MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2686, 4 February 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

LBy Clutch. 1

Wellington Automobile Club. A meeting of the cbmmittec of tho Wellington Automobile Club was held at the secretary's office. Mr. C. H. Izard was ill the chair, and there were prorent: —Messrs. C. E. Aldridge, C. M. Banks, AN', .l'ryor, W'. Mantell, C. Sherwood, and tho Hon. A. 31. Myers. Messrs. G. B. Bullock and B. -Smith were elected as new members. Correspondence was read b.v the secretary from the Railway Department with regard to conveying concert parties to and from 'frentham Camp, and it was decided to co-operate with the Mayor 111 endeavouring to get a more satisfactory arrangement made by the Railway Department. Mr. C. M."Banks kindly undertook to put up eight sign-posts on tho Paekakariki Iload. The question of co-operated insurance for motor-car owners was discussed and adjourned. It was decided in the near future to give an outing nil Saturday afternoon to returned sick and wounded soldiers, the matter being left in t'lie hands of tho president and the secretary. The secretary was instructed to inform the City Engineer that the club heartily support the proposed scheme of a concrete motor track 011 the Hutt Road, alid the speed to be limited to 30 miles an hour; also that the club recognise the danger of traffic at Courtenay Place, and suggests that if tho north side was placed in good order motorists would undoubtedly go round that side, and also drew attention to tho bad state of the road 011 Thonidon Quay, opposite Lambton Station, and also the top of Moleswortli Street, opposite Fitzherbert Terrace.

The Future of the Cycle-Car. Some discussion lias lately been going on in Great Britain regarding the possibilities and probable development of the cyclc-car. Contesting the view tliat the object of the introduction of this very popular vehicle was chiefly to supersedo the motor bicycle and side-car, one motoring expert maintains that such a view can only be held by those who have completely failed to understand the cycle-car movement. The appeal of the cycle-ear, lie says, is to those who will not ride a motor bicycle, and to whom the motor bicycle has never appealed. There arc still tens of thousands of possible owners of cycle-cars, he goes on, to remark, who are not interested in the motor cycle and to whom the Greater development of the more expensive types of miniature cars lias caused great disappointment. The progress of tlie simple cycle-car lias been slow, and few of its manufacturers have been able to cope with the demand since the beginning of the war owing to the shortage of labour. Had' it not been for tho war, however, 1915 would undoubtedly have seen a far greater development of this type. It is significant (ho adds) that those who traduce the cyclecar are uab!e to do. so without referring to certain successful machines, yet the success of these machines shows liow incorrect are their opinions. He bclioves that when a return to normal times is produced by the conclusion of the war the demand for cheap fourwheeled vehicles, built on simple lines and economical to run, will be greatly accentuated, and it will be indeed surprising if the bigger manufacturers do not- enter this side of tho industry. It is their reluctance to do so in the past that 'has hindered its progress. At tho samo timo ho does not think that tho simple cyclecar will proceed on the lines of a side-by-sido seated sidecar, for which some are sufficiently sanguine to predict a tremendous future'.' It would be so much easier to build a fourwheeled vehicle which' would bo much more economical to nin and have none of the disadvantages of a single driving wheel, that it is inconceivable that either the manufacturers or tho public will enter very closely into such, an mimechanical compromise.

The Flow in Oil Pipes. A very important communication on the subjest of the ilow of oil through, pipes has been made by Dr. It. T. Glazebrook, F.R.S., to the Institution of Petroleum Tecluiologists, with the permission of tho British Admiralty. Dr. Ulazcbrook is Director of tho National Physical Laboratory, and in the researches which ho has carried out and now makes public 'he ( was assisted' by Mr. AY. F. Higgins, 13.5 c., and Mr. J. R. Pannell, A.M.I.M E., His report' forms a thorough investigation into the laws of flow of oil along drawn stoel pipes, and also includes determinations of density, viscosity, and flash points. An interesting result under the last heading is the proof advanced by Dr. Glazebrook in his communication that when two oils of different flash points are mixed the result is often to lower the flash point of tho mixture considerably below that of the higher flash oil. Thus, il : two oils individually comply with a specification regarding flash point, they may when mixed in certain proportions produce an oil which flashes below tho specified limit. Tho subjoct of tho flow of oils, though of immense scientific importance, cannot conveniently be treated in any detail hore. Howover, wo aro reminded that if the example of the Fergus car be followed, and any system of automatic lubrication to all parts of a motor vehicle becomes general, this question of resistance to flow is likely to have considerable influence on results. _ Thus tho flow along the branch pipes in the Fergus system depends on the resistance in the main pipe round the chassis.'lf a fresh variety of oil giving a different resistance were used, the relation between tho flow along the main and the branch pipes would be disturbed, and the tendency might cither be for more than a proper quantity of oil to pass along'tltt) branch pipes, or, alternatively,' for the flow to become inadequate. I'his suggests that ill any positive system involving this principle of branch and main pipes, very careful directions should be given as to the exact quality of oil to be used, and strict adherence to these directions might prove to be the prime condition of success.

Mechanical Signalling Device. A mechanical signalling dcvice to indicate both to the front and to the rear which direction a .motor-car intends to take at a street intersection has just been invented by an American. it consists of two signal arrows, in regulation red and green, mounted upon nickeled steel rods, which are turned by a cablo passing around a pulley at the base of each rod aid controlled by a lever attached to the steering-post. This lever runs down alongside the pose, to a universal at the floor of the car, where it connects with the cable. I upfront signal stands above and in front of the radiator cap, while the rear one is fitted to a bracket midway between the springs and near the tail light. Hero and There. Lighting-up time for motor-cars and motor-bicycles:—To-day, 7.-1- P-m----iSext Friday, 7.13 p.m. , ■ Germany is linding it increasingly difficult to obtain rubber for the nfanufactnre of motor tires. By an order ol the German military governors of Antwerp, recently issued, all motor or motor-cycle tires and inner tubes had to be surrendered by a certain date. The tires delivered up to that date" weie to be paid for. Afterwards they were to be confiscated. The price of rubber has almost doubled during the past few weeks, and should the present high rates hold it probably will mean increased cost for all classes of tires at an early date. "While the application of the automobile and motor vehicle, has been extend- . Ed to almost every conceivable phase of

industrial and social life, tho appearance of a motor-oar -especially designed lor the transportation of a racing-horse is a distinct novelty indeed. In order to ensure the safe transportation of his famous racehorse, Uhlan, C. lv. G. Billings, tho well-known American racehorse owner, has had constructed a special automobile. In reality the automobilo is in tho form of a transportable stall, fitted with every requisite for feeding and taking care of the horse while travelling, as well as for grooming it at tho race track. The. stall is fitted with two wheels at the rear, while the front portion is pivoted to a powerful threewheeled motor tractor.

4 s an „ cftcetivo means of preventing leakage from the petrol tank a motorist, recommends the use of lead instead of leather washers. AVitli a little care, he says, even the thin lead tubes used for lubber solution will serve tho purpose, a couple of thicknesses making a satisfactory washer.

Some time ago motor horns capable of producing various diabolical noises constituted a serious nuisance 011 the stieets of Wellington, but lately thero seems to have been little cause for comP}?! 11 ? 011 this score. In Sydney a less satisfactory stato of affairs appears to exist, and the question of introducing regulations compelling the use of a 11111torni type of horn is at present engaging attention. Addressing a minute 011 tlie subject recently to one of the City Council Committees, tho Lord Mayor expressed the opinion that tho introduction of a uniform type of motor horn would _ terminate a serious cause of complaint, _ and thereby confer a boon on ulie citizens of Sydney, and especially on elderly people.