MOTORS AND MOTORING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2143, 8 May 1914, Page 11

MOTORS AND MOTORING.

[BY -CLnTcn.]

[By Clutch.] Bcnzolo prospcots. Benzole, the unioh-boomcd substitute for petrol, is not likely to count for a great deal in New Zealand for some tiino to eomc. 'It is now selling at from Is. 2d. to Is. Cd. a gallon in England, where it bears no tax. Petrol, bearing a tax, sells there from Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. per gallon. The supply of benzole in Britain is so 'limited that it cannot replace petrol or affect its prico. Mr. Keith C. Jackson, of Masterton, has gone closely into the possibility of producing benzole in New Zealand. He is not at all optimistic on thesubject. Like many other people, he believes that alcohol will be the fuel of thtv future.

' Ihe conclusion 7 have arrived at," says j\lr. Jackson, "is that a thorough knowledge \ and understanding of the position can only ,bo gained on the spot where benzole is now being made—in England. There are at least two distinct methods by which benzole may be produced. First, by distillation from blast furnace gases, and second, by distillation from conl tar. By tho.first process vast quantities of coko arc producer! as a by-product,-and ifc is claimed that the absence of iron maniifacI furies in tho country ivould mean'.tliat Si? c ?k o a waste product. Ihis is a matter that requires more ventilation, as there seems t-o be a sure and rapidly-increasing demand for coke in almost any quantities for household fuel and gas-produccr power plants—of course, supposing that the class of coke produced was suitable for that purpose. 'Mhe second process is, much simple and less expensive. It docs not leave the tar useless for roadmaking purposes, and seems to-be the most promising. But here again you are facod with tho difficulty of securing tar in sufficient quantities to make it worth Whilo to treat it. AH these questions inquire more light thrown on thorn, and it seems to me to be available only on the spot where tho benzoic is being made. The advantages arc undoubted, as, according to reliable English motor journals, a saving of at least 25 per cent, can be effected over petrol, besides which your engine runs better and keeps cleaner.

Alcohol the Coming' Fuel. ;;fl°«vor, I believe that the solution ot the fuel question for iutenial combustion motors lies in' the use of alcohol in somo form. It lias been fairly reliably demonstrated that alcohol makes ail efficient motor fuel; and the advantage is that the raw material necessary for its production 1 abounds every where. .Old straw, wood, sawdust, waste vegetables and, in fact, waste vegetable matter in any form could all be turned to account. Provision, of course, has to be made that tlie 'Spirit sold is not in a drinkable form. Unfortunately alcohol in any form is very heavily taxed at present, and so long as a serious tax is imposed no progress can be looked for along those lines. Several attempts have been mnclo to introduce a Bill into the United Senate encouraging tho production of alcohol for motor fuel purposes, but the Bills, have met with a short shrift at tho hands of the Oil Trust's nominees. The move-at any rate serves to show, the trend of public opinion. •

'Whilst I have no desire to mal;o a pun," Mr, Jackson "motor fuel will inevitably lie one of tlie most burning questions of .the day.. The expansion of the motor industry is as yet onty in its infancy, ~apd as.Voi are, so tar from; the source of supply;.the importance of producing , our fuel within our own shores-cannot bo overestimated.!' A Severs Test. . Four. cars started in the recent Swedish winter trials, using alcohol fuel, and .two of them finished. .These trials are among: the most..severe in Europe, and great importance is ; attached- in Sweden to the result. It is probablo that several of the large spirit factories will make extensive arrangements for the storing of alcohol. ' The new fuel is apparently at present about 3d.- a gallon cheaper than petrol. 'According' to tlio "Stockholm , Dagblad," the Reynicrsliolms Spirit Factory, presented a . trophy to bo competed for by motor-cars employing alcohol alone as .a'fuel.' One of the entrants for this trophy ..was a Minerva car, owned by. Mr. .linns Osterman, a prominent, member of tlio motor indussry.in Stockholm. It was only three days before the start of the race when Mr. Osterman'was asked to allow one of the cars entered by him to .be driven by. alcohol. Consequently, very little time was available for preparations. The only alteration that it was found possible to' make in the time was the'replacement 'of the carburettor jet by another of more suitable dimensions. The distance of the trial was 700 miles, and on the average about G(j gallons of fuel were used by the cars in covering the distance. The Minerva car behaved well throughout, with the exception that the carburetter, 'had to bo cleaned on two occasions. It appears, however, that some remedy was discovered. With the exceptions mentioned, the engine ivork(jd excellently during the trial, and the oar kept well up to time. Furthermore/ it was among the best nerformers on the hills. Noxt Session's Motor Bill. ' It is generally ..understood'that a new Motor ltogulation Bill will be, introduced next session. The Government has been repeatedly requested by the various local bodies to amend the. present Act, aiid particularly to impose a tax.on. motors. The Act is admittedly quite out of date and -ineffective. .Nothing more chaotic could be imagined than the present registration position. The necessity for a new law as to lights was fully gone into in this column a fortnight ago. There are, - however, vast differences of opinion how the law should bo amended. Motors of all kinds arc a bete noil' to many unpiygressivo local bodies, and somo impossible proposals have been put forward. , Developments are being closely watched by the New Zealand Automobile Union. It is understood that the union will probably approach the Government before long-with definite proposals for a new Act. It is naturally desired as far as possible to secure national regulation of motor traffic. In a day's run a motor will often pass through tho territory of a score of local bodies. It is quite impossible for anyone to keep fully in touch with intricate by-laws of each county, town board, and borough. So far as taxation goes,-most motorists -will accept this with' equanimity—provided it is on a fair basis. It would hei grossly unfair, for instance, to tax the motorist'alona and leave other users of roads free. If we arc to have a road tax, it is only right that all who contribute to tlio'wear and tear of the roads should pay their sharo of it. All motorists, car-owners and cyclists alike, who wish to see their ease fairly stated should support tho association or club in their district. A Twelve-Mile Limit? Reference was made last week to tho decision of Mr. Bailey, the Christchureh Magistrate, that twenty miles' an hour was not an excessive speed 011 tho I'apanui Road. This decision has been reversed by two Justices 01 the Peace, who have sineo lined 0110 motor-cyclist for travelling 011 tho samo road at a speed estimated by tho polico at twenty miles an. hour, and another whoso speed tlio police' jnit. at- fifteen ; miles an hour, j'apanui Road, it should'be noted," is three miles, and "is'an arterial road leading into Christohurcli.

Sergeant Bird, in giving evidence, ex-

pressed tho view that twelve niilas an hour was quite fast enough for an Open road without centre poles. He instanced the action of tho Waimairi County Council, which had restricted all traffic to twelve miles a.n hour.

H. M'lntosh, motor said that on Papariui Road twelve to fifteen miles an hoar was the- limit of safety with centre poles, Tho second defendant, on being charged with having ridden sfc a, speed "dangerous to the public," asked: — "What speed?" ask,ed I3oag, "Fifteen miles." "Whore?"

Tho police declined to say. They remarked that- Papanui Road was enough, Tho defendant then remarked that Mr. Bailey had given ;i decision that twenty miles was not dangerous, "That is a matter of opinio!'.," said Sub-Inspector MacKinnon. "This sort of thing will be .tUowed to go oh until thero is a serious loss of iifo. The police aro going to take no risk in the matter. They throw the onus on the Bench. If tfo Bench like ta. discharge people who drive recklessly and endanger people's liyes, the police are not to ho blamed."

. "Tho Reiwii believes the prosecution," said lite chairman* "You ar6 fined l f! s. and costs."

HINTS, TtPS, AND QUERIES

Readers of this column are invited | to send along any hints and tips likely to be of use to other motorists. Queries also will be welcomed, and, where possible, an endeavour will bo liiitde to have answers supplied by exports. Letters should bo addressed to "Clutch," Motor Column, DoMiNtoN Office, Wellington." • i Mr. H, W. Lawrence, of .lohnsoiivilie, writes in reply to the light-car owner who last week' sought advice ;is to tho fitting of an imdershield: "I am the owner of an iUMays Midget awl en a l'oeont trip from Palmerston it rained •hard all tho way, which made tho roads very sloppy. Oh arriving heme my engine and üßder-f?ear were in a deplor* abjy dirty condition. I plainly saw if this was permitted the grit would play havoc with the universal joints and other gear, so_ I fitted, a shield from under the radiator which comes back about two iiieho.s back of the fly wheel. This is made of' light galvanised iron. From here to about four inches back' of tho universal joint abaft tho gear box I have a shield of good sail cloth which protects tlie whole splendidly. It is very essential to protect, the universal joints as the wear is terrific on these if grit gets there. }iy shields cause no rattle op noise whatever, and being in two parts, eim bo easily removed if necessiiry." .Mr. Lawrence adds:. "Now I have a trouble which perhaps some brother motorist can help mo to ovei'soiiie. My car has a Zenith carburetter. Tho pilot jet works splendidly, but when opening the main throttle the engine accelerates . until the lever, is raised about an inch (or about oiw quarter fuft throttle), when the engine staggers and almost stops unless 1 fling open the throttle wide at once, when of course tiin angino races" I havo tried everything i can think of, cleaned all parts awd adjusted every part so that nothing ran stick tip. Still the trouble continues, and is somotinies dangerous. As I was leaving .'the side of Lambton Quay recently to go' over to the opposite' side tho car moved off gradually and I wasjust in the tram-ti'-ack vfhon the engine staggered' as 1 wps accelerating:',' and almost stopped- tictful on the rails in front of ait approaching tram. If I had not quickly slammed the Im-ei' full over 1 shou-M probably nriw. hiivo been up at X - cannot find aitjone i li i cx P l3pi M ll^t l similar 'trouble,' so shall bo glad if you can assist mo by giving-this publicity,"... When it i? necessary to- drive aa olectric lighting dynamo from sfimo twinf. liehind tho engine, it is rßcomtiiended 7 "m , n S li!! ' 1 esport that the puilev should be mounted upon the ions aid end of the gearshaft,, -so that all kit. the , natural torsional stress, is taken o!F tho universal joints, and tho radial puli is sustained by the gear bax ball bearings.

There is one thing. that oise should never do with a.n el-eetrre head iawi> and. that is touch the reflector v<Mi ;mv cleaning instrument, brash,'.polish, or anything.. else whatever. If this is tone great inroads are made on the efficiency of tho lamp, . Exfept. when a new bulb lias to be inserted the front door should never bo opened. Noisy gears are sometimes due te the scar-box being inadequately attached to liortu-iIM • ca ? es all cxtra su l'poit will have magical results. The of affen°r i a Wa ? ll0r Under tli6 lifi and noises. ° X ® **** mit ' vibration The Musio of the Motor. The object of tho Motor Trsffi- (Street Noises) Bill, .which Captain AJurray kZtt "+ i? J ', ouso ® Commons recently (states tho Londou "Dailv S'ail") !L ,°t ft"" 0 ?T f<?re the Loeal'Cta-cni.-ment Board to prohibit certain hinds of «"ruing instilments on motor vehicles u. particular areas: • Tiro local Goverament Board was able to proaiiiit the vcn,° ti'° n"' oul " b >' reflation last jeai. 1 he .Department however: neods statutory pervei-s'to deal , vjth shrieks, whistles, gurgles, ch } MCS «, t . calls, and scale-playing w'iiich are'now so frequently li&wd in the crowded tholoiighfares -of London and bm towns.. • " J Jo'rl'll "* tll wliieli wnch sympathy h/liV." ir I" a,t « rs the !( o us.>; Is backed by Mr. Jeynson-Hicks, the chairman of the AUor Union, and Mr.'Arthur .Stanley, the chairman of tlig Rovai Automobile Club. Front Springs. ln'vi„ inaU " f f 0,; - ure! ' absorbers, v,J fi 1 VIC ? tljo spring-eushioji cjpe that is mutable for attacJi.aiej.it to either front or rear springs, lias discovered, somewhat, to his astonishment, that there is wore demand for supplementary; front suspension than for similar equipment m the fear (states an American motor journal). Tho reason is obvious iront springing in mast cais is to-day, and always has been, inadequate. .Perhaps because tho motor is. inanimate, ami therefore makes no \ciial coiupl.jmt iU rough treatment, pcinaps becausc of •Gconoiiiic ntocls, perHaps tor strm-tnral mn-finoiH'c, the tendency is to .make til# front springs iatlier slioriei" tlnui js nnd also to allow inefficient room for spiinoino\c,mcnt bcttvooii the uxk aud tho irame. Hio rosvdt is a hard rkiiji-s fron.t end, which iijtist inci'itaoiv affect the riding qualitios the rear to extent. So Umg as tho result'affords the nieans -of sustenaiico to equipment nianufa.cturers, however, them is compensation. Automatic Control. Recent devolopnieiats in gear shifters and other auUjinatie or power-operated means tor controihng tho func'uon-s of an automobile whieli have matte the "push-button car" possible and practicable, though usually viewed as a luxnry, are very much more tlsan that, for automatic control rightly be considered a step in tho "safety' first" direction (states an Anierica.ii motor i journal). i It has been demonstrated scientifically—as well . as unscientifically—-that not a few man art miablo to drive cars because they, arc uuahtc to cause fch<?ii: minds and muscles to work together. Needless to sav, such ccMbrdiiiafcion is essential to the safe operation of a ma-

chine. Automatic control makes drivwg a possibility for such -persons; because it makes it p, to set the i.s)iitrol!ing system in .idv.nw, so that when the time comes for a gear oliawe, lor instance, there nil! ho nothing "to do tint press the cluteii pW(ai—nothing <o ioi'ce bun to think, or nimble or to distract his attention from steerms, to the peril of the jar and its ocAutomatic' contrql also tends to- heiiMfifc th-p average driver who 110 uipaieit difficulty in making his limbs obwj- the commands of his brain, : Ilon<;vei isKilled a man may be, it is impossible tor liim to «se iiis wits to the Ijta,. itdvantage, and, siinultanoosialy peilomi mure or less sltenuons musetilnr. work'. 'J'he control of a bif? ear iu ;i sudden emergency often does involve real exertion at ,tho identical iii- . stant when the, driver innst make the best possible use of his wits io meet the conditions and escape unscathed. It inay be considered, then, that automatic Mmtird, necessitating but a few twitches of the lingers and permitting even this to bo done partly in ndvaiire, leaves the driver unlianipered in iho exoreise of his intelligence.- It- needs bnt- a trifle to eliminate- the hair's- breadth that often separates safety from disaster, and if automatic control will enahlc a driver to keep on the right side of that narrow margin even oiiee, •when the danger is-serious, it will he well worthy of its place in the ear us a potent factor that makes for -safety. Here and There. Legal lighting up time, to-day, 4.50 p.m.; next Friday, 4.42 p.m. New Xcnland motorists who intend visiting the Qld Country this year i should note that the- Olympia Sli.ow will j be hold from Friday, November 6, to ! November 14; the Paris Salon, from . Friday, October 1(3, to October and the.Berlin moto.r show, from September 2fi to October 26-i There appears to be every possibility ®f cyclo-ears being supplied to the American iwl-ice, in preference to motorcycles, when scattered districts have to be supervised. A rate war between the various motor insurance companies in Great Britain is stated to.be imminent; the object being to crush four independent companies. The "Petroleum Review" gives some' rather interesting information" regarding a new source of supply of promising * crude petroleum and oil -shale in South f Africa. The ail is of good quality, and has | been obtained from a locality which can be easily readied from tlic chief mining centres and eastern'ports. The big taxi-cab companies in London will probably soon bo a thing of the Past. Since the't-axi-eab drivers' strike a number have gone out of business, and the > taxis are -no#- 'being run by owner-drivers. The rea-son given ■is - the inability of the companies to prevent losses through petty frauds by the drivers. The struggle between tho Fire Brigade and the municipal authorities of New I'o-rk, with regard to the speed of motor fire-engines, has -apparently 'ended in favour of the fo-rn.ier, as an order i has been issued providing tbiit, o.wpt when iictuiilly responding'tei a- fire-cn.il, the traffic regulations mast be adheres! to. There is a marked tendency iu America this season towards fitting fo.ur- « speed gear-boxes. ; 't'lm motor omnibuses of Londtm ate responsible for about one-fifth ot the 1 i whole-motor fuel consumption of the British Isles. . >