MOTOR JOTTINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12720, 15 August 1919, Page 3

MOTOR JOTTINGS.

THE GERMAN MOTOR industry. An American consular report gives some particulars as to the position in Germany at the present moment. Prior to th ® '! ar * Germany had probably some .000 to. 8000 trucks in use. Most ot these were taken over by the army when war broke out, and during the war onlyv about 2000 to 3000 vehicles assigned to the home forces were available, partly for public and partly for private use. The number of army trucks actually existing was much smaller than was generally anticipated, and the forced surrender of 5000 trucks to the Allies under the armistice terms makes it quite certain that there will be a shortage for a long time- A threeton truck, which was sold for £BOO before the war, costs in Germany to-dav not less than £ISOO, with tyres oif +u oll Tn a Vj lvc Jod. Such a car is sold by the heldag (an organisation of German motor-car manufacturers) after a thor--oy®yslauling. for from £6OO to S./UU. W hen second-hand cars realise such prices, it is not surprising that private firms find it difficult to purchase trucks at a reasonable figure. The German motor companies have, however, dono exceedingly well during the war, nearly all of them having greatly increased their production, t/wmg to the army demands, manufacturers, during the struggle, were nob concerned with the finding of a market, and production has, therefore, been very intensive. In England the majority of the- motor factories were transferred into munition plants, hut in Germany they were preserved to carry on the work for which they were designed, and are, therefore, in a position to put cars on the market almost at once. TO GET TYKE MILEAGEOne of the commonest causes of tyre injury lies in running in tram tracks, for a tremendous strain is thrown on the side wall, while bits of steel ore embedded in the tread. Another reason for the rapid wearing out of tyres is quick starting and stopping, and the turning of corners at high speed. A further fruitful source of tyre damage is driving on under-inflated wheels, there is Jess danger in over-inflation, but one should not rely on guesswork concerning the pressure in the tyres. A mechanical tyre pump which can be attached to the engine will pay for itself in no_ time by increased tyre miles, and if on© cannot afford the power-driven kind, the next best is one that clamps to the running board and operates with but little exertion. Patches put on inside the tyres after a blow-out should never be left in for any length of time. Such a patch acts as a piece of foreign matter between tyres and tube, that is always chafing and producing friction, and throws the tyre out of balance- A neglected cut will soon become a blow-out, and the sooner it is filled with tyre cement the better.

AMERICA’S WAR GAINS. _ The following table gives the statistics of exports of American automobiles to various countries last year compared with 1914:

Country. 1918. Value. 1914. Value. Dels. Dols. Canada , , , . 7,141,405 5,445,052 Australia , , , . 3,271,317 2,615,896 Japan . . . , 2,877,693 100,995 Mexico ... . 1,539,266 239,166 Chile ... . 2,315,386 160,194 Cuba ... . 3,638,001 254,423 Philippine Islands . . 1,462,571 697,175 Argentina . , , 1,673,173 963,586 New Zealand . . . 1.228,86-4 074.708 Uruguay . . . . 799,787 167,269 British South Africa . 1,070,570 1,437,883 Butch Bast Indie* . 1,567,766 308,722 Brazil , . 856.374 264,992 Prance . t , . 1,134,818 : 919,060 China « . , , 896,728 143,619 Spain ... . 1,042,783 84,758 Gfermany . . , ft ' 1,040,787 Hngland , .. . . , . 697,342 6,615,487 Russia (i-.;:rjpe) C thpr countries 8,325 898,458 . 8,756,266 8,189,728