New Ideas.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 251, 23 August 1928, Page 7

New Ideas.

CRAZE FOR EXPERIMENT. Advice for Motorists. There are a great many things which are oifered to the motorists ."which are in the nature of experiments so far as he is concerned. Ail kinds of subsidiary appliances ana substances are constantly being put on the market which may or may not he an advantage in connection with the use of the modern motor-car. The craze for experiment lies deep in the make-up of a surprisingly large number of people, and it is exploited by all kinds of shrewd and sharp business men with a view to turning a more or less honest jrenny. A great many of the things which are put before motorists are good things, although not necessarily good for, or even suitable for, many individual cases.

The motorist of an experimental turn of mind may buy a multitude of appliances and gadgets for his e it. fHe may find things offered him which .-are useful and helpful to him in-I;vi-■dually on account of his own particular idiosyncracies or the necessities of "his business or sport or other proclivities. The motor can he used for

so many purposes that it becomes the centre of a great deal of ingenious inventive activity on the part of those whose interest it is to be always introducing new things.

At the present time inventions in connection with automobiles outnumber by many times those applied to any other single piece of mechanical engineering. There are things which are introduced by the old-established firms with big interests in the industry, who may be relied upon to refrain from introducing anything of the catch-penny type. The owner driver should always take it as ar. axiom that the manufacturer of his car, who has spent njuch time, money, end research in perfecting its design and manufacture, will have carefully canvassed any and everything which may have given an indication of be • ing in the least likely to prove an improvement.

There are quacks in every trade, f and the motor trade is no less immune from them than others. The trouble with all these things is that the motorist may be induced to start experimenting with his car. Nothing can so surely lead to his undoing unless he is gifted with a wide knowledge and has an engineering train- ■- ing. “ Leave well alone ” is a good I motto for the user of any car as long ] as he is getting good performance.