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MOTORS & MOTORING

Glaring Headlights. Jn conversation with tho writer .yesj t-erday tho secretary of the New Zealand Automobile Union (Sir. W. Beauchampl'latls), stated that he was still enraged on the very difficult problem of headlights and had rccc.ved communications from different parte of. the world setting'out the'naturo of tho experiments conducted. ; So far, ' the experiments had not tended to solve the problem at al. "I> the United States and Canada, said Mr, Beauchamp-Platts, "the policy pursued is one. of testing and licensing, approved headlight devices all in the direction of' keeping the beam of- light within certain defined limits,' one of the strictest regulations being that the principal part of the beam shall not be more than.'3ft.. Sin.' from the ground at a sot distance ahead of the car. That, ' however, has not.proved satisfactory, as: it has beon found that it :s .in many cases the upward reflections .from 'tho, lower-lip or tho reflector that cause trouble to the drivers of oncoming cars, and that ths' intensity, of these reflfectioiM yaries with the angle- they make to the . horizontal. Consequently, if a car' is moving over uneven ground every upward jerk brings about an anile of reflection which causes-glare,■ and, .so, in'a measure, does away,with, tho. anti-glare, device' fitted, i A-special, committee set up' in England to inquire into this matter, has stated quite frankly in -its reports that, 'at present, no systems yet devised aro satisfactory beoautfe they nearly all tend to reduce the volume of illumination, .and .this has been found in , England - "to add rathei- to tho dangers of- night driving: than'..to reduce them. The committee has_ recommended as ! a temporary expedient a reduction in the power: of light bulbs used to a standard of 24 candle-power, and in towns the use of tissue paper over the fronts. of theheadlights, ' It is very clear that alltheso suggestions are mere-stop-gaps and. thAt th) question is not nroperly underatcid, even by so-called experts. On: One point, however, most of tho writers are unanimous: The use of what-are called 'dimmers' is moro dangerous: to both parties than carrying on with a full headlight because of the fact'that tho" human eye will not re-focus itself in the short space of time the .'dimmers' are on and off, and this is a very grave source of danger. It is obvious, then, that until some scientific authority; has lliid time and opportunity to test-out tho requirements of the ease fully,, it is unwise for local authorities, usually .wholly' ignorant of science, to lay down , hnrd and fast, and generally unreasonable rules in such a matter as this;While bright lights are absolutely . essentia) in the 'country, it is a reason-. able i and proper thing, in the brilliantly lighted main streets of a town that the use of' headlights should be prohibited altogether and the car driven on its sido lights, which are ample toind'eate its approach and its over-all width.'.'

Organisation of Motor: Transport,

Tha organisation' of motor . transport 19 considered to<be a subject which, might very well receive the attention of the authorities in view of the fact that tin community is never free from tha menace of' strikes on a large scale. Some interesting 1 remarks on the matter wen made to "Clutch" this week by. Mr. W.' Beauchamp-Pktts, secretary of the New Zealand Automobile Union. "Fortunately the so-called railway strike did not last long enough for the public to feci the inconvenience of the loss of transport," he. said, ''but at should awaken the authorises to the necessity for, a better organisation of all transport and the development of the commercial and other motor vehicles. |Of course, one of. the main essentials ,tp, successful transport is proper, roads, ■ and it would .appear that: the timo is now opportune for all those interested in motor traction of all descriptions.to approach Parliament with a view: to the creation of a comprehensive, policy of road construction and improvement so that, not only may.there,be.a better., general service in the country, districts adjacent-.to the .railways, • .-.but., also be; available. an 'Organisation .that, will meet just such difficult'es. as we hav-j recently experienced. This is not said in a spirit of antagonism to the rights or wrongs of the railway case, but • merely to indicate some of the directions in which the interests of the people must be safeguarded regardless of any disputes between employer and employee,' m which sections of the community not; concerned are ' made to Buffer." j Leaky Pistons. Losses through leaking niston rings commence with the suction stroke,,when ther> is. a vacuum of as much as ten jkmnds per square inch, slightly decreasing and debasing the incoming charge; On the compression stroke the leakage, is, CO or 70 pounds. On the power "stroke the pressure is quadrupled and here occur the greatest losses through leakage. The moral of all this is to keep the-piston rings in' condition to perform efficient service. Five Rules of Battery Care. Theso rules are easy to remember and if observed will have a marked effect on both battery efficiency and life: 1 Keep battery charged and filled t0... the proper level with the 'distilled water. J 2. If your engine doesn't start quickly make sure that pas and spark are right.. 3. Release starter at once when enginebegins to run on its.own power. '•' .4. Keep your spark plugs in good' condition. (■ 5.. Prime the engine if it's cold. Jottings. Professionalism was practically introduced at the Mortlake (Vie.) Easter .Meeting, when cash prizes were offered in a couple of road races. The innovation/ was, a. complete Euccess, and Bubsequcht events have shown that there is a large number of riders who would race for monoy prizes where they - could not afford to follow the sport for trophies, eren in the shape • of' open prders; it is too'- expensive as a hobby even in normal times, while in these ; days of high prices all round it'almost \% prohibitive, Several of the motor-' oyclist3 who competed :at Mortlake ,do,' not consider 1 themselves professionals''' simply becauao they Taceil for and won money prizes. They know they cannot earn, a livelihood' at the sport, or , •even win sufficient to cover. racing, expe.nses. They would class themselves "cash-amateurs" in, that they follow.'the sport for its own sake, accepting -moneyprlites 'in order to reduce running expenses, and are. looking to the Victorian . Motor-cyolo Club to provide for this class of racer and racing. To make hill'climbs and other coramore attractive, automobile oltibs should break new ground in both senses, of the phraser-first to select ,a suitable locality for the' contest, and then to .be .assured that the test or trial or whatever the _ nature 'ofJ"-the competition,-is something worthy;- of the. efficient modern- car,. What is meant by a suitable lpcality is that it shall possess natural attractions,: -and that it can be reached by a 'reasonably good road, and safe either by night or aay. '.-;,,, In order to maintain service-during a fire and take care of damaged apparatus, a special wrecking Truck has been dssjgned for the New York JMro Bri-' Kftd«. that cnii cope'with .almost any emergency. It is supplied with a Winch dnlm and special telpher arm which calv raise heavy apparatus .bv theVngiiih power of the truck, nnd in" addition to the wrecking equipment it also -carries "life " fighting material Klioh as extinguishers, axes, etc. Tool cabinet* are plated at each side of.the body, the tops serving as work-benches nnd having substantial metal workers' vices attached to each bench top. All kinds of metal working equipment and too's are provided nnd the vehicles can bo used either as a wrecker-or ns a repair truck. ' Lighting-up Time: To-day, 4.44 nm ■Nc.vt Friday, 4.38. p.m. '~ ''.' ' i -' "' - rf imiii, ii ' "Chfthoo will'not do the work."-S6ott No one enri afford to tdko chances witli' health. Mfth.y during the winter, whencoughs and colds are so dangerous ox periment with preparation after prennr-." .Hon.. Take Baxter's r,untr Preserver• inr mediately and M sur*. Prorrtntlv rem*.' dies cowh. cod, sore throat, "ohest *& bronchial troubles. Ouick In action £?:

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19200514.2.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,339

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 2

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