MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2877, 15 September 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

LBy Clutch.] Reduotions in Co9t. Not even all those people closely associated with the industry realise the enormous strides made with motor-pro-pelled vehioles during the past dccade. The day is within the memory of hundreds of thousands of people w'ben a motor-car was regarded as a nine-days' wonder —something that would never supersede the traditional carriago and pair for pleasure purposes. The observant mind looks round to-day and sees an order of things which, if foretold, would have been put down as impossible. One drawback that beset the original idea as far as general use was. concerned was the cost, for it was bclived that none but the ultra-rich would be ablo to indulge iu the new mode of locomotion. The engineer, however, has not only provided something which is comfortable, reliable, and efficient, but he has turned out a car which could not have been duplicated at three timed the price ten years ago, and-this, despite tho fact that most of the products incidental to the manufacture have, during the last two years at any rate, been demanded in huge quantities for the manufacture of munitions, aeroplanes, submarine's, ship-building, and ldoomotives. The position is aptly summed up by the president of the American Society of Automobile Engineers in these words: "Tho problems with which the motor engineer must deal are becoming more continually difficult. To-day he is asked not only to maintain the highest possible degree of perfection in the product, but at tho least possible cost. A few yearß ago tho methods of manufacture were wasteful. To-day we are impressed by tho highly systematised aud economical methods which liavo come with tho reaching of the approximate point of saturation of the American market.' If this can be accomplished while the industry, is yet ill its infancy, what must be the prospects when the conditions are more favourable and the best of brains become incorporated? Taking the past 10 years as„a guide, it must now be admitted that in the next deqade the motor-car and lorry will, be made at a price that will bring it within the reach of the many as against tho few. A factor that will delay an early accomplishment of this ideal is the u'pj word tendency in the cost of labour and material, but even this delay will only be temporary, as tho ongineer will devise means of turning his product out at a, popular price. The increase in production will also play a big part in tho scheme', and eaph maker will compete to give the best value at'tho lowest figuro conßistont with tho ethics of commercialism. Some of the- improvements embodied in . the 1916 model, as set forth in a letter just received' jfrom include aluminium cylinders and cntaway pistons tor high speed. v

Improvements. Most of tho so-called "improvements" on motor-cars of late years liava been in tho form of catchy acccssoriea that, while convenient, ;tro essentially important for their advertising value, but to the really desirable me« chanical features comparatively scant consideration haß been given. Among these is ono to which attention is loudly called plmost every time a car is started by the discordant grinding of tho gears whenever a change of speed is attempted; and even tho niost expert cannot always avoid! these demonstrations cf mechanical imperfection, for tho methods of changing'speeds on automobiles are unmechanical in the extreme. Of course, tho public ia used to this sort of thing, and knows qo better, and then again battered gears that cannot be made to run quiotly foster the habit of buying a new car every year; but there is one fnctot looming up that is liable to compel h radical rovision of tho gear-changing mehjinism, and that is the combined gasolino and cleotric drive, with its absolutely noiseless changes, that anyono'can operate.

Hera and There. "When a car is driven, iuto a sandy spot in tho road Rnd the rear wheels spin, there is no need of attempting to extract tho car ■without assistance. The nioro the; wheels spin in sand, tho deeper the car will sink, and tho mora difficult it will bo to pull it out. If no ropo is in tho car, deflate tho rear tires, and with the gears in firet speed position engage the clutch slowly.. If this does not help, got two wooden plapks and place them behind tho rear wheels. Then attempt to reverse out bo tho wheels mount the planks. 'If ropo is tied around tho rear tires, it will bo found an easy matter to pull out of sand.

Tho great majority of motor-car ownors could save money by a better understanding and better treatment of their tjre tubes. Because thosd' tubes' conm paoked in a cardboard box, most people suppose this is a good way to preserve them when carried in a car; but the continued chafing causod by tho motion of tho car will sooner or later result in injury. Tubes should be carried in proper bags —that affords protection whether on tho shelf or in tho car. Another point is using the right sizo of tube for the cover. If too largo a tube is inserted, it wrinkles, and tho tubo chafes or splits at tlieso points; whilo if the tubo is too email it is constantly and unduly stretched, which is not conducive to long life. Tubes aro so pliable that these points are apt to bo overlooked by their users. As covers by different may differ in their interior dimensions, although nominally of the same size, it is bost to use inner tubes supplied by the samo makers aa tho covor.

A scries of. experiments recently carried out by the British Fire Prevention Committee shows that the best way to extinguish a small petrol fire is to spread over tho burning liquid 3 mixture of ten pounds of bicoi-bonate of soda an dtwelve pounds of common sawdust. The sawdust need not bo wet, hut must bo free from chips and shavings.' Tiic theory is that the sawdust, by floating on tho burning liquid, excludes the oxygon of the air, and the heat of tho llame generates carbonic acid gas, which helps to extinguish tho (ire. Sawdust alone gives satisfactory results, indeed better than sand or similar materials.

It may bo- a humiliating fact, but it is nevertheless true, says the "Scientific Americaii," that the average automobile driver cannot change gears properly. Indeed, it is safe to say that a surprising majority do not perform this constantly-recurring operation in a way conducive to long life of the meohanism. This may bo a- reflection on tho intelligence and mechanical skill of tho public, hut tho automobile builder should share the blamo, as ho is responsible for perpetuating h mechanism involving so much ui:cer. tainty in its operation.. In, warm weather the battery eleotrolvto evaporates more readily than in Oio colder weather, and honeo tho cells should bo inspected and filled more frequently. Tho cells should bo brought to level mm each week during the cummer months, Lightine-up time: Today, M 5 p.m. ffext Friday, 5.00 p.m.