Cyling and Motoring Notes

Levin Daily Chronicle, 1 March 1917, Page 4

Cyling and Motoring Notes

From the Dunlop Rubber Company sf Australasia. Limited, for the week enclod 24th February.

The number of private motor cars stolen in America is enormous, as is testified by the fact that when a gang of motor thieves was recently rounded up at 'Philadelphia, it was stated that this particular gang was responsible for the theft -of more than 1800 cars since the beginning of the year.

At times motorists are surprised at having a motor cover burst when' to all appearances same is outwardly in sound condition after a big mileage. The cause of this is usually a weakened casing, such as loosened plies of fabric, oftcii caused by grit and wet penetrating through a cut in the ! thread, which sets up friction, lead- ; ing to gradually weakening of the strength of the casing, of which no : signs are apparent. In such a case the cover remains intact until some adverse circumstance suddenly occurs, such as a severe shock in passing over an obstacle, or an increase of tempera. 1 ture. A periodical inspection of the iiiside of covers is a wise precaution, as provision can often be made for j strengthening up weakness at any 1 point by the timely use of an inside i sleeve, 'thus ensuring considerable j extra service, whereas, if let go, the I weakness may result in a blow-out if the trouble is not attended to, thus spoiling the cover that would otherwise give further good service. The Dunlop Rubber Company, who have the finest equipment in this country for carrying out repair work, etc., wiil at any time be pleased to report on such covers, whether Dunlops or not.

There is now such a shortage of petrol tins in England that the leading motor spirit companies now allow credit for all empties returned by motorists. Motorists in Germany are frantically endeavoring to find something to replace pneumatic t3 T res, which are practically now unobtainable by the ordinary car owner. All kinds oi weird contraptions in the form of metal spring wheels, etc., are being brought into operation in the endeavor to keep the motors in use. Their plight is in marked contrast to the motorists in the Allied countries, where tyres are obtainable in abundance.

The leading tyre companies in America have increased their ;prioqs 'for motor tyre sfrom 10 to 20 per cent. This increase is attributed to the cost of crude materials and labor. It is interesting to note that despite similar increased costs in this country, that the Dunlop Rubber Company has not appreciably increased the pi'ice fbr Australian Dunlops since the war began, and that they, although of the highest quality, are to-day selling at considerably less in the Commonwealth than do the leading American makers.