Motor Notes

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20067, 13 October 1939, Page 12

Motor Notes

Hammock Seating AN interesting type ‘of seat, which ** lias appeared in England, is stated to possess important advantages. The seat is known as a ham-mock-type, and is similar to a deck chair. Canvas is slung on a tubular frame, and this is covered by a thick pad of sponge rubber, contained in a leather bag. When ..the seat is occupied, it conforms exactly with the shape of the occupier's body, and stays that way on rough roads. The important thing about this is that clothes are not polished because there is no frictional movement. The scat is adjustable. It is believed that this new seat will eventually come into wide use, for it undoubtedly possesses real advantages. Pouring Petrol THERE are still rare occasions when a motorist finds it necessary to pour petrol into a tank from a can, such lor instance, when he runs out of fuel, and has to tramp to a service station for a gallon or so, with which to restart the car. As this happens to almost everyone at some time or another, and petrol spilled- over paintwork' is not; ■good for its finish, it* is as well to know liinv to do the job properly. The correct method is to hold the can so that the spout is uppermost. This insures that the fuel will flow out in a steady stream without splashing the body or the car. If the can is held the reverse way, the petrol flows spasmodically, as the air cannot enter the can easily to replace the petrol that is poured. Spare Tyre Inflation JN some small English cars, the spare wheel is carried in a separate locker, beneatl, the luggage compartment. In many cases, the wheel must be rerqoved to be inflated, a necessary attention because of . the gradual leakage of the air. To avoid this trouble, a square hole about five inches square can be cut in the floor of the luggage compartment so that the air hose can be inserted and attached to the valve. The only precaution to observe is to be careful that the valve is immediately below this hole. It is easy enough to devise a simple lid which can be clipped in place over the hole. Petrol Substitute report from .France states that a new' process has been evolved in that country whereby liquid ammonia can be transformed into a high octane number mixture of ammonia and hydrogen for use in petroi engines. The equipment needed for the carriage of this fuel on a motor vehicle is similar to that employed for compressed household gas, excepting that the total weight of cylinder and liquid ammonia is considerably less than that of the heavy cylinders needed for carrying compressed gas. The cost of the ammonia ; hydrogen mixture is also stated to be much below that of most petrol substitutes, such as alcohol, and that the performance of a vehicle running on it is decidedly satisfactory. Regulating Signals JN England, the wanning signals of new motor vehicles must conform to specified limits of loudness, in conformity with a direction by the Ministry of Transport. The new .rrangement will be effective after October 1. It is interesting that this desirable check on ultra-loud warning signals L the result of a voluntary undertaking of manufacturers, and no new regulation concerning it lias oeen gazetted.. Through the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, it has been agreed that the note of ordinary electric horns will not exceed 100 phons, while what arc known as wind tone horns will not exceed JOS phons. A phon is a measurement of sound, and it is said that 100 phons is a little louder than the noise heard •’rOm an underground railway when the windows are open. Jsing Wax Polish |T is generally admitted that wax polisli puts the best finish on a car’s paintwork, but its application usually involves the Owner in some fairly arduous work, and many motorists avoid it. One driver, however,- reports that h e lias got over the difficulty in the following manner. He takes the wax paste and mixes it in a small juantity of mineral turps, so that it becomes a liquid. This he spreads as thinly as possible over the whole body and allows to dry. When dry, it is polished in the usual manner with a soft cloth. A further advantage claimed for this method is that it avoids those faint lines in the sheen of the finished job which so frequently mar the appearance of a car wax polished in the usual manner, which, of course, is to wax and polish the body in sections about two feet square