Passing Comments
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Observations From an WRITING from a war Overseas Reader in vv theatre, Private P. Colman, the Forces . . . who contributes many lintrior ous drawings to this journal, refers to the way in which drivers in the war areas have painted the names of their home towns above the windscreens of the vehicles they drive. As a result there have been many happy meetings between
• old-time friends engaged in this work or as dispatch riders, and everyone keeps his eyes open for machines bearing the name of his own town. .A great many also add the Christian name or names of their wives or sweethearts. The result is sometimes amusing, especially when a great lumbering Tank carrier bears such a name as Patricia or Penelope. On particular vehicle of this type has the appropriate cognomen, " WorksWonder," and Colrnan adds that it certainly is one. Some of these Tank carriers are loaded like those old Chinese contraptions comprising many boxes within, the first. One he noticed was conveying .a heavy vehicle, inside which was an Austin utility van, and further investigation showed "that the van had a motorcycle within it. The height was exceptional, but, fortunately, in the particular area concerned there are no bridges, the only obstructions that a. driver is likely to encounter being the SignalS' wires.
What To Do if SparkMUMEROUS inquiries from ing Plugs Become risers of all classes of -motor .
Fouled vehicle as to the effect on sparking plugs of the new leaded motor fuel have been received, by the 'Champion Sparking Plug Co., Ltd., Felthani, Middlesex. This concern points out that, in, many cases, a deposit of a yellowish substance will be found on the plugs. The colour may vary with the amount of lead used in the fuel. The only requirement, if the plugs be otherwise in good condition, is to clean them' well and regularly. As regards other forms of fouling, there are two—gas and oil. In the former, the insulator. becomes covered with fine carbon, the deposit showing as a dull black, but oilfouling-causes a shiny black deposit, -which, in extreme cases; is wet. A cure for the trouble in the first case' is, readjustment of the carburetter to give aslightly weaker mixture. With oil .fouling, overhaul of the • engine is Usually necessary. The uSe of a " hotter " plug may however, lengthen the time between the period .of cleaning. An incorrect gap may also cause 'a plug to foul. With too wide a gap 'missing will result at high speeds and wet unburned-fuel will be deposited, this, later, turning to carbon. A narrow gap will cause missing at low speeds and have the same result, ONE of the most-appreciated services originated by this journal is that by which many
• of our readers kindly post the Services copies of " The Commercial Motor " after they have finished with them. Now, however, the position has arisen when we have a dozen or so offeripg this facility but no addresses to send them; yet we know that thousands of men are anxious to receive copies. There must
• be many transport operators who know such men— for example, former members of their own staffs—for whom they cannot obtain extra copies. If they will let us have _their names and addresses we will pass these on to those who can supply their needs in this respect.
regularly to men in
Points -on Insurance THE C.M.U.A. is reminding VVhich Should Receive 1 its members to check up on
Attention all their insurance policies and to see that they provide full and adequate cover for their premises, plant, stock and equipment, at to-day's value, for all risks against which protection is necessary under present conditions of working. It also points out that whilst the liability policies of some employers cover, employees using mechanically propelled vehicles in the course of their work, they do not cover the use of a cycle in such circumstances. Where this is happening the employers are strongly advisedto make arrangements with their insurers to obtain the necessary cover. ThA warning will also be of interest to other operators who are not necessarily C.M.U.A. members.