ACCESSORIES & FITTINGS
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or Light Vans.
For Owners of Ford Fleets.
Big ends will run out even on the best of cars, and the Ford is no more immune from this trouble than it is from any of the other failings—happily these now are few in number—that the motor vehicle is heir to. The owner of a fleet of these handy American vans cannot do better than arrange to have his connecting-rod ends refilled on the bench by his own fitters. This can be done at a minimum cost, and the Rejax re-metalling jig is of considerable assistance for the purpose. Its price is only 22s. 6d., and suitable material for the refilling is obtainable at 2s. 8d. per lb. from Rejax, Ltd., 37-38, Broad Street, Golden Square, W.
A Handy Toolbag.
Another accessory, and a very useful one, from the same company, is described as the Rejax toolbag. It is very strongly made in canvas, and is infinitely quicker and more convenient than the usual toolbag. On a recent occasion when out with Mr. Oakley, the managing director of this concern, we had observed the handiness and get-at-ableness of his tools, and he drew our attention to the bag, which was one of the type under discussion. It is fastened by one strap, and when this is released the bag opens out and exposes the whole of the tools as in a box. In canvas it is priced at 10s. gd., a stronger model in leather being 12s. 9d.
Anti. leak.
Petrol, as well as paraffin, is very liable to leak, given the smallest opportunity. Various remedies have been suggested from time to time to prevent taps, lids of petrol tanks, cans, etc. from leaking. One of the most difficult components to keep petrol tight is, as a rule, the filter. S, oap is frequently recommended, but the operation is a messy one, and it is not very easy to get this material to the right consistency.
Anti-Leak, a preparation made by the well-known manufacturing chemists Chilvers, Johnson and Co., of Leytonstone, N.E., is recommended as being a most effective remedy in this respect. It is supplied in small air-tight collapsable tubes, and has merely to be smeared in small .quantities over union nipples, tap plugs, screw caps, etc., m order to prevent leakage.
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The Clair Silencer.
War conditions have emphasized certain needs and have developed automobile characteristics in particular directions in a manner that might not have occurred in the course of many years of normal progress. The operation of petrol-. engined machinery of all kinds, in addition to motorcars and lorries, placed in the front line of trenches has called for silence to a hitherto unprecedented degree. This need for an instrument to silence the exhaust from a petrol engine without at, the same time detracting from its efficiency proved a great opportunity for J. C. Lyell and Co., Ltd., of 11.3, Great Portland Street, London, W., which concern has been developing the Clair silencer for nearly a decade, Whereas many chassis manufacturers have been able to produce machines in which the exhaust was so well baffled that it emerged from the tail pipe almost noiselessly, it is quite possible, on the other hand, that the utmost degree of efficiency was not obtained from the engine in conjunction with this extreme of silence. For the Clair silencer it is claimed, as a matter of fact, that it increases the power obtained from any engine as against that derived when only an open pipe is used. The construction of this deviceds by now well known, with its nest id!. perforated cells, each of which is stamped on parabolic form, the whole being built up so that the gas in traversing the silencer follows a helical path. The high efficiency of this form of silencer is due in part to the large cooling surface afforded to the gases, to the opportunities for expansion, and also to the fact that by means of the special shape of the cups, the rebound of the gas, when it hits the surface at speed, is taken advantage of to propel it along the silencer. The combined result of these properties is that in many cases a vacuum is actually created in the silencer tending to suck the exhaust gas from the engine. This silencer is now being made for almost every conceivable purpose. Consideration of expediency unfortunately prevents our disclosing many of the uses to which this silencer has been put. A recent official photograph, however, which appeared in the daily Press showed them on some petrol locomotives on a light railway in use behind the firing line. We understand from th3
aanufacturer that the degree of ilence for these machines is such hat they mast not be heard at a listance from the engine of 200 rards for other purposes this flisance is reduced to not more than :0 yards. Apparently, from some of the eorespondence we have been shown, he Admiralty and War Office offiials now appreciate that the Clair ilencer will meet their requirenents. The company has actually .eceived a testimonial from White Motoralities.
Lucas and lamps are synonyious terms. .There are few users f motors either for touring or ommercia). use, who would feel ny diffidence about communicatag with J. Lucas, Ltd., of Great Cing Street, Birmingham, if the latter in question be that 4f ighting. The company's tradenark is a sign of the best quality. ['he acetylene side-lamp set, rhich is specially recommended for ommercial work, and is suitable 3r vans not electrically equipped,
any one of four grades of finish, or ,t5 17s. 6d., is a handsome outt. The generator has a capacity or 1 lb. of carbide, and will keep he two lamps going for 3-1hours.
Rust and Nip-proof Tubes.
The latest Stepney tubes are Low fitted on the under side with , special thick rubber band, tho ffect of which is four-fold. It obiates damage by the beads of the ires. It is made of a special form f rubber which is not injured by ust, and as. it is applied to that art of the tube which comes in ontact with the rim, this is an unonbted advantage. When deated, itocauses the shape of the Lilac to be oval and to rest near the read of the tire, in consequence it ; not so liable to be nipped by tire 5vers when being fitted. Finally, ; prevents the inner tube proper !om being damaged by spoke cads and rivets in the car rim. 'he Stepney Spare Motor Wheel, Ad., Stepney Works, Llanelly, is he maker. Plugs from Morris, Russell and Co.
The Eros X Plug is intended as a successor to the Champion plug of the same -distinguishing mark. It is made in England, especially for the Ford, but may also be had screwed to fit. the standard size plug hole adopted on other makes of engines. It is strongly constructed and the price from Morris, Russell and Co., Ltd., 75, Curtain Road, London, E.C., is 3s.
Indestructible Wheels.
For wheels for his van, the user has the choice of wire wheels, wood
wheels, or wheels of the pressed steel variety. For the latter, several special and peculiar advantages are claimed. In the first place, it is stated that they are lighter and much stronger than wood or wire wheels. They are light at the rim, and on this account are Ii. little easier on tires than are some other forms of wheel. Being constructed of thin light metal they do not hold the heat which is generated by friction between tire and road, and for this reason also a saving in tire wear is claimed. They are very easily cleaned, comparing favourably, in this respect with the wooden wheels, and are not, like the latter, liable to suffer from unfavourable atmospheric conditions. They are impervious to heat, wet and cold, and do not split or twist. Perhaps one of the best-known makes of this class of wheel is the Goodyear. Owing to the special design of this wheel, in which the rim is integral, not being made in two halves and welded together, it is claimed that it is impossible for the inflated tube pressure to burst the rim and open the joint. As there are hardly any makes of car to which the Goodyear steelw-aeel has not been fitted, the van user, who for any cause or other finds it necessary to change his wheels, will have no difficulty in finding a Goodyear of the right size for his vehicle. At the very least he would be well advised before making a change to get in touch with W. Goodyear and Sons, Ltd., Dudley, Worcestershire, so that he may consider this make of component.