MARCH 17TH, 1906,
THE AUTOCAR B Journal publisheb in the interests of tbe mecbanicall\? propelleb roab carriage.
EDITED BY H. WALTER STANER.
No. 543. VoL. XVI.
SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH, 1906.
[PRICE 3D.
THE AUTOCAR.
(Published Weekly.)
Rcgis~ered as a newspaper fo1 transmission in the United Kingdom.
Entned as second~class matter at the New York (N.Y.) Post Office.
EDITORIAL OFFICE:
COVENTRY.
PUBLISHING OFFICES :
20, TUDOR STREET, LONDON, E.C., ENGLAND.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
NOTES : THE AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERS' INSTITUTE-MONEY WANTED
-DIAGONAL BRAKING-CHAIN-DRIVEN CARS... . .• • • •
• • • 321-322
U~EFUL HINTS AND TIPS: CAUSES OF OVERHEATING- DASHBOARD
CONTACT BREAKERS-INCREASING VOLTAGE (illustrated)CAU<iES OF ENGINE KNOCKING • • • 323 T HE 30 H.P. ENFIELD CAR (illustrated) OccASIONAL Goss1P. By" The Autocr:tt" A NEW THORNYCROFT BOAT (illustrated) ... Os THE RoAo.
... 324-32~
32? 328 329
CHEAPER FUEL • • •
... . • .
THE S1c1LtAN Crncu1T (illustrated) ... ... .. . .. . ... . CONTINENTAL NOTES AND NEWS: TRIALS OF RESILIENT WHJ•: ELS
330 33!
-THE NEW RACRRS-HO.STILITY OF HOTEL KEEPERS-MOTOR TOURISTS IN SWITZERL4ND-FACILITIES FOR TRAYELLINGTHE NrcE PROGRAMME-THE MOTOR BOAT REGATTA AT N1cETHE GoLD Cur OF THE MILAN A.C.-THE MONACO BoAT
MEETING ... .. ... ... ...
... 332-333
THE SIX-CYLINDER BELSIZE-A COMPARISON
AUTOMOBILISTS IN PARLIAMENT
.•.
.. . 334-335
336
CORRESPONDENCE: SHORTAGE IN PETROL CASKS-TYRES AND
SPRINGS-MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENTS-QUIS CUSTODJET CUSTODES ?-A POINT IN INSURANCE-TAIL LAMPS-INCOMPETENT EXPERTS-UNDUE CHEAPNESS-SIDE-SLIP AND FRONT BRAKE'--THE MENAI SUSPENSION BRIDGE-DRIVING LANDAULETS-GLARING HKADLTGHTS-PALMt.R CORD TYRES-UNSOLVED PROBLEMS-THE BITTERNESS OF THE GUILDFORD BENCHAUTOMOBJLE DRIVING CHRTIFICATEs-Low TENSION MAGNETO -CYLINDER OFFSET-MAGISTERIAL CONTRASTS-AN INDIAN Aov ENTURE-SIGNs FOR MOTOR Sttows-SuMMARY oF CoRRESPONDl!:NCE • • • .•. ... • • . .•. . . . 337-341 A DEFRCT IN THE MOTOR AND A Rc:-.1Eo\' (continued) • • . 342-343 THE BERLIET CONSUMPTION TRIAL • • . .• • ... , ,, 343 FLASHES .. ... ... ... ... 344·346 AUTOMOBILE CLUB ANNUAL MEETING ... .. 347 MOTOR UNION OF G.B. AND I. THE PAST YEAR'S WORK ... ... 348 SOME QUERIES ANO REPLIES • • . ..• ... ... • • . .. . . . 349 UNSOLVED PROHLE::' >15 IN MOTOR ENGINEERING. T HE OISCUS5ION 350-351 Soc(ETY OF MoTOR MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS 351 CLUB DOINGS-A SIX·CYLINDl!R NATIONAL CAR ... 352
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( otes. The Automobile ngineers' Institute. Three 1reeks since ire criticised somewhat severeh· the manner in which the discussion after Colonel Crompton's paper \\·as conducted. Our critici ms 1rere fully endorsed by a majority of the council of the institute, and the result was that at the adjourned discussion on the paper, which took place on Wednesday of last 1reek, a time limit 1rns imposed; and not only so, the chairman, Mr. G. Douglas Leechman, kept the speakers to the subject of the paper. When a dis position to wander into matters unconnected with it 1ras shown he nipped it in the bud, and consequently the discussion as a \\'hole was a very valuable and informing one. Personal reminiscences were not.
indulged in , nor were business interests allowed to show themselves prominently. We are particularly glad to record this, because we are convinced that had the matter not been taken energetically in hand it would have resulted in the London section of the institute failing almo.st before it was established, a.s no good men 1rnuld consent to contribute papers which would be discussed in the ,my Colonel Crompton's was upon the first occasion. Money Wanted. /
Many of c.;ur readers have heard of the Cyclists' Touring Club, though it may be unknown to the larger proportion. This institution, which is usually referred to as the C.T.C., was established in 1879, and from that day to this it has restricted its membership to cyclists. From time to time suggestions have been made by the members that automobilists should be included within the ranks of the lub, apd that it should become a touring club upon the lines of the great French organisation. These suggestions have usually been JT,et with torrents of abuse and violent anti-automob ile outpourings in th e correspondence columns of the monthly Gazette of the club. At the same t ime the secretary of the club and the more en1 ightened members ha,·e been anxious to have autornobilists included, but they have always been outvoted.
However, the high water mark of membership of over 60,000 in 1899 fell last year to 35 ,ooo odd. ?\' 011· there appears to be a desire to seek the membership of motorists. Whether this step will be taken or not is to be decided by a postal vole of the members. U nle s the constitution of the club is ,·ery much changed, and its scope greatly enlarged, we really do not see what use it ll'ill be to the automobilist. So far as can be gathered, the club really cl es not want him; it wants his money, and although the subscription is only a small one, we really do not see what the automobilist can gain by joining the Cyclists' T ouring Club. He is al ready admirably provided for by the AutomoLile Cl ub , the Motor Union, the Automobile Association. and other less important organisations.
It is a very good thing that cyclists have such an excellent club as the C.T.C., and they had better keep it to themselves, particularly as only a little over a month ago they were urging before parliamentary can· diclates certain propositions which could scarcely be characterised under any other heading than that of anti-motor. Tf the C. T.C. decides to admit the automobilist it must also do something to attract him. At the present time it does nothing. The hotel system is no use as at present arranged. The route books are not so useful as Bartholomew's maps and the Gall and Inglis Contour mad books, while the monthly Gazette itself is only interesting to cyclists, and, in a minor waY, motor cyclists. The fact is the C.T. C. has recognised the existence of the motorist five years too late. and unless it is prepared to expend money and energy in attracting him it will find that the present proposals will have very little effect upon the membership beyond perhaps decreasing it.
