THE MOTOR WORLD
TIRES OF WHEELS INCREASING POPULARITY OF THE STEEL DISC. Wood wheels of all kinds have given such a poor account of themselves under war conditions that it is sale to | assume they will coaso to exist within' a tew years. AlreaUy wood has been eliminated from wheel construction of about 90 per cent, ot European motor vehicles, and it is only tolerated ou the remaining 10 per cent. There arc three main types of medal wheel in use at the present time; the wire spoke, the pressed steel (which may bo either of me disc or spoke variety), and the cast steel wheel. For heavy loads—above two, tons—tho cast steel wheel is tho only type used by European makers. There are practically no lorries of three, four, or five tons capacity now built in. England, France, or Italy with wood wheels. Italian and French makers prefer tho cast steel type; English manufacturers are rather divided between the cast and the disc typos. The Fiat Company, which is not only tho largest motor concern in Italy, but tho biggest producer in Europe, decided on metal wheels Us far bach as 1803, and has adopted cast steel to tho total exclu-
sion of wood. The, ; advantages of cast steel over wood arc greater strength, immunity from climatic conditions, longer life, a slightly lower cost of production, a moderate saving in weight, and (this matter is of importance in the war zone) a greater factor of safety when under lire.
| A typo of wheel which has boon very | much developed on the Continent since the war began is the steel disc. This typo of wheel has undoubtedly been ono of the revelations of tho, war. It is strong, moderately light, is unaffected by climatic conditions, is readily detachable, comparatively easy to make, and,- of bourse, is easy to clean. This typo of njheel consists of the usual rim. and a steel disc of uniform thickness .stamped to the correct shape. The disc is forced into the rim and both electrically welded and coldriveted to this latter. Finally two steel discs are riveted to the central portion of the wheel, and these three thicknesses of metal are drilled to receive ,the__ five; six, or ten studs by which the wheel is hold in position. As at present made, a set of steel disc wheels—single tyres in front, duals in tho rear—is rather heavier than a set of wood wheels with detachable rims, and the fact that a complete wheel is carried as a reserve increases the total weight compared with wood wheels and detachable rims. However, there is no doubt tho disc wheel is considerably stronger . than the. best ivood wheel made; it-is ideal ,in the matter of washing, and it- is generally conceded that it has an elegant appearance. While it can he affirmed that the wood wheel is destined to disappear from ordinary touring cars, it is doubtful if it will be replaced by any one typo. Under war conditions the wire wheel does not appear to have made any great amount of progress. In (die-French army, for instance, it is very rarely used, the standardised typo of staff car wheel now being tho Michelin steel disc. In the Italian army, * likewise, the wire wheel is employed on rare occasions only, the great majority of staff cars with ' this army being Fiats with the Sankey steel wheel. The English army makes a greater use of wire wheels than any of her Allies. However, when fitted with sheet nibtal discs, the greatest objection has been removed from the wire '.wheel,’’’from! tho users’ standpoint, and it is quite likely this type of wheel will retain all its popularity after the war.
There arc many technical details in connection with tiro metal disc wheels which are now receiving the close attention of inventors convinced that the end of the wood wheel is in sight. Up to tho present American makers have remained aloof from the metal wheel development. This is sjrlained by the fact that tho United States had a very good supply of second-growth hickory, and that wood wheels made in that country have been of hotter quality than wheels made in Europe. HIGH PRICES FOR OLD OARS. The statement is often made that one outstanding feature of British cars is that they are huilt to last. As a striking commentary on this practice, as distant from American manufacturing methods, an exchange quotes what tho “Horseless Ago,” of Amcrici, gives as the second-hand values of used cars. One built in 1913, it is stated, is only worth what it can. bo- soldi for as old metal. A £2OO car built in 1916 is worth £66 to £34, For a 1915 model, £46 to £73 is the value, and so on down the scale to 1913, when it is scrap metal. Just for the sako of comparison it is pointed out that the most representative British light oar, the Singer, priced originally about £2OO, is now fetching, in England, £152 for a 1913 model, while a 1916 model is worth £255. Even without tho shortage of now cars to affect the price of old ones, a 1913 Singer would probably have fetched £IOO in the present year.
AMERICAN MOTOR INDUSTRY. Tho whole of the American automobile industry has offered its assistance and whole-hearted support to the U.S.A. Government. This is the decision of over 600 manufacturing concerns and some 27,500 dealers. The influence of the automobile industry in America is enormous, as may be judged " from the following figures. There are 230 makes of passenger cars, 372 manufacturers of commercial motor trucks with, a capital investment of £147,000,000 and 280,000 i workers. The annual wages paid total £55,000.OCO. The production for' the year ending last June was 1,806,194 motor vehicles, of which 1X2,000 were motor trucks. ‘ There are in addition 1080 manufacturers of bodies, parts, and accessories, with a capital of £67,200,000. In this direction alone there are 320.000 workers employed, thenwages reaching £57,600,000. Last year £90,000,000 worth of tyres weie made, covering 18,000,00 covers . and tubes. Garages total 25,500, located right through, the United States. They represent £36,800,000 capital, and' employ 230,000 persons. All told, it is computed that over £211,200,000* is invested in the American motor industry which is many times bigger than all the motor business of the yest of tho world combined. i
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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9902, 22 February 1918, Page 2
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1,065THE MOTOR WORLD New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9902, 22 February 1918, Page 2
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