MOTOR & CYCLE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1923, Page 14

MOTOR & CYCLE

BRITISH MOTOR SLUMP.

TRADE IN A PARLOUS STATE. Most New Zealanders will be surprised to learn that the total export of British motor vehicles from the Old Country during the first eight months of 1923 amounted to only 3116 vehicles, valued at £2/200,6>89. In other words, the motor export from the Mother Country to all parts of the world amounted to about a third of what was imported into New Zealand during the same period. For the nine months to the end of September, New Zealahd’s import of motor vehicles was 10,305 vehicles, valued at £1,757,-923 (says “Spotlight” in the Dominion). It will be seen from these figures that the average motor vehicles exported by Britain was about three times as expensive as the average motor vehicle imported into New . Zealand; and this means, that the British manufacturers as a whole have to get their .prices right to do business. The motor trade situation drives home the fact that cheap labour does not necessarily mean cheap goods—'for Britain has cheap labour and dear motor cars, while America has high-wage labour and cheap cars. The British manufacturers, however, are making big price reductions in their new models, and at is to be hoped that they will make some real effort to participate in the overseas motor trade. There is no doubt that the average New Zealander would much prefer to purchase a British-made car if he could get what he wants at a reasonable price. Britain, however, is not even supplying the demand for motor vehicles in her home market, for she is importing seven times as many motor vehicles as she exports. The import and export figures for the past eight months of the year compare as follow for the year stated:—

imports 3.404,299 1,728,176 2,200,689 The figures showing the number of British cars imported into New Zealand during the present year are not given in the interim statistics, but last year out of 3025 passenger motor vehicles imported into the Dominion only 127 came from the United Kingdom. It is to be hoped that this year’s figures will show a better position than this tiny percentage of imports from Britain. The amazing thing about the situation is that the heavy imports of American and other foreign cars into Britain are in face of a 33 1-3 per cent. Customs duty. If the Empire cannot meet its own requirements better than this it is a very blue look-out indeed for its commercial future. It is time the British manufacturer took a little interest in building cars to meet overseas requirements. If he gave it the right car at th? right price this Dominion alone could wallow up three times the present total exports of the whole motor trade of the United Kingdom. MOTOR FUELS. Experiments in the operation of internal combustion engines with motor benzol, conducted by the United States Department of the Interior at the experimental station of the Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, indicate that this type of fuel may serve as a satisfactory gasoline substitute when refined by the use of sulphuric avid or silica gel. The same tests developed the fact that crude motor benzol can only be used satisfactorily after the removal of certain compounds which form gummy deposits and eventually stop the engine. No engine trouble whatever developed when acidrefined or silica gel refined motor benzol fuel was used. It is estimated that 6.202)235,000 gallons of gasoline were produced during the year 1922. The crude oil output during the same year is estimated at 111,000,000 gallons, or 1.8 per cent, of the gasoline production. If all the coal mined were coked in byproduct ovens, and the light oil recover--led therefrom, this product would amount to only I’s per cent, to 20 per cent, of the quantity of the petroleum gasoline now produced annually. It is obvious, therefore, that the light oils by present coking processes cannot assume great importance as a gasoline substitute in a national sense, but the certainty of a diminution of petroleum resources in the relatively near future demands the utmost utilisation of gasoline substitutes from the distillation of coal as well as from other sources. The Bureau of Mines considers that the engine tests made on motor benzol warrant constructive discussion regarding the present specifications which manufacturers of motor benzol fuels endeavour to meet. Greater emphasis should be placed on the amount of evaporation residue, rather than on certain other 'terns of present-day specifications such as colour. It appears, also, that the ini- . tia! boiling-point might be lowered slightly below 78deg. o.—Engineering.

OIL THE DOOR HINGES, Automobile door hinges and latched are pieces of mechanism that, like anything else of the kind, require a certain amount of lubrication to prevent rust and the collection of dust and dirt in them. Squeaks are the result of nonattention to this detail at intervals. But due to these fittings being where clothing sometimes rubs against them, it is not desirable to squirt cylinder oil on them after the manner of lubricating other parts. This would soon run off, anyway. A good lubricant for these parts is linseed oil, with which a small amount of powdered graphite is mixed. Linseed oil seems to have less of a tendency to run and spread like cylinder oil. and when it collects dust and dirt a gummy mixture results which has the

effect of holding the graphite where it is put. Of course, a very small quantity of the graphite-linseed lubricant is all that is needed at each point. RUNNING COSTS OF MOTOR-CYCLES. The cost of motor-cycling is a matter upon which no two riders agree. One will insist upon calculating the cost per mile, the interest on his outlay, depreciation, insurance, garage charges, overhauls and even clothing; another regards the purchase of a motorcycle in the same light as the purchase of. say, a piano; he has the money to spend and he means to get the most out of it. But whatever view is taken, every motor-cyclist agrees that the running Costs of a motor-cycle are exceedingly low, and that the total costs are well worth the money expended, and the pleasure the expenditure gives. To-day the cost of petrol is 2s to 2s 8d a gallon, which means that for this the owner of a light-weight may travel perhaps 150 miles. Even with larger machines the economy is remarkable, and fifty miles to the gallon may safely ■be accepted as a true figure for fuel consumption of the largest side-car outfit fully laden; some machines do much better than this, but any figure below 50 m.p.g. is a sign that something requires attention. The cost of a good oil —and a good oil is absolutely essential —is in the neighbourhood of '2s 3d per quart, and as a quart will last at least 200 miles in the largest machines it will be seen that the cost per mtte-is almost infinitesimal. Let no one hesitate to purchase a motor-cycle on account of running expenses. Many people to-day spend at week-ends more in ’bus, train or tram fares than would buy all the fuel necessary to run a motor-cycle outfit for the 'whole family. It has been calculated by more than one side-car owner using his machine at week-ends that the money saved on a motor-cycling holiday (compared with a train journey and sight-seeing by motor char-a-banc) is sufficient to cover all charges for the rest of the year. The motor-cycle is the most economical form of mechanical transport. GENERAL. The fact that benzine tins are frequently found not to be full leads many people to the belief that they are not getting full measure, and a complaint on this score from the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association was discussed at the meeting of the New Zealand Union recently. Mr. I. Wilson said that the practice was to leave a little room

for expansion in the tins, a fact which was discovered by many of the companies who filled ordinary benzine tins with oil for sale. For some time they had been selling a full benzine tin of oil as four gallons, but upon measuring i- had been found that they had, in many cases, been giving away half a gallon with each tin.

The enormous strength of modern cord tyres is probably not realised by the general public (remarks a writer in ' The Light'Car and Cyclecar). When a tire manufacturer wishes to test the bursting point of a cover he fills it with water, which is pumped into it until a pressure of as much as 5001 o or 6001 b to the square inch is reached. In the ordinary course of affairs this pressure would kink the steel rim before the cover bursts, for which reason special precautions have to be taken to prevent this by the fitting of a greatly strengthened rim. * * * * Motorists Who are now contemplating the disposal of their vehicle before buying a new 'one should get to work at once. An estimate from the United States shows that during the last twelve months 68 per cent, of all car sales were on the part-exchange basis, and that £21,000,000 was the loss suffered by the retail dealers ip. the exchanges and 2'5 per cent, of these dealers fail' Tr England the proportion of old cars I taken in part payment for new ones u-ached nearly 40 per cent. It is diffi'cult to realise, -therefore, that the later the car owner endeavoured to sell his vehicle, the more difficult it was for the the dealer to accommodate him. It is also stated that over 80 per cent, of the car sales in the U.S.A, were effected on the credit basis of a small sum paid down and the balance in monthly instalments. In England the part-pay-ment system is beginning to be more u.-ed. and each year mere cars are being bought on credit. < * - * * If your oil gauge does not show pressure, make sure that the oil pan contains plenty of oil, as shown by,the level indicator. Should this show “full,” remove the priming plug on top of pump and start engine. If oil flows from this, the trouble is with the gauge. * * * * In nearly every case where collision has taken place between vehicles, or where a pedestrian has been run down and some negligence has been ascribed to the driver, there is a history (according to a correspondent of the “Autocar”) of the habit of resting the left foot on the side of the clutch pedal instead of poising it in front. Keeping the left foot at the side of the pedal definitely deprives the driver of the use of the “reflex action,” which is the subconscious mind’s influence on the nerves and muscles. A driver who has to move his foot on to the pedal loses on an average one-fifth of a second, which may be vital in an emergency. A very useful application of the principle of the electro-magnet is embodied in a device which enables quick recovery of any steel or iron object, such as a spanner, nut, bolt, ball, washer, etc., that may have dropped into an inaccessible position on the car, as in crankcase, gear-box, petrol tank, etc. It is wound so as to operate

from the ordinary or 12-volt installation of a car, and has a suitable adapter for ; connecting up, and a length of flexible lead. The handle contains a push-button : switch, and the magnet is fitted at the end of a length of a flexible metallic tube which enables it to be used in a very limited space. It can be immersed in water, oil or petrol. * * * * There is one thing which drivers who are new to the Ford mjist learn, and that is to make the fullest possible use of the throttle lever for slowing down. The ten-

flency is to have the foot unceasingly on i the foot brake and on the dutch pedal, with both hands gripping the steering wheel with a vice-like grip as if they were trying by main force to hold the vehicle back. Every time the clutch is thrown out the , engine races furiously, and when the clutch ' is let in again the vehicle is thrown for- ! ward violently, involving strain to both ! engine and transmission. It takes time to I learn, no doubt, but the engine and transmission will have an exceedingly rough time of it until this learning to drive on the throttle is acquired.

Number of vehicles. 1921. Imported .. 6,341, Exported .. 2,802 1922. 14,051 1,804 1923. 19,972 3,116 Excess imports 3,539 1*2 #49 16356 In the above figures the exports are cars of British manufacture. € ind reexports of foreign made cars have been deducted from the imports. Considered in point of value, the figures are as under, for i the eight-monthlv period in each year:1921. 1922. 1923. £ £ £ Foreign cars Imported (net) 3,443,448 3,838,330 4,257,408 British cars exports 39,149 2,110,154 2,056,719 Excess of net