The Motor World

NZ Truth, Issue 743, 13 September 1919, Page 8

The Motor World

(By "Crank.")

"Pessimists often declare that we cannot compete with American car manufacturer with his big production, that our methods are obsolete, our garage and repair services inadequate, and that we should have to import an American at a salary of £20,000 a year to show us how to do things," writes a correspondent of the "Illustrated London News." "But we have learned to do things on a big scale during the war, and the time has come to apply this knowledge to manufacturing and commerce. As an example, a new organisation, formed by the Motor Union Insurance Company, has given a single order amounting to £ 1,000,000 to one British motor manufacturer. Trading operations on such a huge scale will mean very much to the manufacturer. It will enable him to arrange for a large production from the start, and lay his plans accordingly. The decrease m cost resulting from quantity production allows him to lower his price, and the result will be that we shall have eventually that low-priced but efficient car which so many want.' •• ■ • Although there is no marked tendency along engineering lines at the Chicago show (says the "Motor Age"), there are, nevertheless, features discernible on the chassis displayed which make it possible to forecast what the future holds m car and engine design. For one thing it is safe to assume oil cups will displace grease cups on spring shackle bolts and other chassis members. This is logical. Who, for instance, would think of loosening a seized piston with grease? Yet that is the very thing we attempt to do when we try to force grease between surfaces separated by only a few thousandths of an inch, as m a snug-fitting shackle bolt. Oil finds its way where grease cannot penetrate. Chassis wick lubrication has indications of being used more extensively m the coming years. The overheadvalve "engine gains m popularity aa time goes on, and will be used on cars, not yet announced. This is, for one thing, because the overhead valve engine is a better manufacturing proposition m these days of removable heads. The fuel is another reason. With the present-day variety the demand for completely-machined combustion chambers is imperative. The question of fuel brings up discussion of heated manifolds, hot-spots and other contrivances /to gain better vaporisation. While several engines at the show are fitted with integral heating devices, the question of controlling heat has not been given the attention necessary. There should oe means for regulating this m order that the volumetric efficiency of the engine be unimpaired. In the hot summer months, for example, it is well to shut off some of the heat, while m winter the reverse is true. Chassis details have undergone a general simplification, and while individually they form too small timber for argument, collectively they mean better car performance and maintenance. We have better accessibility m the power-plant, better shackles, simplified frame construction, better brake mechanism, electric layouts, "and many more things of equal Importance. The old Idea that to secure easy riding and good all-round performance we must have heavy cars is fast dwindling, and everything is_ done to-day to secure lightness consistent with a good margin of strength.