MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3123, 29 June 1917, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

Motoring Expenses. An investigatipn conducted recently by an American company produced some, intoresting information as to tlio way the moorist spends his money For tlie purposes of tho inquiry, dotail information was obtained from 5000 car-owners. It was found that tlie largest single item of expense was for tyres, even where a car was given a tyre mileage of nearly 7500 miles. Tyres which are good for a iiguro in excess of 10,000 miles are tho exception rather than tho rule. This mileage, according to tho American, ystiniato under notice, claims one pound in every four which the motorist pays down. It is .estimated that tho cost of inner ensings is approximately one-eighth of the total tyro expense. Next in importance is the potrol expenditure. The investigation showed a nation-wido average of nearly fifteen miles to a gallon of fuel. Tho motor-ear's repairs and placements are third in importance. They amount to S per cent, of tho seaEon's bills with expense varying greatly with tho skill of tho individual driver, 'i'hq money spent for motor lubricants ordinarily amounts to only i per cent. of tho motor-car's total outlay. Pooling Petrol. Motorists will be interested to learn that all tho different makes of poljol in England are now "pooled" by tho leading importing and distributing houses, all tho deliveries now being mace by onn firm. In this May it is hoped to considerably economise in the cost of distribution, and at tho same time to free a number of transport: wagons, in which direction thero has beon a. considerable amount of overlapping. Petrol in Eng land, therefore, now ceases to bo known as "Pratt's," "Shell," etc., etc. Whilst all the familiar various-coloured tin tags have given place to ono standard • grey label. Tho grades are being marketed, and aro known as Nos. 1 and 2, tho rospectivo specifis gravities being 730, 73* to 760. Tho pool will last for tho duration of the war. Here and There. An American idea, passed on for what it ,is worth;—Ono of tho most original suggestions from woman motorists is that tho use of red as a colour in tho veil or coat will prevent any burning or tanning. This does not necessarily mean that red in its most intense qualities should bo used, though this perhaps would bo.tho most perfect protection, according to the theory on which this suggestion is based. Yellow is worn very much now, and so is orange. Perhaps this is duo unconsciously to gradual recognition of its protective qualities. Women havo been known to wear thin chiffon veils of red through tho desert and find no moro change in theiv skin than would havo como had thov remained at home. It might ho worth trying, anywny. At tho close of 1916 fifty-eight motorcars were registered in ITankow, China. All tho cars in use thero are exclusively for traffic within tho concessions. This is an increase of fourteen over 1915. Of the cars registered, thirty-fivo were American, elevon French, nine British, and tlireo German makes. The Customs reports for 1916 show a valuation of over ,£3OOO in cars, and a total import of twenty.

Franco was tho Lest foreign customer of the United States for motors in 1916. taking approximately iC4,G50,000 worth of motcr-cais, mostly trnclcs for military Bomce. Groat Britain bought worth of nutomobilcs, while Russia camo third among European nations with .£1,700,000 invested in American motors. Tho British Dominions were liberal buyers of American motor vehicles, Canada having spent ,£1,780,000 last year, Australasia .■EI.Un.OOO, and the British East Indies .£671,800.

When py part jets rusry put licrosene on it, but lot it stand" awhile and then wipo off. Kerosene is useful in removing rnst, but it will also cansp riisr. After removinif kerosene, put oil on parts or wipe with oily rag. time:—To-day, i.30 p.m. Next Friday, 4.31 p.m.