MOTOR & CYCLING

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 16 (Supplement)

MOTOR & CYCLING

A CAR FOR £B5 OR LE'SS

CHEAPBR-THAXEVBR JlOl'OßlSli. (London Motor 'Correspondent.) The groat mass-producers of motor cars'in Great‘Kritain ’JiaVe now announced their 1932 programmes, and the motorist of moderate means who is thinking of buying a npw car within the next few weeks or months knows now what sort of vehicle will’ be at his disposal and how much he will require to pay for it. (From an examination of the new Austin, Morris, Rover and Singer models it is clear that he can look forward to motoring at less cost and in greater comfort than ever. He will motor' at less cost because cars are not only cheaper to 'buy but easier to maintain, and. more economical to run. In several cases the same model is offered with . a larger or a smaller engine, and the. purchaser can choose whichever appeals to him most, at thei same price. Model after model, which I examined, showed tho same eagerness on the part of designers- to simplify the . .chassis and. to ensure trouble-free running, while every effort also to have been made to enhance. the performance of. the car by meinS which. do not entail higher running charges. . On several of the new models,:.for. Instance; .the : .qun. visor has beeii' abolished. ’The Morris people have not only rid their saloon’ cars of the visbr, but have cambered the edge of the roof in accordance .with aeroplane practice. The sum of these, two liiddißeatidns,' they claim, is to lessen resistance to the air stream. I do hot that the absence of a Visor and the cambering of a' roof edge will help a low-priced saloon to approximate in performance to a, sports model,- and, in any case, it is improbable that the designers of •“Eddyfree” Morris coachwork claim that the increase in actUh.l speed will be more than fractional. • But it - demonstrates the .pains; that manufacturers are ready to take, arid’ what expense in the way of new .production methods they are-, prepared to stand, to give thd* motorist the beneifii of the latest ideis. ; EXIT THE tIXED VISOR. | ■ (Personally I am glad to see: the fixedyisor go'for it does little to keep the sun out, and it only adds to the difficulties, of Car cleahihg- Nor has it anything in the way of amenity to commend it; ' The njosSt satisfactory type of siih visor is that made , of tinted -glass which can be, raised afid. lowered as required. It is interesting td note that this has. become a standard fitting on the majoHfy of the ’ slightly higherpriced cars.' . , AS whs to be expected, the mass-pro-ducers .‘are. concentrating increasingly this year bn the smallest types of car. The Austin Seven, is cheaper than ever to buy and appears in an even more attractive guise than heretofore; the sf. Elinor also impresses with many excellences at low cost; the 'Singer u.i,ur,\.us been, re,-designed arid makes its bow agaih aS’ an even, better value-for-money proposition than before. Thus it will be seen that motorists who intend to buy a small car are in for a headache when, it combs to making a final Choice. If the new. Rover car materialises in the coming season this difficulty will be all the greatdr, for it is freely rumoured that when this car is put into production it will sell <it £B5 or less. The Rover. Company is apparently deteriiiiried not to reveal more than it can about the qew “baby,” but, as it happen? I had ah opportunity, while in the neighbourhood of Coventry recently, of seeing what I presume is . one of the experimental models, actually on the road. It was covering ground at one time about 50 m.p.h., but when it came to rest I . was able to examine it, at any-rMe, superficially. It.has the same accdm'naodatibn as ; other types of diminutive cars, but . the design of the chassis seems io be entirely 'different. _ For in-stance,-it has sin air-cooled twin Cylinder eilgino at tlie rear, the space under th? . bo'nnet in, front bein ? apparently taken up by- the driver’s feet and the spare wheel. IXGENIOpS CONSTRUCTION.

Those who remember the old air-cool-ed 8 h.p. Royer, will be particularly interested iff this new model. Although the engine »'p]ap?d at the rear of the car an efficient system of cooling has evidently been devised. I saw a large fan between the two cylinders of the V-shaped engine. Engine, gear-box and back axle are all constructed as one unit, and it seems to be necessary only to lubricate the engine to ensure the complete lubrication of the chassis. Coil Springs on each -wheel do away with tlie need of greasing points. Such a method of lubrication, if it is proved to be successful—and there seems no reason why it should not be on such small cars —goes far to realise one of the dreams of the owner-driver. A welcome-feature of the 1032 models is that safety glass is fitted without exception, at least as regards the vvmdfi'Sreen, while fbr the little higher price of. the de luxe models safety glass all round is provided. It is highly desirable that every piece of glass in a car should be unsplinterable,. and it ia a sound policy on the part of prospective purchasers to pay the little extra cost involved. Some of. the makers give safety glass all round even in the case of the standard models for a small additional charge, while others include it in the ordinai’y price. . In an impact, even a frontal one, there is as much danger of the -windows shattering as the windscreen. A hcad-qh collision sometimes makes the door glass fly more readily than the screen glass. ‘Safety glass all round is, therefore, dictated by common prudence. HOW TRIPLEX IS MADE. Comparatively few people realise how many intricate, probissees.go to the making: of safety glaSs; and what sedulous care is ekerclsed -by a firm Such as Triplex £t every Stage of manufacture, to ensure' satisfactory servicF. While m the recently, I -took the opportunity "of an Invitation to-visit the- Triplex works, near- Birmingham, where I 'eaw the-various processes-from the’ arrival of the' raw • material to the dispatch of the finished sfieeta of Triplex in huge' quantities tb'such motorcaT r manufacturers as- Austin, Morris, Rilev •iind'Singer/ ' ' Two kinds' of glass-plate glass and sheet,glass Are ufetd-. t-hb r fo ™ er screen! ’arid the latter for. lights. I ho sheets conie in various sizes and arc cut io the-required shaped with amazing deftness' by the Work-people. While the glass es being cut in-one departments celluloid sh'ceta are being cut in another." In yet ‘another part of the factory sheets" of ■ glass ifl- pairs < introduced' to single '■ sheets of and an 'ingenious machine makes a KgdWich orthem and them, on to

the next operation, which is carried out by delicately-adjlisted presses. These mate the glass and the celluloid for better or worse. So much .care is taken in the various processes and so numerous are the inspections —every other worker Seems to be an inspector—that the risks of a ■ dissolution of the union through bad material, or because of bad workmiinship, seem remote. Even after the 'Triplex sandwich has been sealed, scanned, cleaned and prepared for dispatch, it is taken over by a set of lynx-eyed inspectors, who hold the pieces under a merciless north light, Which reveals evbry little scratch dr blemish. If these cannot be reinoved the -piece of Triplex is relentlessly rejected. What strikes one most about the Triplex factory is the efficiency of the work-people and of the system which governs their actions. Cleanliness is, of course, vital, and, accordingly, some parts of the factory almost resemble the wards of a hospital in their spotlessncss. HEALTH IN THE MOTOR CAMP. IMPORTANCE OF SANITATION. (Contributed by the Department of Health.) With the advent of the motor-car camping has gained very much in popularity Of recent years. The organised camping grounds established by 'borough councils and other bodies are generally well equipped with sanitary conveniences,' and the presence of an attendant ensures that the camping'site is left in as ’clean a condition as it is found. Many people, however, travel further alfifcld, and some of them through carelessness or ignorance not only suffer avoidable discomfort but spoil the ground for others, and leave behind them' an accumulation of unsightly litter. ' . The sanitary requirements of. a good camp include provision of E safe water supply ;■ protection of food from dust, flies , and animals; and provision for the satisfactory disposal. of all waste matter.' Unless a safe supply of water is obtainable from a nearby house, deep well - or- spring suitable- precautions should be taken. Shallow wells, ponds and nearly all streams should be viewed with suspicion and the. water either boiled before use or chlorinated. The latter process is carried out as follows: A stock solution is prepared by adding one half teaspoonfnl of chlorinated lime to one pint of water. Use one teaspoonful of this solution to 10 gallons; 36 drops to 1 gallon, or 9 drops to 1 qiiart. 'Let stand at least I's minutes. If these amounts are not exceeded the tibste of the water should not be affectedi 1 All food should be carefully protected from dust and flies. Thereby not only will the dangers of summer diarrhoea be guarded against, but the discomfort of numerous flics about the camp will be lessened. A portable meat safe Serves the purpose -admirably and should be hung in a cool place —preferably under a tree. If transport space is limited a safe may be improvised from a small wooden box by. providing it With a- close-fitting hinged lid and at least two openings covered with perforated zinc to allow of through ventilation. Food can - then be packed in it when travelling. Disposal of waste includes satisfactory disposal of the excrement of- the campers, scraps of food, empty tins and general litter, as well as the dirty water from dish-washing and personal ablution. It is the neglect of suitable provision under this 'heading which spoils the beauty of so many tive camping grounds, and causes owners of land to regard camping parties in anything but a favourable light. The Ohly satisfactory method of disposing of such refuse ‘is by burning or burial, and a spade is a most essential article of camp equipment. One or more Suitable spots should be chosen for the camp latrines, so that privacy is afforded and the water supply not endangered. A short trench nine inches wide and. a foot to I'B inches deep should be dug, and the dry earth removed will be Used to co'ver faecal matter as soon as deposited. When the trench is three parte full it. should, be covered in and a new'one prepared. If care is used there will be no smell and no flies will be attracted. ■ Scraps of food, paper, etc. should be burnt’as far as possible. What cannot be burnt, together with empty tins, broken glass, etc. should be thrown into a deep hole dug for the purpose. It the camp is used for more than one night a separate sump hole should be' prepared for all dirty water. For this purpose a square hole two or three feet deep should be dug and filled nearly to the top with stones or brushwood. The size of the hole and its possible renewal will depend on the capacity of the soil for absorbing water. This sump hole—in a . permanent camp—should be daily sprinkled with lime or chlorinated lime. On breaking camp all trenches and holes should be filled in, care being taken first to collect up all litter arid bury it. Attention to these matters will make the camp a more comfortable one, ami, what is more important, will leave the locality unspoilt. SKILLED WORKMANSHIP. MACHINE AGE 'REQUU?EMENTS. This period of history has been called the Machine Age so often, and the name ha? been so universally accepted, that it comes as something of ’a surprise to have a question raised whether that appellation is right dr hot. Hence, when no less an authority than Mr. 11. L. Weckler, works manager of the Buick Motor Company, asserts that really the man is more important than the machine, it is interesting to 'find out why he thinks so. Tt is the skill of the individual workman, and not the mere machine or tool that he uses, that determines just how fine any piece of handiwork will be, Mr. Weckler believes. He cites the guild spirit, which made the workshops of old London famous for honest craftsraaiifiHip arid sturdy quality, as a timehonoured instance. That same spirit is alive to-day in many industries, for men have not changed-and pride in the work of the hand? is ?till to be found among them. The finest machinery and tools will not produce fine automobiles, unless expertly handled. To scientifically developed steels and other metals, to expert engineering, the best types of equipment and infinitely accurate tools arid measuring instruments, there must be added the touch of the thorough mechanic to complete the cycle.. When a group of experts has been gathered together in any community,, that comtriunity becomes a centre that could scarcely be moved to a new setting.

TOO MANY ROAD SIGNS,

PRACTICE MAY BE DANGEROUS.

The question has been raised in America, and in New Zealand, the point could well be taken by many local bodies, whether, in the anxiety to give the ■motor vehicle driver warning of any possible danger in the roadway, the system of warning -signs has been carried too far. Mr. Robbins B. StoCckel, commissioner of motor vehicles for Connecticut and a highway executive of long experience, raises this question in a bulletin recently released by his department. “It is no aid to safety, 'but may be tlie opposite,” says Mr. Stoeckel, “to have so many direction .signs that no one will pay any attention to any of them; to have white division lines on roacis where they are not needed; to have too much headlight power where conditions do riot warrant fast driving at. night, and to hax-e numerous signs which do not mean what they say, such as ‘stop’ signs in places where the message should be ‘caution!’” Almost every driver has seen signs erected by the roadside, warning him of a curve and has slowed down with proper caution, only to find that the curve presents no difficulty and no danger. The tendency in such cases is to begin to disregard any sign reading “Curve.” Now there are some curves, short angled swings, where any driver fit to operate a motor vehicle would want to slow down .to mtlke the turn. Such curves should have the cautionary sign. But if the real warning of such signs has been weakened by over-use, even a careful driver may run into an accident by disregarding the warning that has been gi veil. The whole subject of placing warning signs and signals is one that deserves careful and expert study. We must by all means have needed signs, but we must not; weaken the whole system of warning- drivers by misusing our warnings. : RESTORING ENGINE POWER. SIX OPERATIONS NEEDED. For tlie correct engine tune-up to restore engine power, according to Mr. W. B. Franklin, service manager of General Motors New Zealand Limited, the following six operations are necessary:— 1. Spark plug.—'Check for correct type of plug.; . check fpr proper gap, using feeler gauge; replace tlie plugs if badly worn or if used for 10,000 miles or more. 2. Ignition cable.—'Check for deterioration or breaks.’ Battery.—-Check electrolyte for density and level, sufficient water; check fir looSe connections arid corrosion. 3. Distributor.—'Check breaker point gap, use feeler gauge. Replace points if pitted or worn too miieh. 4. Spark timing.—'Check for correct timing, synchronize breaker points if necessary. ■ 5. Valve clearance.—'Check for proper lash, use feeler gauge. 6. Carburettor. —Set the idljng speed and ■ adjust carburettor exactly in accordance with instructions furnished By the manufacturer. A haphazard tune-up is. only partly satisfactory. On the other hand, a definite orderly tu'ne-up costs little, is quickly completed, and increases greatly the pleasure of driving a motor-car. OLD-TIMER KEEPS GOING. FIFTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE. One of those venerable old-time cars which remind One that the motor industry is no longer- young recently rolled up to Chevrolet Motor Company headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Finerty, of Sftn Antonio, Texas, arriving in their 191'6 Chevrolet ■‘Royal Mail” roadster, purchased by them in that year and in their continuous service since that time. Although the original pistons and rings still furnish motive power, the speedometer gave out some years ago; but Mr. Finerty, basing his estimate on benzine consumption, states that the car has done well over 300.000 miles in its I's years of service with him. Both coasts of America have been, visited, as well as the Canadian and Mexican borders, the Yellowstone and most of the States of the Union by the Einertys during their periodic vacation jaunts, with the old-timer as their means of transportation. The only major trouble ever developed by the car, Mr. Finerty reported, was when he cracked a frame in some rough going in the Yellowstone, and could not find the flaw until he got back to Texas. The engine of the old-timer bears serial number 11,823, while late this month the eight millionth product of the company is now off the assembly lines. After a brief stay in Detroit the Finertys turned the nose of the veritable old patriarch of the highways back toward Texas, and started out on a steady ,20 to 25 miles an hour clip, as confident of getting home on schedule as though the car were one of the newest sixes. CARBON MONOXIDE. THE OZONATOR. \ Among the millions of pounds worth of equipment in the General Motors factory in Detroit, Michigan, few machines are as interesting as that known as an ozonator. This machine generates ozone to counteract carbon monoxide gas, which escapes from the exhaust? of cars as they are driven from the assembly line. “As you stand at the end of the line watching workers putting the finishing touches on a chassis,” said. Mr. L. L. King, production manager of General Motors New Zealand Limited, “you will see a large metal box suspended from tlie ceiling over the line. This is to protect the men from the danger, of carbon monoxide gas. Of course, this gas does not exist all along the assembly line, because the cars are moved by conveyors rather than by their own power. At the end of the line, however, the engines are started and tlie cars driven' off. With cars constantly leaving the line, naturally there' is a lot of carbon monoxide gas in the air. '• ' "The ozonator is a rectangular slieqt metal ’ box enclosing a ti'ansfornier and a, group of glass cylinders, which are coated' with copper ’ foil. Surrounding each glass cylinder is another cylinder of alumiiiium. In the space between these two cylinders a continuous electric discharge is produced. Ozone is venerated by circulating room an through this discharge by means of- a small flower, located on the machine. ’This ozone oxidises carbon monoxide and. renders it harmless. “The ozonator is typical of the consideration shown for the welfare of the employees in all departments. Every possible device tliat will makfe’working conditions better is provided. ' Under these conditions employees can display thuir best eraftmaiishili.”