THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR
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British Magneto Activity.
The manufacture of efficient magnetos in anything approaching quantities was, in pre-war days, to all intents and purposes, monopolized by Germany. The disastrous effect of this foreign control, at the commencement of hostilities, of an essential component to all petrolengined vehicles is too well known to call for repetition. Happily, through stress of circumstances, this strangulating influence has now been remedied, and the British commercial-vehicle industry will in future be able to depend on the production of a British magneto of proved merit and design.
One of the magnetos falling within this category will& will be available in quantities after the war is the M.-L., manufactured by the M.-L. Magneto Syndicate, Ltd., of Coventry. The new works of this company, of which they have been in occupation for little more than a year, are already.running at full capacity, and the ever-growing demands for M.-L. magnetos are creating a need for continual extensions. At the present time they are almost exelusively engaged in the execution of Government contracts for various and many military uses. The firm state that they can now produce a 'magneto which, although only two-thirds the weight of pre-war standard models; has greatly-increased efficiency and sparking at much lower speeds, and that an M.-L. Magneto of pr-war weight will be much more efficient and at low speeds will spark at less . than half the revolutions previously required.
The new M.-L. models will be produced on thoroughly up-to-date lines, involving the use of a large range of jigs, fixtures and gauges. The machine tools and plant installed are of the best and latest types. Materials, workmanship and finish will be of high standard, fully equal to that set by the Aeron.autical Inspection Department.
. Hot-Spot Vaporization.
There has always been some difficulty, slight as it may be, in starting petrol engines from cold; a •feature which is naturally accentuated during winter months. With— lower grades of petrol and petrol substitutes now the rule, it can readily be understood that the cranking of an eirgine calls for, in many cases, laborious exertion.
With a view to alleviating this disability, Messrs. Rich and Bandy, 115117, Fore Street, Edmonton, N., have Cal carried out many experiments with various methods of warming the induction pipe and carburetter. The result of these extended tests has terminated in the production of a small, low-power consuming electric heater of simple design and construction styled the HutSpot. This device consists of a specially constructed electric heater mounted on a carburetter flange washer which carries the terminal to which the cable is attached. This vaporizer eau be run from the lighting set accumulators, or can be installed complete with battery. The current consumed is about the same as that used by a headlamp, i.e., '18 watts.
The electric _heater is enclosed in a metal sheath, as our illustration will show, which forms a hot plate and is set at any angle over the jet so that all the fuel that is sprayed from the jet impinges on the hot plate and is immediately vaporized. This device will thus enable the engine to be started from cold on almost any grade Of fuel whether it has been standing idle for minutes or days, without resort being made to priming. A point to bear in mind is that no structural alterations either to the carburetter itself or the control are necessary when fitting the device. It is, of course, operated by switch from the dashboard.
Hot-Spot should make particular appeal to commercial vehicle users at the present time in view of the advent of whiter temperatures. Its 'field of utility is an extensive one.
Baling Presses.
It is only to be expected, in view of the huge quantities of various classes of material which are being handled by firms engaged in the production of war essentials, that a certain percentage must become mere scrap. Some of this waste is reclaimed, whilst the remainder fetches a face scrap value. It is a problem which has to be tackled by most large works, as to how to handle efficiently this latter class of material. One of the best methods of dealing with the problem is to utilize a baling press, similar to the machine illustrated on this page, which. is -manufactured by Hollings and Guest, Ltd., the well-known Birmingham engineers. This hydraulic appliance is Useful for baling a large variety of materials. It is complete in itself, and is operated by hand pumps, no power being required for compression purposes at all.
Brolt Electric Starter.
We think that we are safe in predicting that a post-war refinement of many commercial-vehiclt chassis will be the embodiment, by the' manufacturers, of an electric self-starter daitfit. We know of certain manufacturers who have already given intimation to this effect. It is agreed that the heaviest types of machines may not he fitted upe in this manlier; the electric starter will in all probability oonstituteStandard equip
fnent on machines ranging from the light van to the 50 cwt. machine. For the former type, where constant stopping and starting is the rule, its advantages are obvious, but for the heavier type its desirability has still to be proved.
An electric starter which has been on the market for some considerable time, and afforded proof, of efficiency and reliability under service conditions, is the Brolt, for which equipment Brown Bros., the established accessory factors of Great Eastern Street, E.G., is agent.
It consists of a series-wound motor which transmits the power to the engine through the medium of. a gear-ring mounted on the rim of the flywheel. The supply of energy for the motor is obtained from a suitable battery. Transmission of power to the flywheel is effected by means of a small pinion mounted on a floating spigot which is driven by the arthaturo shaft. This pinion meshes with the gear-ring on the flywheel. The movement of the esdenS1011 of the .armature shaft is governed by two helically-shaped gears cut in its surface and which form a screw thread and engage with the internal thread in the driving end of the armature spindle.
The operation .of the starter is as follows ;----When the foot-operated starting knob is depressed, the motor tends to accelerate very rapidly, but owing to its inertia, or "flywheel effect, the pinion shaft momentarily, remains stationary, and in doing so is caused to travel longitudinally until it is drawn into engagement with the teeth on the flywheel, when the pinion and shaft both rodte and drive the flywheel.
A damping spring is provided to prevent shock at the limit of its travel. Immediately the engine fires the flywheel tends to over-run the starter, so that a reverse action takes place, and the flywheel teeth commence to drive the pinion. Obviously this operation will at once unscrew the pinion extension out of the armature spindle, so that the pinion slides out of mesh, where it remains until the starter is again utilized. Much further descriptive text and many illustrations are embodied in the latest booklet issued by Brown Bros.' dealing with the Brolt self-starter, as well as to electric lighting equipment.
29th November, 1917. Recent Registrations.
Moore of Brighton (Garage) Ltd., with a capital of £1000 in £1 shares, to be proprietors and managers of public and other garages, etc. Registered office is at 8, North Street, Brighton.
Az-Nu Engineering Co., Ltd. with a capital of £12,000, to be miter and general engineers and manufacturers of aircraft, and component parts, etc. Registered office is at 261, Church Road, Mitcham.
Relph Carburetter and Motor Equipments, .Ltd., with a capital of £10,000 in £1 shares. Objects as indicated by the title. Registered office is at Prudential Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Elms Aircraft and Motor Works, Ltd., with a capital of £10,000 in 9,750 preference shares of £1 each and 5000 ordinary shares of 1s. each, to be manufacturers of and dealers in motorcars, aircraft, and accessories of all kinds.
Herbert D. Greene Ltd., with a . capifel. of £20.000 in 21 shares, to take over the business urn-tenor hieulage con
tractor, etc.; carried on at Banks Road, Gersten, Liverpool, and to be manufacture's and repairers of steam, petrol, electric and other vehicles, agricultural implements, etc.
Cracked Cylinders.
It is an annual occurrence in the latter months of the year for a number of cases of cracked cylinders, brought about by the advent of frosty weather conditions, to be reported. We have had few heavy frosts as yet—in fact, the Meteorological Office reports that the barometer reading is higher for the time of the year than it has been for many years past; but from a casual glance at the repairing works of the New Welding Co., at 26, Rosebery Avenue, E.G., it would appear that the few slight frosts which have occurred have taken their toll, for numerous examples of cracked cylinders were to be seen awaiting repair. Oii this account the company is anticipating a heavy call upon its enlarged resources as the winter advances.
Big Rubber Crop.
At the annual meeting of the, AboyneClyde Rubber Estates of Ceylon, Ltd-, Mr. Robert Davidson presided, in the absence of Sir Arthiir du Ores, Bart., M.P.. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, mentioned that the profits earned during the season were some £000 less than anticipated, mainly due to the heavy increase in the cost of freight and marine war risk insurance. A probable increased distribution on the. ordinary shares forecasted last year had been realized, the dividend for the current year being 14 per cent., as compared with 15 per cent. for the previous year. Continuing, Mr. Davidson said : The crop increase of 53,405 lb. over the previous year must be considered as highly gratifying. The .estimated crop for the current year is 465,000 lb., and I am very pleased to report that for the four months of the current year already expired it is nearly 19,000 lb. ahead of the • estimate, and recent estate reports indicate that, under normal weather conditions, a minimum crop of 480,000 lb.
should he secured. No forward sales were entered into on account of the past season's crop, but the average price realized was 2s. 10d. per lb. The report was adopted unanimously, ahd the following dividends confirmed : 7per cent. per annum on the preference shares to 30th June, 1917; 15 per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares for the half-year ended 31st December, 1916, already paid ; and a further dividend at the rate of 20 per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares for the half-year ended 30th June, 1917.
The Food Production Department requires, it is stated, 50 more women for tractor work. They will receive a short training-, and, when efficient, will be paid 30s. per week plus a bonus.
Ateliers Atlas, the well-known French lorry builders, have recently purchased ground on the Avenue Roche in Paris, at a cost of nearly four million francs for the erection of a new factory.
Local Proceedings.
Ipswich Watch Committee is purchasing a first-aid fire-fighter for £295. Barking D.D.C. is to raise a fund for the purchase of a motor ambulance.
Lossiemouth T.C. is making inquiries as to the purchase of an electric lorry.
Worsborough (Barnsley) U.D.t. is considering the purchase of a steam wagon.
West Bromwich is asking for sanction to a loan of £1000 for a motor turbine fire-engine.
Halifax Corporation is applying for Priority certificates for the purchase of three Ford chassis.
Southampton C.C. is purchasing two additional motor lorries at a cost of £863 each for hauling road material.
Bantry (Ireland) Guardians have accepted the tender of M. Breen at £180 for the supply of a motor ambulance.
Thames Ditton Fire Brigade is buying a motor tractor for £185. A Daimler chassis is also being purchased for £145.
Grimsby T.C. is buying a 25 h.p. Studebaker motor ambulance chassis for
£310. The Council is also spending £152 on the purchase of a motor generator and switchboard for charging the batteries of its electric vehicles.
Insurance Change.
The Board of Trade ha a sanctioned an alteration to the title of the Licenses Insurance Corporation and Guarantee Fund, Ltd. 24, Moorgate Street, E.C., to a sernewlat shorter and more representative form, and the company in future will be styled the Licenses and General Insurance Co.,. Ltd.
Bridgford C. foreshadows motorbus difficulties shortly, because of failure to renew petrol and paraffin contracts. The Ministry of Munitions is to be consulted.
Complaints having been made concerning the noise made by motorbuses pass. ing through Loughton at night, the Ministry of Munitions intimates that special silencers are now being fitted.