THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19965, 6 December 1926, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

Motorists desiring inlormauun with re gard to mechanical or other car troubles, or on any matter coming within the scope oj the sport, pastime, or business ol motoring are invited to send inquiries to “Accelerator '* Special efforts will be made to give the most reliable advice on all topics of interest TO CORRESPONDENTS. “A. B.”— All English cars of high grade such as the one you mention, should have the valves ground in after the first 500 miles. This is in some cases more of’ a piccautionary than a necessary measure, but care taken during the early life of the ca r will bo well repaid later. There is no reason why you cannot grind your own valves under the circumstances, but first get a lesson from one who knows the job. The preparation you speak of appears to give good results but as it penetrates through the paint trouble is experienced later. UTILISING ENGINE SUCTION. The suction of the engine operates the vacuum tank, and it does it very satisfactorily and provides an efficient feed from tanks below the carburetter level. A few years ago someone thought the engine suction might also be utilised to operate a windshield wiper, so that today we find thousands of cars equipped with wipers working on a semi-vacuum principle. Not satisfied with imposing these two devices on the engine, ingenious minds devised a servo mechanism to operate the brakes by a vacuum created by the suction of the engine. The latest invention is a mechanism for dipping the headlights by means of a vacuum device. A small plunger apparatus is attached to a pivoted rod controlling the inclination of the headlights. A pipe leads to the dashboard to a valve which is connected to the intake pipe on the engine. One wonders where this vacuum trend will stop. We have “go-anywhere,” “triple-sealed,” and “all-gear” cars. It remains for some daring manufacturer to produce an “all-vacuum” car. SWEEPING AWAY PUNCTURES. The novelty of spreading tacks on the road does not seem to appeal to the small boys as much as it did a quarter of a century ago, but there are quite a number of careless people who do not hesitate to throw a handful of bent nails into the road after completing some domestic carpentry. Nails and tacks find their way on to the most irreproachable streets all over the world, and as long as the present type of rubber tyres survive, there will be plenty of scrap metal to puncture them. An American highway authority has solved the problem of keeping the roads reasonably free from destructive metal fragments by using a magnetic device. A truck used in Nevada carries two 22in electro-magnets, suspended Sin from the ground. A five-kilowatt generator driven by the truck engine supplies the current. The truck merely makes a slow trip over the main roads and returns with loads of scrap metal. After working for three and a-half days in one locality, the truck had picked up 48501 bof scrap iron. The objects included tens of thousands of nails and tacks, as well as large quantities of metal splinters and bolts. SUMMER SALES. The majority of motor car agents report that business was not remarkably brisk last month (says an Auckland writer). There has been an improvement daring the last few weeks, but there are indications that car sales for the last quarter of this year will not excel the a?°Tegate for the last quarter of 1925. Actually there were very few more cars sold in New Zealand in October than were disposed of in September. In view of . previous experience of summer car demand, a rather marked increase in sales is usual about October. Several motor traders attribute the mediocre situation to the increase in prices necessitated by the tariT revision. During October 1495 new cars were sold in Now Zealand as compared with 1431 in September and 154" in October, 1925. Of the number, 978 were absorbed by the North Island, while South Island buyers accounted for the balance of 517. Following were the provincial sales during October Auckland. 488; Wellington, 324; Canterbury. 220: Otago, 136; Hawke s Bay, 93; Southland, 91; Taranaki, 73; Nelson, 31; Marlborough, 21; Westland, 13. The total sales for the Dominion for the 10 months, January-October, are 14,752. BEACH RACING AT CHRISTCHURCH. The beach races promited by the Pioneer Motor Cycle Club at North Beach on Saturday afternoon, Noyembcr 27, were very successful. The riding of our speedy motor cyclist, J. C. Mevvhinney, was a feature of the meeting, and his many Dunedin friends will read the following from the Christchurch Sun’s report with interest : A bright spot in the proceedings was the fine performance put up by J. C. Mewhinney, of the Otago Motor Club. Mewhinney rode his 5-6 Super G into first place in two out of the three events, his speed in the eight-mile open being over 73 miles an hour. In the 16 mile open he did one lap of four miles in 3min 29sec, and another in 3min 18sec. His actual lime for 18 miles was 14min 5 3-ssec. Though tarding in cornering, there was no doubt about his meteoric speed in the straight. His performance from a standing start on the heavy sand was meritorious, and thrilled the crowd. “Chassis,” of the Sun, wrote as follows in his summary of the racing:— J. C. Mowhiney thrilled the large crowd by his speed on the Super X. He notched two out of three races in fine style. He loses ground in cornering, but makes it up in the straight. Mevvhinney rode a standard sports model Super X. which make of machine made a successful debut on the beach. Mewhinney had several wins at the last meeting of the Otnt'n Motor Club at Waikouaiti Beach in March. MODERN CAR CLEANING. Novv; f that compressed air is being used for painting and tyro inflation, it will not be long before every garage worthy of the name will be compelled to have an installation. The latest development in the way of “mist” car washing should bring the day nearer still. This new system makes for speed, and the fact that the compressed air is depended upon for penetrative effect in the shifting of mud, etc., instead of depending simply on the force of water, makes for great economy in the use of the liquid. Further, the job is done more expeditiously and better. Its success may bo the forerunner of the more elaborate American system, where in addition to compressed air, there is a hot water supply and a mixing tank for the incorporation of cleansing materials, so that the largest and dirtiest car can be tackled and completed while, you wait. If the interior does not require attention, it is quite possible to have the job done and be on tho road again in about 20 minutes without even disturbing tho passengers. If the interior requires attention there is a vacuum plant at hand, together vvit.h a deodorising spray. But the feature that appeals to nearly all motorists is the provision of a fine iet of paraffin under high pressure, which is directed everywhere there is likely to bo any noise caused by the contact of the body with the chassis frame, resulting in the car resuming its journey free from all irritating squeaks and noises. Of course, all this takes place in a country where cars are much more numerous than with us, and whore it is a common thing to find “car laundries,” devoted solclv to the cleaning and greasing of owner-driven cars. SAFETY OF THE ROADS. The following ha* been forwarded to “Chassis” of the Sun from Gore: At the present moment tho question of safety on the roads is being very widely debated. Special attention is naturally being paid to the question of night driving, and motorists are generaljy arguing the issue, to dim or not to dim? A device which may servo effectively to overcome the existing dangers attendant on night driving has been invented by Mr Sam N'icolson, of Duke street, Gore One of the lamps of the car to which the device has been affixed is projected forward by a steel arm, allowing the lamp to bo turned to the right or the left at the direction of the driver by means of an easily worked lever attached to the steering rod. The lamp may be turned about 45 degrees, thus allowing one light to be concentrated on either side of the roadway, affording an excellent view of the side of the road for the driver if he is armroachinu

By ACCELERATOR. [ltems of news—short descriptions, of tours, the stats of the roads, etc., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by " Accelerator.”!

n motor with dazzling lights. Ihe swinging of the lamp also allows the motorist to see round corners. He can concentrate his light to the left or the right in accordance with the direction in which he desires to travel, and thus warn approaching traffic of his intentions. When the invention was demonstrated to the traffic authorities at Dunedin it was pointed out that it would be a good idea also to have an anti-dazzle arrangement on the other lamp, which remains a permanent fixture. Mr Nicolson has provided for this by means of an aluminium plate which fits inside the lamp. The plate is perforated with longitudinal holes, which does away with all glare. The invention is one of the most ingenius we have yet seen,, and has many advantages over the-dipping headlight arrangements which are attached to many cars nowadays. Mr Nicolson has taken the precaution of patenting his device throughout the world, and if motorists can be induced to accept it it has large possibilities. Steps are being taken to exploit the invention, and mass production of the outfits, worth about £2 each, will be undertaken at Dunedin. Motor engineers in all parts of the world have been working on the problem of headlight glare, and if this evil can be done away with or fought by a device such as Mr Nicolson has, then road conditions at night in the future should be appreciably safer. MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. It is significant that many Brooklands racers are more silent than tourist models of the same make. * • • The following were the October registrations of motor cycles:—Douglas 90, Harley-Davidson 70, B.S.A, 68, Indian 64, Triumph 52. A.J.S. 43, Raleigh 19, New Hudson 14, Matchless 13, Francis Barnett 11, Excelsior. 10, all others 66. Total, 520. • ft • Owing to the long spell of wet weather the racing tracks will not be in condition to allow motor cycle racing before Christmas. The Auckland _ Motor Racing Club uaa therefore provisionally fixed two dates in the new year—February 12 and March 26. « • o A humorous incident is recounted of a motor cyclist who applied at a certain county council office near Christchurch for a ticket. The inspector told him to ride up the road and round the block. Up the road, the cyclist came a cropper in some shingle. He picked himself up, looked back, and seeing no inspector, rode round the block, and got to the inspector's home to meet him coming out with the ticket. Can you beat that? ft ft ft A combination of sound and up-to-date features in design does not necessarily produce a motor cycle of strictly orthodox appearance. As an example, the latest product of the B.S.A. factories may be instanced. Designed as a super sports model, capable of sprint work or sustained high speeds, the new 493 c.c. o.h.v. 8.5. A., with its inclined engine, large oil sump, and very low saddle position (about 25in), presents a striking and unusual appearance. SPARKS. Look before you back. Austin cars enjoyed their record month in October, when 55 new cars were sold in New Zealand, Morris was the second British car, with 40 sales. A “True Blue” friend to all Motorists. The “Big Tree” Pump. More miles! — Advt. ft ft « A nine-speed motor car gear shift, that needs no clutch for operation, was demonstrated recently in England. The demonstrator made 18 changes of speed in a few seconds without even the faintest sound of crashing gears. • * ft To meet the demands of overseas markets Morris has produced a four-cylinder 15.9 chassis. The engine of the new model is a four-cylinder, side-valve, 2i-litre oi 80 mm. bore and 125 mm. stroke (2513 c.c.), which compares with the 75 mm. x 102 mm. of the Morris-Oxford. • * * Rules for motoring! Always stop at the True Blue “Big Tree” Pump.—Advt. • A • Various petroleum compositions were tested at a convention of members of the Petroleum Marketers’ Association ot America held at the end of October. Delegates from all parts of the continent brought one gallon samples of fuels, which were tested for anti-knock properties by the professor of chemical engineering of Michigan University. American oil producers arc beginning to take a keener interest in the development otf better motor fuels, iiritish and Continental designers have had to tackle the problem since high efficiency engines are most sensitive, to fuel qualities. » « * A certificate ot performance has been issued by the Royal Automobile Club in respect to the test of a Rover Nine over a course of 779 miles in England and 756 miles on the Continent. The object, of the run was to obtain indications of the petrol and oil consumption at speeds of 20 m.p.h. and 30 m.p.h. An average speed of 20 m.p.h. was maintained in England, while the speed for the Continental naif of the run was 29.3 m.p.h. The English fuel consumption was 29.95 miles per gallon, and the figure for the second half of the test was 35.85 miles per gallon. * * * See Blue! Wise motorists always fill up at the True Blue “Big Tree” Pump.— Advt. • • • The remarkable Constantinesoo gearless car, recently described in these columns, is now being exhibited in Europe with a view to production. The car has neither clutch nor gears, the only control being the throttle. Any engine can be adapted to use the Constantinesoo drive, but omy a fraction of the usual power is neeuea. A one-cylinder four h.p. plant will propel a heavy five-scater as well as an orthodox four-cylinder engine of 15 or 16 h.p. Ai'er the engine is started it is merely necessary to open the throttle and the engine will automatically and smoothly commence to put the car in motion. As the oar increases in speed the revolutions of the engine will gradually fall until the normal ratio is reached. Immediately a hill is encountered the infinitely variable gear will adapt itself to the conditions and t.ie engine revolutions will increase. (Continued on page 5.)