Passing Comments
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"Buchan Spells" as a Guide to Vehicle
CALENDARS are usually presented in one of several well-known forms, but this year's effort of the India tyre concern is distinctly novel and, withal, thoroughly practical. It contains, in different colours, the dates of the famous "Buchan Spells "—information which is most appropriate in connection with tyres, especially in. a country like this where changeable weather conditions prevail. The famous Buchan temperature charts were made about 1870, so that nearly 70 years elapsed before the idea of using the data for calendar purposes was conceived in this enterprising way.
"Buchan Spells" as a Guide to Vehicle Operators . . .
A !.CORRESPONDENT writrTh. 'ing to the Evening Standard refers to his expert-. ences early iri January on what is described officially as the best train of the day between Hull and King's Cross. He says that it was overcrowded, but, at last, he obtained a seat in a saloon coach. While waiting for the start, he read an article describing the progress made by the railways last year, and giving special praise in connection with the Silver Jubilee enterprise, the words "comfort and speed" being A24
The Comfort and Speed of a "Best" Train used. On his particular journey, it took three hours before the coach began to get warm, he could not look out because the windows were too dirty, and for an hour and a half could not read because the coach was unlighted. The 197-mile journey was completed in five hours, an average of 39 m.p.h., and the train was half an hour late. What, he asks, is the use of crowing about the Silver Jubilee, when conditions such as these can apply to the " best " train between a great seaport and the Capital?
Road Repairs that p OAD repairs are sometimes Create Difficulties for I N. undertaken without proper
Drivers regard to the difficulties that
may be created for drivers. This is particularly noticeable in those cases where one side of a two-way arterial road is under reconstruction, resulting in the use of the other section by traffic travelling in opposite directions. By daylight the problem of finding the opening leading back to the correct side of the central verge may not be difficult, but at night, on badly lit sections, it is distinctly troublesome, and better means than inefficient lighting pylons are needed to ensure that traffic is properly directed. A succession of red lights indicating that repairs are under way merely adds to the confusion. A Tender Thought A GENEROUS offer is being
by the Sandy Local made by Sandy Urban Authority . . . District Council. Tenders are invited for the supply and fitting of five new tyres and inner tubes for the local Dennis fire-engine, and the inducement is held out that the supplier will have the privilege of acquiring possession of the existing tyres and tubes. No doubt there will be a• rush to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity.
Six Elephants Were OA NE would have thought
Mislaid for 24 Hours that to lose a single by a Railway . elephant would be a somewhat difficult matter, particularly if it were a white one, but between London and Liverpool, during the Christmas rush, six of these small pachyderms were mislaid for over 24 hours. They were entrained at Ascot on the Sunday and were eventually found on a siding near Sheffield, well off their route. It was then stated that they would reach Liverpool by 11 a.m, next day, but they did not arrive until 5.30 p.m. In the meantime their trainer and various officials dashed from station to station for six hours to meet every train. There is no suggestion that the animals were employed for transport service in place of locomotives.
How Sparking plug TT is suggested by the Lodge Points Indicate Engine iconcern that a glance at the Health . . . plug points will give valuable clues as to the engine's state of health. With correct carburation the points should be grey-black, without traces of soot. Too rich a mixture gives them a black and sooty appearance, whilst a weak one will leave them white and parched. Wet oil on the points usually indicates worn piston rings and cylinder bores; this also applies if plugs carbon up frequently. If, before starting', fin the morning, the points are wet, then a defective gasket or a porous cylinder casting may be suspected.