From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Question and answer page from a motoring magazine covering general interest topics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\3\ scan0042 | |
| Date | 15th December 1920 | |
| The Motor INFORMATION BUREAU Selected Replies of General Interest RULES. 1. Clear writing. Type-writing for preference. 2. Questions to be clearly expressed, concise, and without tedious preamble. 3. An envelope must be enclosed bearing a twopenny stamp and the name and full address of the sender NOT a stamped undirected envelope. 4. Questions cannot be answered on the telephone. 5. A stamped addressed envelope must accompany any request for a trade or other address. Engine Peters Out. Q. I have a 10-12 h.p. twin-cylinder car, with accumulator ignition. The engine starts with the first swing, and, when put into gear, will drive the car about 40 yds., but will then lose power. Immediately on declutching the engine will pick up again. What is the reason?—D.F. A. {Mr Adams} Your trouble is probably due to faulty carburation. The mixture appears to be too weak to give proper acceleration on top gear. We should advise you to adjust the carburetter so that a richer mixture is given at low engine speeds. Makers of Four-seater Small Cars. Q. Will you give me the names and addresses of the manufacturers of light four-seater cars?—P.P. A. {Mr Adams} The following makers manufacture cars of the light car class with four-seater bodies:—A. {Mr Adams} -C., Auto-Carriers, Ltd., Ferry Works, Thames Ditton, Surrey; Alvis, T. G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} John, Ltd., Holyrood Road, Coventry; Bugatti, Jarrott and Letts, 51, Conduit Street, W. 1; Calthorpe, The Calthorpe Motor Co. (1912), Ltd., Bordesley Green, Birmingham; Citroen, Gaston, Ltd., 212-214, Great Portland St. {Capt. P. R. Strong} , W. 1; Deemster, Ogston Motor Co., Ltd., Victoria Road, Acton, W.; Douglas, Douglas Motors, Ltd, Kingswood, Bristol; Duplex, British Commercial Lorry and Engineering Co., Ltd., 66, Bridge Street, Manchester; Enfield-Allday, Enfield-Allday Motors, Ltd., Fallows Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham: G.W.K., G.W.K. (1919), Ltd., Cordwalles Works, Maidenhead; Horstmann, Horstmann Cars, Ltd., Bath; Lagonda, Lagonda, Ltd., 195, Hammersmith Road, W. 6; McKenzie, The Chester Motor Co., Ltd., 32a Chester Street, Grosvenor Place, S.W. 1; Mercury, Mercury Cars, Ltd., May Road, Twickenham; Meteorite, The Pall Mall Motor Trading Co., Ltd., 45, Pall Mall, S.W. 1; Peugeot, Peugeot (England), Ltd., 10, Brompton Road, S.W. 1; Riley, Riley (Coventry), Ltd., City Works, Foleshill, Coventry; Wolseley, Wolseley Motors, Ltd., Adderley Park, Birmingham. Care of Hoods Q. Which is the best way to preserve khaki motor hoods?—F.W.E. A. {Mr Adams} We should advise the purchase of some of the special hood preparations which are sold by the accessory houses. These both clean the hood and maintain it in a weatherproof condition. Apart from dressing the hood, it should be kept as erect as possible. It should never be furled until it is perfectly dry, and when down the fabric should be carefully arranged so that it does not chafe between the hood sticks. If it is necessary to furl the hood when it is wet, it should be erected and braced as soon as the garage is reached. Balancing an Engine. Q. The single-cylinder engine on my car is fitted with two flywheels, one of which came loose. A new keyway twice the width of the original one was cut, and I should be glad to know if this will affect the balance, and whether re-balancing of the engine will be necessary.—B.E. A. {Mr Adams} The matter of balance of your flywheels is not very important, as your engine is of the slow speed type. To test the static balance of the flywheel it should be detached and placed on a well-fitting mandril carried on knife edges. Small lumps of putty should then be applied to the rim until the wheel will come to rest in any position in which it is put. Metal equal to the weight of the putty can then be removed from the opposite side of the rim, or small plates of metal can be bolted in the same position as the putty. Anti-freezing Mixtures. Q. Will you please recommend an anti-freezing mixture?—J.H.H. A. {Mr Adams} Three different substances can be used as anti-freezing mixtures. They are respectively calcium chloride, methylated spirits, and glycerine. Two lb. of calcium chloride to each gallon of water keeps the mixture from freezing not lower than 19 degrees Fahr., 3 lb. per gallon not lower than 16 degrees Fahr., and 4 lb. per gallon not lower than 12½ degrees below zero Fahr. The chloride must be free from acid, and evaporation should be made up by a saturated solution of calcium chloride. A 10 per cent. solution of methylated spirits is effective down to 15 degrees above zero Fahr., 25 per cent. is effective down to zero Fahr., and a 40 per cent. solution is effective down to 24 degrees below zero Fahr. To make up for evaporation add half water and half methylated spirits. The best mixture is 1½ pints of glycerine and 1½ pints of methylated spirits to each gallon of mixture. Methylated spirits should be added to make up for evaporation. Cleaning Scratched Celluloid. Q. I have a four-seater car with an all-weather hood having celluloid windows. What is the best way to clean these windows?—A.M.S. A. {Mr Adams} The windows should be washed in the ordinary way with water, and if at any time they become scratched or semi-opaque they should be washed over with a celluloid solvent, such as acetone, which smoothes down the surface. Legal Lighting. Q. Is it necessary to have my side lights lit if my headlights are the extreme width of the car, in order to conform with the regulations?—W.R.B. A. {Mr Adams} The Lighting Order states that white lights shining forward, indicating the extreme width of the car. It does not matter whether they are the smallest of bull's-eye lamps or the largest head-lights as long as they conform with this regulation. The Fastest Speed on Record. Q. What is the highest speed officially obtained by a motorcar? When and where did it take place, and by whom was the record established?—R.L.O. A. {Mr Adams} According to the latest list of the world's records the fastest official speed obtained by a motor vehicle is over the flying half mile, which was put up on Brooklands Track on December 8th, 1909, by the 84.8 h.p. Benz (four-cylinder) driven by Mr. Victor Hemery, which covered the half mile in 14.076 secs., this being equivalent to 127.877 m.p.h. Several higher speeds than this have been claimed, but this is the present official record. Driving Certificates. Q. Can you give me any particulars about the R.A.C. certificates in motoring? Where are the examinations held, and is a fee charged for going in for them?—J.C.S. A. {Mr Adams} We presume you are referring to the R.A.C. examination for the owner-driver's certificate. To be eligible to take an examination for this certificate the candidate must not be, and must not have been, engaged in driving a motor vehicle for wages or for hire. Also the candidate must not be, and must not have been, an instructor for payment. The examination consists of: (a) A driving test and (b) verbal questions on motorcar road law. The fee for this examination is £1. Examinations are held every week day at the R.A.C., Pall Mall, S.W. 1. A candidate who wishes to be examined in any week must see that his application is received at the Club not later than first post on the Friday of the previous week. | ||