MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1920, Page 10 (Supplement)

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

NEWS AND NOTES Oct, 2nd 1020. From America it is cabled that the price of cars is coming down, the drop ranging from 14 to 21 per cent. In view of the fact that recent American journals have been stating that the supply of cars could not meet the demand the above intelligence is surprising. That H. lord with his wonderful standardisation system of construction cun reduce prices, owing to the enormous output, has reduced his retail prices there appears no room for doubt, but it is questionable if there is to be any immediate drop in pripes of the popular American makes, apart from the Ford. There has been such a rush of new models on to the American market that it is only reasonable to assume that some of them have not "caught on", and maybe, it is some of these that have hud to be cut in price to shift the stock. _ Frank Kramer, the greatest bicycle rider America has produced, recently added another championship to his already long list. His latest success was in the 25 miles classic, the Tasmanian rider A. Gretuie, finishing second. The distance was covered in 54 mins. 283.5 sees. The range of car exhibited at the Victorian Royal Agricultural show proved one oi the finest yet seen at this annual fixture. A pleasing feature was the particularly fine body work being turned out by the Australian workmen, and nothing finer has yet been seen in this country. All told some 81 cars were displayed, the majority being American models, although a few postwar English cars made their appearance. A feature of the cars shown was the marked popularity of the Australian Dunlop "Railroad," 50 of the exhibits being shod with these covers, whilst the balance of the 31 cars was spread over some 8 other makes of tyres. The Vauxhall Car, one of the fastest that England produces, is capable of ■wonderful speed. A surprising pace was recently registered on a short stretch of good level road in Ireland, on a touring model, with proper body, mudguards, windscreen etc., all fitted, carrying a full complement of passengers this post war model attained the high speed of 87 miles an hour. When it is stated that the bore of the four cylinder engine fitted to this car is only fIDS millimetres it will he realised ;what wonderful power this engine gives off. In this part of the world the Vauxhall holds the two finest Interstate speed records, notably. Aurger's Melbourne-Adelaide, and B. Edkin's Melbourne-Sydney. On practically all cars the push button for operating the electric horn is fitted on the top edge of the body, just above the gear change and brake levers, presumably so that it is convenient to the driver's right hand. It ; is a peculiar fact that the British designer takes quite a lot of trouble to give the left hand of a driver as little as possible to do. One would almost think, says an English writer, that the average man's left hand was useless except to hang on to the steering wheel. It must, have come as quite a surprise to these designers to find that it is quite a simple matter to change gear and apply the brake with the left hand on centrallycontrolled American cars. Some of them were obviously delighted with the discovery and have adopted it themselves. On the other hand, some of these gentleman still insist on arranging ignition and throttle control for the. right hand, as well as the usual gear and brake lovers ami horn. The left hand is, of course, then free most of the time for holding on to one's passenger, but this is not always necessary or desirable. To get back to the horn control, however, personally we have found that the most convenient position for the press button is on top of one of the arms of the steering wheel two or three inches in from the rim, where it is most handy for the thumb of the left hand. It can also be fitted with advantage on the underside of the spoke, and can then be operated hv the first or second finger. 11l either of these positions it is unnecessary to move the hand to sound the horn, which operation can be ac--1 complished at the same time as changing gear or applying the hand brake. Auother minor advantage in having the control on the steering wheel is that one is not so liable to sound the horn inadvertently as when the button is fitted to tho side of the car.

The practice in .English cars, as exemplified in the products of the most eminent manufacturers, has always been to use metal-to-metal for breakes. Generally, cast iron shoes are expanded against the inner walls of steel drums. This seems to us the best braking method and the most suitable selection of material. But with the introduction of American ears there has been noticed a tendency to turn to asbestos and woven wire fabric as a retarding medium Soma of these asbestos-metallic combinations are extremely good. But there are some cheaper fabrics which are dear at any price and are devoid of the heat resisting properties of the best of these compounds. Nothing but the best is good enough for this' job, and even then, we would prefer metal-to-metal.

The chief advantages of the asbestos compounds lip in the fact that they arc easily renewable without tiie aid of skilled mechanics, or the use of the machine shop plant, Oast-irort shoes require to be nicely fitted, and the job is a skilled one requiring care and experience. A note of warning may be sounded about fitting some of these asbestos linings. They should never be rivetted in position with steel or iron rivets. Copper or aluminium rivets are best. We have got excellent results by attaching these linings to the shoes with copper bifurated rivets, which are easv to lit, get a firm clinch, and wear weil without making the brake drag or slip. The bifurcated ends of the rivets should be clinched over into the braking surface of the asbestos fabric, and the heads should be 011 the surfa'ce of the metal part of the combination. Grease should not bo allowed to get on asbestos brakes, [f it does get oil it can be removed by liberal applications of fuller's earth, to absorb the oil, followed by a good cleansing with benzine applied with a stiff brush.