AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

FORD VAN POINTERS.

15th March 1921, Page 26
15th March 1921
Page 26
Page 26, 15th March 1921 — FORD VAN POINTERS.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

By R. T. Nicholson (Author of "The Book of the Ford ")

THERE is good reason to believe that the police will be instructed in the near future to see that drivers obey the regulations concerned with the lighting of their vans. In the past, these regulations, so far as they concern side lamps, have not been strictly enforced. For many years past the law has Iaid.it down that every motor vehicle should, after dark, show lights indicating its extreme width. In practice that law has not always been enforced. Headlight illumination was considered good enough. (Sometimes it was even considered too good!)

334.—The Side Oil Lamps.

Nbw, Our headlights do not show the extreme width of the Ford van. Even the side lamps do not show the extreme width, but they show a greater width—. almost the extreme width ; and it is morally certain,

that the police will raise trouble in the near future unless the side lamps are alight after dark. See to them, therefore.

The Ford side lamps are oil lamps. Oil lamps are generally regarded as a nuisance, because of their unreliability.. They blow out, they go out from lack of oil, they smoke, they spill paraffin, they are dirty to handle.

But the side lamps can be. made to behave properly, if a little care is given to them.

Matters that Call for Careful Attention.

The first point to take care of is the oil. This must be the best oil obtainable.

-Next, look to the wicks. They should be the best wicks you can buy, and should be thoroughly dried before use. Wicks must be changed pretty often— generally, long before they are burnt out. They must also be trimmed frequently. It is enough to wipe off the charred Portion with a &crap of paper.

The oil vessels must occasionally be cleaned, Water and dirt will accumulate in them if they are not cleaned.

The lamp bodies above the oil vessel must be wiped out every now and again with a rag.

Do not fill the oil vessels too full, or they will spill waffin. Two-thirds will be full enough.

Do not turn the flame too high when you first light up, or'you will get the lamps smoking soon after. Be content with a well-outlined small flame at the start.

If you have trouble with the lamps blowing out, or jerking out, you will find that addition of a small quantity of petrol Will prevent the trouble. About half a teaspoonful to the charge of paraffin is enough. Do not, overdo this, or you will have the whole show alight!

Do not expect the oil lamps to give you a brilliant light; they are not there for that purpose ; all you• want them to do is to give enough glow to indicate your outside width—I mean, the outside width of the van

It. is a pity that the side lamps are no electric ; but they are not, and it is not easy to make them so. After all, it is cheaper to buy. paraffin and wicks than to replace burnt-out bulbs.

335.—Lighting in Traffic.

In traffic, do not keep your bright headlights going at full blaze ; drive on your dim headlights. You do not need bright headlights when the streets are well lighted. Moreover' the light is dazzling to foot-passengers and other drivers when your switch. is set to " Bright '? position.

If you are driving in_ the country and, therefore,. have to keep your bright headlights going, make it a rule to switch it over to " Dim " when meeting other traffic—even if "it is a cyclist. You have no idea how dazzling your bright headlights am. Never blaze away at a horse with them. Your headlights are there to make night-driving safe, not to make it dangerous.

If you make it a rule to switch over to "Dim," when meeting other drivers, you will be setting a good example, and you will generally find that they return the courtesy—if they do not switch off first. It is comforting to do the right thing first.

It is, I am glad to see, become a regular habit to dim down when meeting oncoming vehicles. It is high time that this practice became general. At the same time, the entire extinguishing of lamps is a bad practice and may later be declared illegal.

Tags

People: R. T. Nicholson

comments powered by Disqus