MOTORING WORLD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 138, 10 May 1930, Page 14

MOTORING WORLD.

NOTES. China has one car to every 17,000 inhabitants. It is stated that the average life of a car is seven years, and that 2,000,000 cars are scrapped every year. Street accidents in London caused 1362 deaths last year. This is an increase of 118 over the previous year. The ownership of a motor-cycle if properly used means pleasure, health and an ever increasing gain in general and geographical knowledge. In 1929 the number of motor-cycles licensed in. Great Britain exceeded 732,300. It is estimated that the number for the present season will reach 780,000. A total of 13,535 motor-cycles was exported from the United States during tho nine months ended September last, as compared with 14,618 machines in tho corresponding period of 1928. When purchasing a motor-cycle there are three golden rules to be observed:—Don’t buy above your means; don’t buy above your weight; don’t expect a super-sports model, guaranteed 80 m.p.h., for a fiver. It is propsed to construct a road from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Peru, which, when completed, will be some 12,000 miles in length. It is stated that Havana is to have a motor-lorry race this year. Stands capable of holding 28,000 people have been erected. Traffic policemen at Limoges, France, are to be equipped with luminous batons, visible a mile away, for directing traffic at night. Sweden’s first oil refinery is approaching completion. The refinery is situated near Nyashamm, about 40 miles from Stockholm. It is stated that when a pedestrian is killed through reckless driving in Nanking, China, tho driver of the car responsible is placed against a wall and shotl The research department of the American Automobile Association states that 300,000 car mechanics are now employed in service establishments and repair shops throughout the United States. Two German pedestrians havo been charged with manslaughter for refusing to move out of a cyclist’s way on a road reserved for cyclists. The rider swerved to avoid them, and was knocked down and killed by a motorlorry. Tho municipal authorities of Oakland, California, U.S.A., have attached to posts at the principal street intersections steel-covered books, measuring 6in by 6in., in which are city maps and directions for reaching points of interest in tho district. When tho weather is warm in Berlin and the asphalt becomes soft with tho heat, a heavy road-rolling machine is run over the surface. The wheels of this vehicle mark the surface with a pattern like that of bricks, to prevent the risk of motorvehicles skidding. Quite a lot of trouble can sometimes be caused with a car fi a little water finds its way into the petrol tank, and owners faced avith this trouble are often at a loss to know the remedy, because draining the tank is usually no cure, the water remaining behind in the form of “beads” on the bottom of the tank. If, however, a quantity of methylated spirit, say a pint, is poured into the empty tank and the car rocked to swill it round, the spirit will be found to absprb the water and tho solution of spirit and water can then be drained off, leaving tho tank clean.

A motorist proceeding along Woodford Avenue, leading from Detroit to Pontiac, Michigan, 20 miles distant, is liable to be fined, it is reported, if ho travels at a speed under 35 m.p.h. 1 On this road there are four “lanes” for fast motor traffic which must travel at 35 m.p.h., there being two such “lanes” in each direction. There are also four “lanes” for slower-moving traffic. Normally, there is a constant stream of “fast” traffic moving at about 50 m.p.h.

Air C. Temple, the well-known English motor cycling enthusiast, will be making an attempt shortly to break tho present motor cycle speed record bold by Germany of 134.68 m.p.h. A special machine is being built for Air Temple. It will have a 4-cylinder water-cooled engine of 1000 c.c. capacity. Its most novel feature will be its super-charging—the forcing of gas into the cylinders at high pressure. CHROMIUM PLATING. COAIPLICATED PROCESSES. Alost motorists who read the almost hackneyed phrase, “All Bright Parts Chromium-Plated,” in manufacturers’

catalogues have little or no idea of the very intricate process of chromiumplating. They think that it takes tho place of ordinary nickel-plating, and is similar to it, except that it does not tarnish. While this is true of tho cheapest possible methods, which are liablo to rapid deterioration, and, in many cases, are not rust-proof, the highest-class chromium-plating is addiuonal to nickel-plating. Furthermore, the nickel must be of special quality and finish if high-class chro-mium-plating is desired. The number of parts of a car or motor-cycle which are chromium-plated is much larger than most would imagine. A guess at the quantities which pass through a chromium shop in a week, say, would probably be incorrect by many thousands. An example may be found in the case of an English concern, where well over a-quarter of a million pieces, varying in size from nuts to radiator shells and motor-cycle tanks, aro chromium-plated each week. The actual process is as follow: Fitments in their bare metal state are first polished and scoured so that all grease may be removed. They aro next heavily nickel-plated and then super-polished. The reason for this :s that it is impossible to obtain a finer finish on tho chromium than is obtained on the polished article prior to chromium-plating; as a matter of fact, any blemish becomes very much more obvious. It is necessary, therefore, for the amount of nickel to 'be greater, and for the finish to be better, than would be required if the surfaces were to be left in the nickelplated state. DEPOSITION OF THE METAL. During deposition of the chromium each part must bo separate from tire next and some distance from it. Every single piece, therefore, has to bo wired or attached to a frame, so that it gives good electrical contact. The labour involved in this work alone can well be imagined when 250,000 pieces are handled weekly. The various components are then imemrsed in tho chromium vats, and are left there for a predetermined period, according to their size and shape. They are next washed in hot water, before being placed in a hot soda solution; they aro then washed in hot water onco more, and are smothered in hot sawdust for drying purposes. Finally they are examined, and, although very bright when taken from the vats, the more important pieces are given a burnishing operation. If the least imperfection is discovered they aro rejected and returned to the “stripping” shop, whero caustic soda and sulphuric acid baths, both subjected to electrical current, remove the chromium and nickel-plating. The whole work then starts over again. Numerous and complicated as the processes may sound, they are essential for a first-class, lasting finish. The problems, however, are the manufacturer’s alone, and, provided that the process has been properly applied, the purchaser may enjoy the advantages of chromium plate without any doubts whatever. CLEANING THE CAR.

It pays to look after a new car os second-hand value is greatly affected by appearance, and if one starts right away with a new car cleaning it regularly, subsequent operations do not Involve such hard labour, as if left for weeks on end. Then, after a season’s use, tho car will still have its bright appearance and the owner will realise that the cleaning was worth while. With any kind of finish it is tho best plan, if facilities are available, to hose the car down before it is garaged when it has been out in the rain or driven over wet roads. Tho mud is then soft and can easily be removed. There aro certain points which should be remembered in connection with hosing down any type of car. A very strong fine jet can he directed to the underside of tho mudguards, over the wheels and the chassis in order to remove caked mud. To remove grease, paraffin oil and water should be used. For the bodywork, however, and the upper sides’of the wings, a gentle flow of water over the panels only should be used to soften the mud, followed subsequently by sponging down at the same time as the water is allowed to flow over the panels and dry off with a good quality chamois leather. A fabric body should not be neglected for long. If left, dirt will become ingrained into the material and present a dull appearance after hosing. Very dirty fabric can be cleaned by washing down with just warm water and soft soap. Polishing is effected by tho use of a suitable preparation, of which there are many on the market. Occasional cleans during the week, for instance, can be effected by brushing the dirt off and then polishing.