MOTORS AND MOTORING
(By "Clutch.")
An Attractive Prospect. An American writer is of tho opinion tliat the time will yofc conic when the world's supply * petrol will not meet die demand 'for fuel for tens of millions of cars and gasoline engines that will bo dependent on petrol for power. His idealistic idea is that water , power and wireless waves will solve the problem. Thoro are even now experimental motors run by wireless waves, and in time this principle will no doubt lie extended to a practical and universal application for motor power. In venrs to come passenger travelling will ho largely in tho air—instead of being dependent on road surfaces—and it is quite possible that all aeroplane engines will be run by wireless power. This opens up wonderful possibilities, (treat power plants would be stationed tit tho source of tho power, and costs would bo paid by licenses impose;! on •ill air travel. All the 'plnno drivers -and maybe motorists—would havo to da would bo to switch into connection •.vith tho wavofl tfor which his motor is timed, and go—without carrying fuel—and without engine trouble It sounds fantastic, but after the pant strides made in aeroplaning during the past few years, it does seem at least vntli' in the realms of possibility.
British prans, • "How," asks Mr. Henry Sturmey, in the "Motor," "are British tirras, rnd particularly those of lessor note and smaller capital-facilities, to got Ihfiir share in the overseas tnide and enrry out a foreign business campaign in the way it requires to 1)6 dolioP At present, or rather before tho war, they simply let it go by tho board, trusting to foreign importers to discover thorn, and then thoy consented to supply them only in return for ensh at port of shipment. In this they could not help thomselves, as they had not tho capital to do otherwise. With a foreign depot, stocks would bo npld there and paid for by customer on delivery, or on the usual terms of credit customary in the particular country, concerned, and the manager of the depot would he- on tho spot to arrange all details and push for business in tho most efficient manner. As this cannot be dono by many firms individually, why should not several comtmo to "do it together? If care is taken in arranging tho combination so that tho products do not clash, tliore should bo no difficulty whatever."
Cycle spokes. Tho tangent spoking of cycle and Tiiotor-oyolo wheels has For so long been regarded ns tho standard and most ofliciont method that any now departure in the methods of arranging the spokes of such wheels cannot 'fail to be of goneral interest. While from a mechanical point of view the tangent method of spoking may bo regarded as nearly perfection as possible, it is well known that from a practical point of view it has certain drawbacks; in particular tho crossing of the spokes necessarily forms a comparatively close mesh in thn vicinity o:: the hub which not ouly collects and retains, mud and dust, but also for the same reason renders tho huh difficult of access for cleaning and lubricating purposes. A new systom of | spoking has now been patented by W. A. Starlcy, of Birmingham, England, which is claimed to eliminate many of the defects of the tangent spoked wheel, one important feature, being that tho fracture of a spoko does nob effect the other spokes to the same, extent as the tangent spokes now univer-f-ally used. Again, the Starlcy spokes aro shorter, and.do not cross each other. Tho present day tangent spoked wheel has earned great popularity throughout the world, and it will take a greatly superior article before manufacturers and tho public will discard it for a new style of spoking.
Hero and Thcro. There arc motorists wlip do liofc attaoli sufficient importance to the absolute necessity of correct alignnieut of the road-wheels; but the slightest deviation means rapid and absolute destruction of the tyres on the front wheels. When uudne roughness or wear is apparent on the trend of tho tyres, the owner should forthwith have tho car "lined up" to ascortam if the wheels are running true. It may take a little time, but also may be tho means of saving many valuable covers. Such a small thing as a loose inritig clip is quito sufficient to affect alignment and load to tyro trouble; tut it is quickly remedied when noticed on inspection. Again, an axle may bo tent, or steering connections worn; nnd wheels that are running out of alignment will cause much expense to tho owner. Very frequently it has been proved thai where the quality of tho tyfe was thought to be at fault tlie rapid wear was due to the wheel not tracking. The matter of nient is of the highest importance it. tlie economical operation of the ?utcmobile. ■ • Where electricity is installed on a car a useful adjunct is a small dnshlnmp within the ongino hoed or lionnet. It will prove a great convenience when the engine must be inspected alter dark, or where changing a plug, replacing a loose wire, or any operation requiring much fumbling around, soiling and burning the fingers in attempting to adjust things by "feel." Almost any motorist can decide for himself where tho lamp should be located to be most, useful, although tho switch could bo near the other switches unless circumstances point to a octter place. It need not be an absolute fixture, but should rather be a movable "torch."
Lighting-up time:—To-day, 5,23 p.m Noxt Friday, 5/30 p.m.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 293, 30 August 1918, Page 9
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932MOTORS AND MOTORING Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 293, 30 August 1918, Page 9
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