Passing Comments
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JJ URING a recent discussion at an I.A.E. meet
an interesting bus-operating point was raised. One speaker, with an important connection, stated that it was sometimes found advisable to run the petrol engine at a rather higher compression ratio than is theoretically recommended for full load, owing to the large amount of part-load working, AN experimental single-cylindered oil engine
intended for aircraft work was being tested recently and it surprised the mechanic by continuing to run for several minutesafter the fuel supply was turned or Disconnecting the fuel pipe made no difference arid it was found that the lubricating oil was being ignited to a sufficient degree to continue delivering power. M. RICARDO is responsible for an interesting new theory regarding cylinder wear. Ile suggests that the products of partial combustion cause corrosion of those portions of the cylinder walls from which oil has been, in effect, squeezed by the rings under the influence of high gas pressure. He quotes a ease in which a cylinder blew off and a band of rust formed around the top of the pistontraversed area in under 30 seconds.
WE recently read -with great interest a book entitled "Nobody Starves," published by W: Sons and Co., Ltd. It deals with the way in which the depression has affected working conditions in America, chiefly in Detroit, the centre of the American motor industry.
ONE of the latest dodges of the mobile police to conceal their identity is the removal of their helmets, Driving along in ordinary cars they thus aspire to pass as civilians. The question has been raised, however, as to whether, even out of uniform, the grim "traffic cop" could hope to look like an ordinary person. At any rate, distrust the bareheaded sports-car driver I TRAVELIANGf througn tne counties one is struck by the surprising number of old buses being operated by quite well-known companies—buses • which must be nearly due for replacement. The sight is cheering, for it promises early steady business for makers. One also realizes what a great number of public-service vehicles there is in operation—everyone seems to rely on the bus.
TRENCH railways have been losing 4,500,000 francs daily for a long time. They blame road competition and have succeeded in obtaining a big increase in motor taxation. Meanwhile they are indulging In various expedients to attract passengers. Surprise trains and excursions are being run, sand now they appear to have combined with cafe proprietors on a profit-sharing basis, for each customer at the " bistro " counters (a small cafe or bar is a "bistro," in the vernacular) has been given a ticket on paying for his drink. Six of these tickets give the right to obtain a real railway ticket for one kilometre; 3,600 drinks would carry one from Paris to Bordeaux ! Taking the average drink as representing one-sixth of a litre the fuel consumption return works out at 4: mpg,