Motors and Motoring.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11933, 13 September 1924, Page 14

Motors and Motoring.

Trade and Other Jottings.

(By

“ Torque- Rod.”)

FLIGHT ROUND AUSTRALIA GAINING INFORMATION. Colonel Brinsmead, controller of civil aviation, left Melbourne on August 7thi 1924, at 10.30 on a flight round Australia. He is accompanied by Captain Jones as pilot and Mr Buchanan as mechanic. The D.H. 50 aeroplane, which is making the flight, underwent thorough preliminary teats during the past weeks. It is expected that the flight will take about one month, althonxghi no effort will be made to accomplish the trip in any sst time. Colonel Brinsmead will survey proposed air routes, and will, study the operations of the air fleets already dying ovter the Oharleville-Cloncui ry route in Queensland, and the Derby-Pe.-th route in Western Australia. Much valuable information, will be gained as to the practicability of aerial cervices in remote parts of the continent. Careful preparations have been made to ensure the success of this flight. The organisation of supplies of petrol, lubricating oil, and distilled rater, to be available at all points along the route wherp stops are to he made, has already been carried out by the Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary, Ltd. Plume aviation motor spirit and gargoyle mobiloil have been selected as the fuel and lubricating oil respectively for the aeroplane engine. The recent round-Australia flight by Wing-Commander Goble and FlightLieutenant Mclntyre has already given world-wide prominence to Australian aviation. The start of the present flight is the beginning of another important page in the history of flying. NEW FORD MOTOR WORKS UNDERTAKING IN ENGLAND. What has since been developed into one of the largest and most interesting industrial organisations in the world, viz., the Ford Motor Company, came into existence just over 21 years ago, on June 16th, 1903, to be precise, and the twenty-first anniversary of the conoern coincides very closely with another interesting event in its history, which was tho completion of the 1(1000,OOOth car at the Detroit works. The development of the Ford business in England has been a factor of considerable industrial importance and, since the Ford Motor Company (England), Limited, was formed, with works at Manchester, in 1911, the annual sales of the company’s cars and trucks have steadily increased from 1485 at first to 40,000 at the present time. These figures, it should be noted, do not include the ‘ production for export to several Continental countries which are dependent on the English company for many hhasses amd body parts. Several new models, including a redesigned chassis with a lower frame, suited to British roads, have recently been produced, among them being a touring car in which 92 per cent, of the material used is of British manufacture. British labour is employed almost exclusively at the company’s Manchester works, the proportion amounting to 99.79 per cent. These facts were mentioned by • Mr H. S. Jenkins, the managing director of the British company, at a luncheon given at the Hotel Metropole, preparatory ;to a statement relating to the future development of Ford industrial activities in Great Britain. LAND ACQUIRED FOR SITE. Mr Jenkins stated that the British Company had recently acquired a site of 307 acres at Dagenham in Essex, with a view to establishing there a works capable of employing 10,000 hands and of producing SQO cars a day. The site, which consists partly of agriculture and partly of reclaimed land, lies between the main London - Southend road and the river, and has When the site was purchased, it is untraversed; by the London. Midland and Scottish Railway, so that there are ample transport facilities. Its proximity to the large labour resources of the east end of London is another advantage . from the industrial standpoint.

When the sit was purchased, it is understood, it was the intention of the company to proceed with the building Operations without delay, as it was anticipated that the present position in ■which the Ford par is placed by the horse-power tax. would he adjusted: to some extent the development plans will be affected by the trend of legislation in. this direction. POWER FROM ALCOHOL HOPE OF THE FUTURE. One of the contributions to the recent World Power Conference at Wembley was by Sir Charles H. Bedford, on ‘‘Alcohol as a Source of Power.” In it he stated that the enormous development of the use of the internal combustion engine, and the consequent demand for petrol as a fuel, was, of course, one of the outstanding features of present-day civilisation. The world was faced with a very serious problem as regards future supplies of fuel for internal combustion engines. Nobody who had first-hand knowledge of the position, as regards world supplies of oil, could escape the conclusion that we were within sight of a very definite and progressive shortage of supply which must be made up from some, preferably non-mineral, source. He concluded alcohol was the hope of the future, being already used in the form of mixtures with benzol, petrol, ether, etc., in various parts' of the world. It was quite suitable for all purposes for which petrol was used. Alcohol was . being produced from starchy or sugary materials at present, but to meet the large quantities required for fuel purposes rapidly expansible annual crops of sugar-cane, maize, sweet potato and cassava would be of assistance. The main hope, however, lay in obtaining the spirit from waste materials such as cereal straws, sawdust, waste wood, grasses, and cellulosic waste products. Tropical production was essential, of course, as also manufacture alongside these supplies. No known and accepted manufacturing process existed at present, but the Prodor and Goldschmidt concentrated acid methods for cellulose conversion into sugar, and thence into alcohol, were being developed. Sir Charles suggested the formation of a governmental body, empowered to issue handsome prizes to original workers for their accomplishments in connection with the synthesis of alcohol. His standpoint was that the Government offer to the inventor should be a 'better one than any private firm could offer. CREASE-GUN SYSTEMB NEW METHODS OF LUBRICATION. There will always bo a certain, number of owners who thoroughly enjoy such processes as washing, .übrcoating, and adjusting a oar, but to the majority of people these tasks are an irksome toll paid for tho joy of motoring. This fact has been realised by manufacturers in recent years, and a number of detail improvements have been made with the object of lightening the labours of the owner-driver. The all-important question of lubrication has at last conic in for due attention, an important step in the right diroction being the widespread adoption of grease-gun systems for chassis parts. In this connection should lie mentioned the improvement in the accessibility of the oil fillers provided on the crankcase, gearbox, and back axle. In some cases, the crankcase filters are exceedingly well arranged, so that they can be removed and cleaned without the necessity lor dismantling other parts. It must be' recorded, however, that in certain, instances the removal of a filter is a long and lahoufious process, and involves the wastage of a considerable amount of oil. Noteworthy progress has been made in the adoption of designs which en-, tirely obviate the need for lubrication. A good example of this trend

is the substitution of fabric universal joints for those of the metallic variety. The fabric joint is perfectly noiseless, easily renewed, ana requires no adjustment or lubrication during itsi •working life. One may also cite thel so-called oilless buah, in which the fibre surfaces are impregnated with a. graphite composition. These should be quite suitable for part® in which very little movement occurs, inch as spring shackle pins, and still further reduce the labour of lubricating the chassis. It must be remembered that by reducing the number of parts requiring periodical oiling the life of the chassis is materially increased, because many private owners are apt to be Jazy, and a neglected part, which ought to have frequent lubrication, is bound to wear rapidly. The use of ball and roller bearings .'s to be commended for similar reasons, as these useful deriie© only require sufficient lubricant to prevent rusting and 1 educe the small amount of friction present between the balls and their cages. Other parts which require adequate protection and lubrication are now arranged on more sensible and accessible lines ; and frequently felt washers are provided, which prevent the ingress of oirt or the egress of lubricant, where* a rotating shaft project® from a housing. In this connection, spring gaiters should also be mentioned, as these prevent the leaves of the spring from rusting, and retain the grease. ROUND THE WORLD IN TEN BAYS. According to aerial experts, ten days of actual flying is the aerial time-table predicted for the 19,000-mile journey round the globe. The two big gaps in such a service would be London to New York, 3000 miles, and Vladivostock, 4000 miles, and American, aviators, trained at the famous Goodyear aerodrome, at Akron, will pioneer these two gape shortly. , International stopping places are now being arranged by the League of Nations, says the "Goodyear News. The expenses of such a trip are not expected to be much in excess of the ordinary passenger fare aboard an oceangoing liner. Another noteworthy aerial voyage will shortly be made by the Goodyear airship which is now being fitted for an extensive cruise over the North Pole. Of course passenger accommodation on this flight will be strictly limited.—'Advt. CROSSLEY 19.6 H.P. SALOON. The Crossley five-seater Saloon, which has just arrived in Wellington, gives evidence of British workmanship at its best. A real advancement in body design has been made which compares favourably with any of its class. The entrance is .direct and easy to any part of the car through two wide doors. The body is commodation, and ample accommodation is provided for five persons. The upholstery materials have been selected from the finest grade fabrics, and the Bedford cord cloth employed harmonises with the oolour of the body. Bright Royal Blue, Beep Mauve, and Neutral Grey are offered as alternative colour schemes. Absolute noiselessness has been secured by the careful fitting of all panels and doors. A dome lamp furnishes pleasant night illumination. Accommodation for tools is provided in a tool box carried on running board. For town, theatre, social functions, and long distance winter driving the Crossley 19.6 Saloon meets every requirement. The car may be seen at the Crossley Showrooms, 38, Waring Taylor street (by arrangement).—Advt.