HIGH ROAD AND BY-ROAD

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17220, 1 October 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

HIGH ROAD AND BY-ROAD

STOLEN CARS. The annual report of the New Zealand Motor Traders’ Association says:— . In our last report reference was made to the increase in the number of cars stolen and the necessity of amending the Act to permit of more severe penalties being inflicted on those found guilty of the theft of cars. It is a matter of regret that the theft of cars has increased during the year, and the position is worse than last year. A stiffening of the penalties is now being asked for by automobile associations, and this request will receive the hearty approval and support of the motor trade.

NAMES OF CARS. Cars which will not start or climb a hill are called all sorts of names by their owners. It is interesting, however, to learn the origin of the real name of of cars, the majority of which were named after the producer or designer. Henry Ford, A. n. Erskine, H. M. Jewett, Rollin White, J. N. Willys, E. S. Jordan, W. P. Chrysler, C. W. Nash, F. C. Chandler, W. Durant, 11. C. Stutz, W. R. Morris, Sir H. Austin, and Hie Dodge brothers are' among the figures in the industry who have given obvious names to cars.

Among the pioneers whose names survive on cars still in production are Rolls and Roycc, Voisin, Riley, Romeo, Singer, Citroen and Daimler. Names composed of initials are chiefly used by Continental firms. Instances are Fiat, an abbreviation for Fabric a Italiana Aulomobili Torino, and 5.D.1.M., for Socicte Lyonaise Industrie Mechanique. There is the British G.W.K., after the founders of the firm, Grice, Wood, and Keillor, A.8.C., is a reminiscence of the All-British Engine Company. F.N. is (he abbreviation of Fabrique Nalionalie dcs Armes de Guerre.

The originators of the Waverlcy car debated long on the selection of a name for their product, and finally one of the parly suggested his favourite books—the Waverley novels. Alvis was chosen because it would being the car to the head of any published alphabetical list. The name Clyno is mysterious, and (hose now' associated with the firm can give no information concerning its origin. Lagonda was a made up word without meaning, chosen because it sounded w'eil. Rhode is a puzzle, and A.C. refers to Auto Carriers, the original firm which constructed a carrier triecyclc. Yauxhall owes its origin to the situation of Ihe founding firm in that quarter of London. There are many names suggesting efficiency, power, or speed. Whippet needs no explanation. Trojan is obvious as was Ajax, now abandoned by the Nash .“Company. A Hercules car is now an orphan. Louis Chevrolet, the racing car driver, supplied the name of the well-known General Motors -product. Oakland is merely the name of the territory 7 in which the factory is situated. Flint has a similar origin. Pontiac was a powerful Indian chief in Oakland. Mr William Buick began the manufacture of petrol engines in 1003. R. E. Olds began building gas engines in 188 Ci and automobiles in 1897. The Cadillac organisation is the oldest motor company in Detroit, and the crest used is that of Sieur Antoine Cadillac who founded the colony where Detroit now 7 stands in 1701. the woman motorist. Some, advice to women on the choice of a car is given by the Hon. Mrs Motor Bruce, perhaps the best-known lady motorist in Britain and on the Continent. Mrs Bruce says:—• “When I see small girls driving Tug cars and obtaining inadequate visibility through the spokes of the steering w'hcel 1 cannot help wondering what their menfolk can have been about to let them drive so uncomfortably and consequently so dangerously, rot I believe that in comfort at the wheel lies safelv. If it is a strain to reach the pedals, or if one has to hold oneself unnaturally upright to see oxer the top of the steering wheel, proper attention cannot be given to the road, quite apart from the fact that only imperfect mechanical control over the car is thus secured. I suppose the extreme instances whic.i one so often sees occur when the girl is driving a car" that is not adjusted for her use; and attractive as the prospect may he of taking the wheel of a strange car, it docs not seem quite fair to the public in the present congested state of the roads.” “DOPED” FUEL. EFFECT ON ENGINE. “Doped” petrol, that is, motor spirit to which tetra ethyl lead, picric acid, or oilier chemicals have been addyd, is used rather extensively in America, and drivers of sporting types of cars who wish for a little more power or less “pinking” use these mixtures consistently. Motor cyclists are even more inclined to experiment with “dopes," and there has been much speculation regarding the supposed injurious effect of the chemicals which are added. To obtain data on this point the English motoring journal, the Autocar, conducted a test over 2000 miles with a motor cycle. The engine w 7 as powered with a single cylinder engine. Before the test w 7 as commenced the cylinder head, valve-head, the piston, on the crown and underneath, were completely cleansed of carbon deposit and given a polish, the valves were ground until they seated perfectly, the oil sump was filled with fresli oil, and, in the tank, fuel reputed lo contain eight c.c. of tetra ethyl lead to each gallon was u cd throughout the trial. The measured compression ratio of the engine was 4.78 to 1. The most noticeable feature of the machine’s running was its flexibility 7 due to the fact that for the first 850 miles it was impossible to make it “pink,” a result entirely due to the fuel. From 850 miles onward there w : as occasional “pinking” thought to he due, in all probability, to flakes from the mica insulation on the plug. When the engine was dismantled it was noticeable that the carbon deposit was very slight, reddish in colour in places and very hard. There had been no action between the fuel and the aluminium piston or cast iron head, neither was there definite evidence, so far as could be readily ascertained, of any harmful effect to the walls of the cylinder. The head of the exhaust valve had a red deposit, as though it had been running at very high temperature, though, during the test, the engine had shown no sign of abnormal

beat. Very little grinding was necessary to remove the apparent trace of pitting, except in one portion of the face on which small pits were more difficult lo remove. The valve was in no sense unusable, and it seemed as though the face was covered with a deposit, and holes in the deposit gave the effect of pitting under a magnifying glass. It is not thought that the pitting actually found on the valve face was definitely the result of using tetra ethyl lead fuel, but it does not seem probable that with this fuel valves will have to be ground to their seats more frequently if they are to remain gas-tight. The inlet valve had a more normal deposit, and no obvious deposit on its face, but owing to a badly-worn valve guide it was in poor condition. Both valves were of 3 per cent, nickel steel. At first sight the sparking plug seemed unaffected, the gap between the points being wider than usual, though this, apparently, was not due to corrosion. When the plug was dismantled it was found that the mica insulation exposed to combustion was of reddish colour and had begun to flake. On the mica, also, were traces of a metallic deposit. The plug fired perfectly, but seemed as though it would not last much longer. There’was no sign of corrosive effect, cither on the petrol tank, externally, or the niclml filler cap, or in any part of the carburetter. MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. An advertisement in an English paper recently appeared for a motor cycle mechanic who must be a conscientious worker, . non-smoker, and preferably a Christian! Drive on the throttle as far as possible. Do not use Hie release valve lifter except for starting and to relioxe Ihe strain on the transmission during Ihc last few yards when stopping. Never allow yourself to become addicted to the bad practice of showing off For instance, there is nothin-, particularly clever in driving up to a traffic block or other necessary stoppage at a high speed and then jam mine- on the brakes so as to effect a spectacular stop. Any credit there ii rests with the machine and its maker and not with the driver. I