. Londoners arc showing great interest in motor cycle football. The game is in many ways similar to polo. It is one of the "fastest of games, and is becoming increasingly popular. A motor cycle football team consists of six members—three forwards, two half-backs, and a goalkeeper, who also takes the part or Full-hack. For the kick-off the hall is placed in t|ie centre of the ground, and the opposing forwards line up 25yds from the ball.. When the whistle goes engines are opened up, and the forwards let in their clutches and make a dash for it. The ball may not be kicked by . a rider when his machine is stationary; neither may the rider carry the ball along with'him by wedging it against bis machine. A player may ride another off tbo ball, but may not ride across another player or ride in any other way dangerously. Spare machines are not "allowed, and damage to a machine is therefore a serious matter to a side. RAmi CHASE. A short paper chase will be held on Safu rday. July 31), .starting from the club rooms, Moray place, at 2 o’clock This event •vill finish in a paddock, where a football match will he staged. Following this a relay race will bo run and a suitable trophy awarded. HERE AHD THERE At a recent meeting of the District Highways Council, No. 14, Mr IV. K. M'Alpine .Waipava) said that the Main Highways Hoard should consider a comprehensive scheme for the formation of a highway from Pie ton to the. Bluff. The object of the board was to form highways. The work- could not be dune all at mice, but the more important districts should receive iirst attention. * * * * Ono of the smallest slocve-valvc engined ears produced appeals to bo the Belgian irapoiia, which is rated as of 8-25 horse-power. Jt is of I,LUO c.c., and lias a special design ot .sleeve valves, the touring model developing a speed of from fitly to lifty-hvo miles an hour, while the super, sports can attain seventy miles. The car won the twenty-four hours’ race at Boa in record time in 1025. H is staled that arrangements are being made to produce the car in England. ♦ * * * For maintaining correct pressure in balloon tyres au "ingenious device has been produced by Air J F. Warwick, in England, consisting of a small brass cylinder permanently fixed through the felloe «f each wheel, and containing a plunger upon the Miner end of which the tuba presses. The opposite end ot the plunger is Hush wiMi the end of the cylinder when the pressure ot the tyre is correct; when air leaks out a spring withdraws tho plunger slightly. * * * * Mechanical signals which only indicate the rhivt r’s intention when the front wheels commence to turn arc ot very little use, and, in fact, cycii where the mechanical signal is provided on a car the driver is still required to comply with the regulations by giving the regular hand signals for thy benefit; ol other traffic. * * * * Motorists in Chicago so covet the lowautomobile lie use number tlmt it is said when the owner of one dies lie wills it to a friend or relative. They don’t allow souvenir-hunting tactics of this kind in Now Zealand, so it isn’t, possible lor a man to say that he’s been cut off with the proverbial license plate! * * * * A (ablet preparation for addition to petrol bus been introduced in England [.ike all f firmer “dopes."’ the (ablets are claimed to lower the petrol consumption. An analysis shows that the tablets are composed of 02.5 per cent, of napthalene, -.’IS.! per cent, of oil, aild 4.4 per cent, of graphite. « * * * The evidence of a witness in a motor : ing prosecution completely upset the customary gravity of the Police Court at Auckland. The witness slated that a car was being driven “at a furious pace,” and when asked to estimate its speed replied; “ It. was going faster than anything I ever saw in my life.” " But at what speed do yon think it was travcllingp” persisted counsel. The witness replied emphatically: “It was going that fast it had to stop dead to get round the corner ”

For many years one .of the lies! known riming cars at Jirocklanils was a powerful Benz, owned by the late Count Louis Zhorowski, which was always known as Chitty Bang Bang. This car was recently exhibited tor sale at a used cur show in London, it was fitted with a four-seater body, and attracted a lot of interest. * * * * Eight petrol tank railway wagons aro at present being assembled at the Addington Workshops lor one of the large oil distributing firms (says the Christchurch ‘.Star’). The niulerstruclnre of the wagons is built at the workshops, but. the tanks and fittings aro imported. * * * * The first Citroen car made in Germany has just been turned out from the new factory erected at Cologne, behind the Gorman tariff walls. The whole of the labor expended on t.bo ear was German. Th's marks n new era, in German motorcar mass production, but the will not be running at full capacity for several months. * * * * The latest American idea is to market a range of tyro rovers in n number of different colors which can be selected to harmonise with the bodywork of the car. If the vogue in striking two-tone and three-tone color schemes continues chameleon-like tyres will be needed to cope with it. * * * ♦ “People should have their beds arranged so ns to sleep with i heir heads towards the magnetic pel;,” re:om r mends a doctor. This raises the question wdiother a sparking plug fires hotter when a ear is travelling north than when it is going west ■*♦ * * “ f want a horn.’’ said Hie new motorist, " which will make a country norse driver pull over to the side of the road.’’ 1 ‘Sorry,” said the deamr. “We carry nil modern motoi accessories, but we don’t deal in miracles.”