BODY WORK.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 4

BODY WORK.

TREND OF DESIGN. DEMAND FOR CLOSED CAB. The development of the mechanical side of the motor-car has been equalled, if not surpassed (says the "British. Trade He view"') during the past two years by the many improvements in coach-work. Not so long ago the body was merely an appanage of the chassis. To-day the average car buyer spends more time in examining the body and its fittings than the chassis. The latter is taken for granted as representing the manufacturer's latest and best achievement. It is very largely a fixed commodity, to the extent that alterations and modifications are hardly possible to suit the individual purchaser. But in the coachwork and fittings there is always a choice except in the case of the cheaper cars, and thus much time is given to the selection of colour, the question of the upholstery, and the type of body itself.

Fabric Typo of Body. During the past year the fabric type of body has progressed by leaps and bounds. The constantly increasing demand for closed cars has helped forward this development. The original fabric body, the Weymann type, still represents in the opinion of most body builders the best form, the method of constructing the frameAVork allowing the body to give to any whip or distortion in the chassis frame. A cheaper form of construction has a" rigid framework over which the leather-cloth covering is stretched, the later being reinforced by an inner layer of threeply wood. This construction does not lend itself to meeting whip in the chassis frame in the same way as the Weymann type, neither is it altogether immune from the development of squeaks and rattles after considerable use, but it makes a reasonably light and inexpensive car and is preferable to a very cheaply constructed coachbuilt body. In the better quality fabric bodies has been improved enormously. Some of the earlier examples were rather box-like in their lines, but with the introduction of the four-light type a better appearance has been obtained, and in their general ensemble they are now scarcely less attractive than the best examples of coach-work. Twelve or fifteen years ago the Continental coach-builders were far ahead of the English body-builders in most features of design. It was then considered almost essential to go to a French house 'if something exceptionally, smart and exclusive was required. But in recent years English coachbuilders have even eclipsed the best work of Continental firms. Perhaps fhe most startling designs still emanate from the Continent, but for the most perfect combination of exterior lines, interior comfort, and sound craftsmanship, the English body builders are in the very front rank.

Cellulose Finish. Cellulose finish continues to make headway, and paint and varnish is now the standard finish on few cars other than the expensive types. This is not very surprising in view of the durability of cellulose, the ease of cleaning, and the gloss which can now be obtained with it. Very often when two cars are placed together, one finished in cellulose, the other in paint and varnish, it is difficult to. detect the difference without a very close examination. When cellulose was first introduced, trouble was experienced in and around the headings and door ioints through the cellulose flaking off." This has nowbeen almost entirely overcome, partly by improvements in the cellulose paint itself and the methods of applying it and also by reducing the headings and mouldings to the minimum. On a flat surface there is no question as to the durability of cellulose, and cleaning and polishing only tend to improve its appearance without any apparent loss of body. Although the standard of coach-work has been very high during the past two years improvements are still being introduced particularly in regard to the fittings. Door handles and loop handles on the inside are now better, pneumatic upholstery is more largely used, and better vision for the driver is provided through the tendency to fit single panel windscreens. If it is true that it is the little things which oount then the motor-car body designer is working on the rieht lines, for a careful examination of the latest models shows that the improvements are being made wherever possible, and even in the smallest details.

USELESS BUMPERS.

AMERICAN RECOMMENDATIONS. Unless bumpers on motor vehicles are approximately tho same height above the road surface they will not serve their full purpose, because the bumper of one car may strike above or below that of another car. For this reason a recommendation has been made to the Standards Committee of the Society of Automotive Engineers, for approval at the summer meeting of the society, that protective bumpers on passenger cars, small motor coaches and light deliverv trucks shall be mounted so that the centre line of the bumper face will be 18 inches above ground for the front bumper and 19 inches above ground for the rear bumper, with an allowable variation in each case of three-eighths of an inch up or down for each inch width of bumper fa<:e. The recommendation also provides that passenger car bumpers shall be 60 inches in length arid have a width of face or vertical depth of at least two inches, and that the height above ground shall be measured with the normal quantities of water, fuel, and oil, biit_ without passengers or load in the. vehicle.

The fact that a burnt-out electric bulb still retains a high vacuum enables it to be used as an improvised plug tester on the principle that the spark will readily jump a wide gap in a high vacuum. The method is to twist a piece of wire round the bulb cap in such a way that one end of the wire touches one of tho contact plates, the other end boiug bent so as to touch the engine and form the return circuit. The other contact plate is used to touch the plug terminal and thus shunt the current which jumps across the ends of the lead-iu wires in the bulb. If the plug is in a short circuited condition by carbon the spark will either fail to jump or do so intermittently. Tighten body and other bolts to offset disagreeable squeaks and rattles. Examine tyres for cuts and bruises and have them repaired without delay.