The Motor World

NZ Truth, Issue 605, 20 January 1917, Page 12

The Motor World

■ ■■ ♦ (By "Crank.") ' To the almost endless variety of motor vehicles now employed m con-' nection. with the armies m the Held has to be added yet another example m the shape of c dental car. This vehicle, which* is fully equipped for all but the more elaborate dental operations, is a gift- from the Civil Service Federation. It is intended to work close to the firing line, and to avoid the waste of time caused by men having to be sent to the base when their teeth require treatment. Its "crow" consists of a dentist, mechanic, and driver. A dynamo placed side by side .with the engines supplies power- for lighting and ventilating, as well as for the dental appliances carried. • • • The use of -ail-aluminium for engines Is extending m U.S.A. The cylinder bores are of cast Iron and are fitted, whilst the cylinder block is heated; on cooling the sleeves are grimly held by the contraction of the outer metal. An important advantage < is that the sleeves ere easily renewable at any time instead of reboring them. The valve scatings are likewise of cast-iron and renewable. The saving m weight. over ell cast-iron is found to be considerable. •• , • Figures aro published m "Motor Ago," of ' Chicago, which' show that the world's production of crude petroleum for 1915 exceeded that of 1914 by 28,194,307 barrels.'' Tho figures aro certainly extraordinary and worth giving. According to tho geological survey Hho 1915 production of 426,592,G73 barrels was widely distributed, tho greatest increase bolng shown, howover, m the United States and Mexico. Japan, Russia and Argentina also showed decided increases. The distribution of this petroleum to tho markets of the world is shown m .the table. *> •. • • The rapidly- increasing wealth of the Argentine, as ono of the results of the war, is to be seen m the vast development of pleasure motoring. The United States, of course, has a very largo field there for its output. Tho great cities, such as Buenos Alrua, with 1,800,000 Inhabitants, ofter every facility for luxurious motoring, and tho road systems are ail planned /with a view to motor traction. Very ordinary people there aro rich enough to keep half-a-dozen largo cars and a suite oC chauffeurs. • • * It Is reported that arrangements are being made fox tho formation m Franco of a company with a capital of £3,000,000 to manufacture cheap oars after the w<"" capable of competing with the Ford. •** ' v ; Tho wiro-spokod wheel appears t« be coming into favor at last m tho United States. It is estimated that about 200,000 cars to be manufactured during 1917 will bo so provided; already, since tho I§l7 models wore introduced, some 20,000 cars have .been fitted with wlro wheels. • • • Sir Edward Stracey, a major m tho Yeomanry, has boon fined 6s for riding a motor cycle with an over brilliant headlight. • • * An American publication states that many munition workers over there arc suffering from a new dlseaso called

"explosive blood," due to handling' the chemicals used. The "explosions" are due to sudden" eruptions m th y e veins. The sufferer thus becomes a sort of human internal-combustion engine vrith automatic ignition. •• • • Many motorists suffer a certain amount of discomfort from back draughts'* when driving with the wind screen up. The remedy is to slightly open the screen so as to^ prevent the inrush of air from the sides. A very slight opening will suffice. • • #■ One of the most interesting dospatches received from the front was that dealing with o. report captured during the great British, advance m the early part of July. The author of this report was none other than GeneTal , von Arnlnv commander of the famous 4th * Corps, part of the elite- of the German army,, and which attempted to resist the advance of the British troops. 'This roport was Intended for the consumption of the Imperial .War. Council, and it admits m an unequivocal manner the utter state of confusion and loss of morale that'sxisted — amongst the German \roops during tho British advance. General von Arnlm mentions one factor that is of extreme interest to motor cyclists. His statement was as follows: "The establishment of motor cycles proved insufficient for the heavy lighting:; tho deficiency was painfully m evidence." • * * Owners of cars wired by the singlewire method should examine the ground connections carefully at stated intervals. A corroded ground or a loose ground may cause dim burning and m. some cases no current at all will flow •• . • Apropos of bad roads, a scheme has juat been introduced m Canada to solve tho problem of finding immediate employment for returning Canadian soldiora after the war, many of whom, boing unskilled laborers, would find it dilllcult to obtain work.. Tho scheme is to utilise tho men m tho making of a national highway. Tho ndoption of a similar idea In this country would bo beneficial alike to tbo returned warriors and to the conjmultny In general. • • « Thero is m London a War Ofllco store filled with rubber tyros, and carefully located underground. There are, of courso, many varieties and, sizes of tyrbs, but at a glance they look much alike When built up m piles Cft or Tft high, these piles extending up ono alloy and down another to a length of many hundred yards, it needs no calculation to prove thnt the value must run into hundreds of thousands of pounds (says "Engineering"). Even m a country, with excellent roads and careful handling, tyros are a constant sourco of expense to the car owner, oven when thoy are solid. When tho roads have been cut up for months and only repaired m a haphazard fashion, or when they are of tho primitive construction which obtains m Eastern Europe, tho wear and tear must be enormous. Howover, this Army Servico Corps branch of tho Mechanical Transport can supply new tyres *w road 11 y as a bokor can supply loaves of bread. Tho steo of every wheel Is known, as woll as tho mark of every tyre that will fit it, and honco It is a slmplo matter ,to comply with indent* from every port of tho world.