IMPORTANT TO MOTORISTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2490, 7 October 1922, Page 3

IMPORTANT TO MOTORISTS.

LOCAL ENTERPRISE. “Mileage” .is tile ond-great selling argument .'used by motor tyre manufacturers the world over, and 'the research .work carried on in the laboratories of the great tyre manu'facturing firms, and in practical ‘tests,t^ereentred for the most part oh this Qjjll-important problem. To the car-owner reputed mileage, of course, is “the” consideration — .whether he is wise enough to observe the rules which make for greater tyre life or not. Of late years k onueh' progress has-been made in the way of tyre repairing so that tubes and covers that were formally disc ,carded .gould .be ; satisfactorily repaired and used again at a saving ydo ear-owners. Progress in this ;• process has necessarily been made l step by ;step,. until at the present time perfection has very nearly p been attained.. The alert mechanic > and garage owner has watched closely the perfecting of this work • so intimately associataed with his business, and in this connection the [Foxton Motor and Engineering Coy. has decided that the perfection of . the process, and the needs of motr- orists of the district fully warrants the installation of the necessary plant. Mr C. A, Pearson, of the above-mentioned firm, has recently taken a thorough course in this work under the instruction of the * Dominion's foremost experts, and the oompany- has installed, and is " operating an up-to-date vulcanising ■ and re-treading plant at their garn - age in Clyde Street, Our representative, on invitation, visited the company’s premises this week, and was acquainted with the work being carried out by Mr Pearson. The equipment is very complete, consisting of a three-unit, vulcanising plant with all the auxiliary apparatus for ensuring the best results by proper preparation of the materials. The process of tyre repairing leaves wide scope for the exercise of intelligence and personal ingenuity on the part of the operator, and the human factor has a great influence on results. The process, as explained to our representative, covers all classes of tyre repairs, from plugging and vulcanising rubber cuts, repairing rim cuts and broken beads to splicing canvas and retreading; repairing tube punctures and large bursts and slits. The samples of work exhibited were of a high order, showing excellent strength and elasticity.

The process in cover work briefly explained, consists, in renewing damaged canvas sections, of cutting the canvas well back from the damaged portion in receding layers and splicing in the new, specially prepared fabric or cord (according to the class of tyre) and then vulcansiing the sections, thus obtaining a strong and smooth repair, 'which in most cases is really stronger than the remainder of the cover. In retreading and repairing sections of rubber, the old rubber is entirely removed from the canvas, the surface carefully cleaned and prepared and the necessary amount of plastic rubber worked on to the canvas, the work being then put through the vulcanising process, which firms the composition and leaves it tough and resilient. In section retreading the original pattern on the running surface can be retained and the repaired portion thus becomes not only part of the original tread in actuality, but is inconspicuous •in use. In tube repairing, all damaged portions, whether a small puncture or a slit, are sufficiently enlarged to enable- a beveled edge to be obtained, and a new piece slightly smaller than the aperture thus made is laid in, around which is worked the plastic rubber to amalgamate the two, and upon being vulcanised produces a mend with a perfectly even surface and retaining the elastic nature so liecessary. in such., work. A comparison, of the older method of patching with the up-to-date system of inserting new rubber in the damaged tube reveals a one hundred per cent, improvement in favour of the latter.

The practical benefits to motor offered by this process is that more or less expensive tyres which may* have become useless through damage, can be restored at a minimum of cost, and used until “old age” alone is responsible for their being discarded. For instance a tyre listed at, say £ll, with a reputed life of 4,000 miles, can be repaired after use with plain retread for round about £4, with a guaranteed mileage on front wheels of 2,000 miles. Patching and section repairing is proportionately cheap, and tube work in the latest method is actually cheaper in first cost and infinitely more satisfactory. It is no exaggeration to say that the installation of this up-to-date plant by the Mjotor and Engineering Company affords district " motorists a saving of 50 per cent, in tyre costs, and we congratulate the company on their enterprise. In addition the firm are making wing boots to fit all size tyres, which adjunct motorists know is a very useful article to include in their equipment. Also tyre liners and suchlike accessories are made on the premises.