THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19494, 1 June 1925, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

Motorists desiring information with re* ] gard to mechanical or other car troubles, or on any matter coming within the ecope of the sport, pastime, or business of motoring are invited to send inquiries to “ Accelerator.*’ Special efforts will be - made to give the most reliable advice on all topics of interest. A NORTH ROAD OBSTRUCTION. The secretary of the Otago Motor CluT) is in receipt of a letter from the South Canterbury Automobile Association advising them as follows ; Upper Orari Bridge.—The above bridge will be closed for perhaps a fortnight as from Monday, Ist June. Notices will be posted at (1) nortli side Arundel Corner, (2) south side Winchester, diverting through traffic. HOW ? An American in dear old London was bragging about his car. lie ended his eulogy by declaring: “It runs so smoothly you can’t feel it, so quietly you can’t hear it, has such perfect ignition you can’t smell it, and as for speed—hoy, you can't see it.” “But, my word, old dear,” interrupted the Briton, anxiously, “how do you know the bally thing is there?” THE COW WITH THE CRUMPLED HORN. A motorist was proceeding along a country road near Oamaru when ho collided with a cow that was lying on the thoroughfare. One of the horns of the cow penetrated the radiator of the car, and was broken off. T'he eow got up and shook herself, and appeared to be little the worse for her adventure. The car had to be taken to a garage to have the horn removed. FOR THE LADIES. The change in men’s headwear is not so startling as the revolution in ladies' motoring millinery. During the first decade of motoring the fair sex did their best to resemble. members of the Inquisition, shrouding their heads in heavy veils which covered thejr hats and often their faces as well. Then motoring made every woman look unattractive. With the modern cloche hat it is just the reverse! TYRE PRICES. Motorists may in the near future have to pay an increased price for their motor covers and tidies. The increased cost of rubber is the reason, its market- price the world over being approximately 200 per cent, more than it was obtainable at early last year. Already the leading makers in England have been forced to increase their prices by 10 per cent., and if the price for rubber holds, a similar increase can be' predicted in other tyre manufacturing countries. THE CONQUERING MOTOR. An idea of the huge development in motor passenger transport in Great Britain will he gleaned from the fact that the capital value of automobiles used in that country to-day for public service exceeds £27,000,000. ■ There are 12,000 motor buses and motor cabs, 3700 charabancs, 1100 hired ears, anil 3200 motors carrying goods and parcels. There are all told 3110 undertakings, comprising 1000 run by companies, 105 by municipalities, and 1315 by private firms. SOUTHLAND PROPRESS. The annual report of the Southland Motor Association recorded very satisfactory progress. The bank balance increased and a good advance was registered. Under the heading of membership the report stated "In October last a membership campaign was inaugurated by the various associations throughout the South Island. Stickers wore sent to all members to keep on the windscreens of their cars for one month, and this scheme, as well as helping considerably to advertise this association, was responsible for the enrolment of S2 new members. Altogether, during the year the number of active members increased from 323 to 155. Although the membership list is steadily making headway, it is to lie hoped that before long all motorists will recognise the splendid work the motoring organisations arc doing by joining up and according their support. As the membership of the asso. elation increases, so arc its efficiency and energies enabled to increase.” The association is fortunate in having live and efficient officers, and the coming year should be a prosperous one for the club. TIIK RHODE ARRIVES. Among tho visitors to Dunedin for Winter Show Week is Mr Frank A. Brown, factory representative ,of the Rhode Motor Co", of Tvseley, Birmingham. In conversation with “Accelerator” Mr Brown explains that in 1923 the Rhode Company began to feel the necessity of a wider export field Its experience proved that a tubular front axle, however good, was not acceptable overseas: also that a semi-float-ing back axle war, essential. Consequently the 1924 design e/ontained these important modifications and there wore inquiries from India, Africa, Australia, apd Now Zealand for the Rhode franchise. Hero the Rhode Motor Company showed a certain so-called “British conservatism,” refusing cars for export until they had passed 12 months of the severest road testing in Scotland and Wales. The list of Rhode successes in 1924 trials, including London to Rinds End. R.A.C. Six Days, London to Edinburgh, and tho famous Scottish Six Days, convinced tho Rhode makers that they could trust this model to uphold their reputation under, the severest conditions. Their policy is to appoint direct agents in main centres, thus bringing Rhode cAvners into tho closest touch with the factory and eliminating distributors’ profits, thereby, decreasing the cost of the car. Messrs Maider »nd Barr have bought new promises at 174 St. Andrew street, and they are sole agents for, and their solo agency is Tho Rhode, A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA. Doughboy Bay. on the rugged west coast of Stewart Island, a few miles from Mason’s Bay, has an interest of its own. both romantic and even dramatic. It was oif hero that in .February, 1890, occurred the wreck of the barque Emilio with tho loss of nine lives. Tho wreckage of that ill-fated barque is still to be seen piled up on the beach. Doughboy Bay, like Mason’s Bay, is a sort of catchment area for the flotsam and jetsam brought by tho warm current from tho Californian Coast. The Island fishermen always seize an opportunity of landing there when rare occasions occur. Recently two young men, G. and S. Loask, walked over the rugged hills to Doughboy in search of ambergris, and among the various curiosities found cast up on tho beach tho most notable was a complete spare wheel and tyre from a motor truck. The tyre, a “Goodyear,” was quite new and tho tube fully blown up, which had caused it to float from no one knows where. It would be interesting to know if the same spare wheel came from some Southland vehicle. The rim was painted red. A BIG TRIP. A combined Federal and South Australian Parliamentary Party left Adelaide last week by motor for an inspection trip northward into tho centre of Australia for the purpose of inspecting and determining tho route for tho proposed railway lino to Alice Springs, connecting up with the Transcontinental line in the south. Four 20 h.p. Austins shod with Dunlop Cords and a motor lorry will pick up the party at Oodnodatta, and by easy stages will "journey via Charlotte Waters to Maryvalc Station, and thence on to Alice Springs, and probably as far north as Barrows Creek. On the return journey a different route will he followed, many detours being made to iii.-.poct the country west, of the existing railway line’from Oodnadatla to Port, Augusta, the route to ho motored over connecting up with the Transcontinental railway" line at Kingoonya. It is anticipated that the trip wll bo negotiated in about, 20 days, if, tho weather and track conditions are favourable. Tho party is under the guidance of Mr T. E. Day, Sur-veyor-General of South Australia. MOTOR DAZZLE LIGHTS. ■‘l am perfectly certain that you cannot ,-lnp the advance of motor transport, and that we must increase the number of gigantic highways in this country.” Ibis dedal alien was made by Sir William Joynson-Ilicks, Britain’s Homo Secretary, who was the. principal guest at a luncheon of the Commercial Motor UsorsAssociaiion. Speaking of dazzle-lights, Sir William -aid ho liked to use'large lamps, but he did not like the men who used them. He did not think a good anti-dazzle device had been produced, but lie was sue,, (ho Minister of Transport would do whatever be could in the matter. If he could do anything through tho police as Homo Secretary to prevent the ues of dazzle-

(Items of news —short descriptions of tours, the state of the rosAW sic., comment, ox inquiries wiU be welcomed by “Accelerates.

lights then he would do it. Mr E. S. Shrapnell-Smith said 't was important that stops should bo taken to mitigate dazzle from motor headlamps. Owners and drivers suffered very greatly from the excessive dazzle and glare emanating from tho great majority of headlamps as now used by private motorists. The association desired to see excessive lighting reduced, especially in these days of super-effective brakes. TRACTION IN A TYRE. Traction in a tyre is the' ability to grip the ground under practically all conditions and to carry tho vehicle through good or bad going. _ » .. Speed is a relative term. Pneumatioequipped trucks can maintain higher average speed, of course, m comparison with the solid-tyre truck. According to the Goodyear News, trucks equipped with pneumatic cord truck lyres are maintaining speeds averaging 25 per cent, higher than the same trucks could when solidequipped. Tliis speed is made possible only because the pneumatic tyre has the remarkable cushioning power tha.t, is required to prevent ruinous depreciation ol truck and cargo—because it has the tractive efficiency to ensure continuous progress over difficult roads. The great resilience, powerful traction, and additional cushioning power of Straight Side pneumatic cord tyres will increase considerably the average speed of the truck, which will travel easily over rough roads as well as smooth, and in running farther each day will make possible tho transporting of more goods. HELIUM DEVELOPMENT. Tho remarkable development of helium gas. use of which is expected to be a big factor in the development of dirigibles to be manufactured by tho Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation, is seen by officials of that organisation to he one of the biggest steps forward in scientific fields accomplished in recent years. Because of its non-iniiam-inablc quality, the gas has come into exclusive use by both the army and navy and will undoubtedly be used by all manufacturers of Jighter-'than-air equipment. The story of helium i s a romantic one to those interested in the development of aeronautics, and since aeronautic development is one of the wonders of modern times tho interest- should be widespread. According io these experts helium was first identified by the great scientist, Jenncr, as n result of observations of the solar eclipse in 1868, as fieing present in the sun. It wa« later observed to exist in other stars, but was not found on the earth until about 18S9. Helium gas exists in the atmosphere in minute proportion to the more abundant gases. It ma- be extracted from the air, and morq easily from "natural gas” of certain fields, by a process devised by Professor Oiinos, of the University of Leyden. The raw material is reduced under terrific pressure to temperatures at which other gases in it liquify or freeze, while tho helium remains a gas. Because of its comparative scarcity and tho extensive use to which it is at. present, being put, together with the anticipated heavier demand, tho reduction in cost of its production is one of t\o principal points of interest to tRe Government and aeronautic concerns. While essentially a gas, helium has and is being used to etxinguish fire on many ocean liners. When a dirigible is filled with helium, therefore, it is easily seen that its use is one of the biggest factors in lighter-(han-air flying equipment. The greatest danger of this equipment is therefore not only minimised, but entirely eliminated. A NEW FINISH. Jt looks as though tho now processes for motor-car finish—as different from paint and varnish—are likely to make much headway in the near future. Anything which effectively reduces the work of the average owner-driver is always received sympathetically (writes Captain B. do Norrnaiivillo in tho Daily Chronicle). I have recently had the opportunity of inspecting one of these now processes, that evolved by Messrs Robert Ingham, Clark, and Co. (Ltd.), of West Ham Abbey, E. It has a celluloid base and is much cheaper than paint, as only two coats are needed. When these have been applied they will dry and harden sufficiently for tho surface to become impervious in three hours. If the body work has a good metal surface reither “filling” nor priming coats is necessary; if the metal is rough they may be, thus involving a little additional time. In any case, however, there is no need for hand rubbing down between the coats, and, making all possible allowances, there is an enormous saving in time as a whole. In the hands of the user such new finishes have many claims for consideration. In tho first place, no skill is requisite for cleaning a car; and an unskilled cleaner soon plays havoc with ordinary paint and varnish. Dust .and dirt on tho surface do not. scratch, but —wonderful to say—merely servo to increase the lustre of the finish. Von just take a rag and rub off all tho dirt, and tho grit seems to act as a polishing agent. Similar processes are already popular in tho United States, but it is pleasing to know that to England belongs the honour of discovering how to “flow” this finish, as different from spraying it. The flowing process is not only much quicker, but gives a much more lustrous surface. This new Carmoloid finisu is elastic, and not so susceptible therefore to damage, to cracking, or to flake off. It is also unaffected by tar, petrol, or benzole. FOUR-WHEEL BRAKES. With tho introduction of four-wheel braking systems, which hid fair to become somewhere akin to standard practice in modern car design, there has arisen tho necessity for more satisfactory means of making adjustments. In the case of front wheel brakes, there is a condition which calls for most careful design and construction to ensure equal braking on _ both wheels, otherwise steering troubles will bn set up and the safety of the vehicle will be endangered (says the Auto). It has to bo recognised that if the car is used, it follows that some attention will have to be given sooner or later to the brake-mechanism, and it is very necessary therefore that the method of making adjustmots to take-up for wear should be of such a nature that the un-technieal owner or user will not make a mal-adjustmcnt which would become dangerous. Some very positive means of equalising the'* braking pressures should be incorporated in tho design, and those should be of such a nature that they cannot very well be put out of operation when making those adjustments, which must, in the ordinary nature of things, become necessary in the matter of taking up wear of shoes or moii* linnings or of the operative cams, joints, oic. We believe that these matters have been carefuly considered in the majority of front wheel brake mechanisms and that one adjustment will generally avail for both brakes so that tho risk of putting the pair out of synchronous action is practically eliminated. But there is alwavs the possibility of an owner or driver, unacquainted with the exact arrangement of the mechanism, making one adjustment at one wheel and another at the other, in which case there is, in many designs of front brake gear, the grave possibility of upsetting the balance of the braking or retarding force and so making tho system dangerous by reason of severely straining tho steering arrangements. (Continued on Page 5.)