FORD VAN POINTERS.
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By R. T. Nicholson (Author of "The Book of the Ford ").
TIIE coil blade points are a pair of tungsten points on the coil vibrator and bridge. They go ragged in use, and it is important that they should meet fairly and squarely.
With great care it is possible to get quite a decent fit of the points by filing lightly. hammering (at one time the regular way of squaring coil points) is out of the question with the Ford blades, because it loosens the riveting of the points.
453.—Trimming Coil Blade Points.
But, at best, filing is an uncertain business, and it is odds on your not getting a really square fit even when the utmost care is used.
I have lately seen a natty little tool for the trimming of' the points. My sketch shows, better than any written description could.do, how the tool works. The top portion is a head which turns on ab centre. The underside of the head is coated with renewable abrasive. The blade is laid on the lower portion of the tool—an anvil in .effect—and the top portion is turned with the abrasive against the tungsten point. So you see there can be no question about squareness. When the second blade is similarly treated, they must fit, and so give plump, clean contact for the flow of low-tension current.
Sold for '1 B. 6d. by Langfields, Ltd., Cornbrook Road, Manchester (sole manufacturers).
454.—Runbaken Timer.
Some time ago I described the new Runbaken timer, and then promised to give my opinion about it after, I had tested it properly.
As I say, that was a long time ago;. and, maybe, some of my readers with long memories are wondering when I am going to redeem my promise. Indeed, one or two of them have been jogging Inc upon the subject.
The truth is, I have been waiting for that Runbaken timer to wear out. When it was done for, I said lo myself, I could say something helpful as to the length of its life.
Pint the blamed thing will not wear out! And as I want to put myself on record about it before I am worn out, I may as well do so now.
For all the good points that a timer should have, I do not want anything better. For easy starting, smooth, regular firing and long life, commend me to the Runbaken.
I know it does not look right—at all events, to the unscientific. When I first saw it, I was reminded of the story of the old lady in the railway accident. As
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she was "nosing around the track, after the carriages had run off the line, she noticed that the communication cord between adjoining coaches was broken. "Well," she said, "if they will tie their carriages together with string, they must expect accidents In the Runbaken timer, there IS what looks like a "little bit of string." In point of_fact, it is a bit of flex which serves a very useful purpose in ensuring good electrical connection.; but it looks as if it must break in practice. The reason why it does not break is that there is no strain on it.
Then the brush (ordinarily a roller, you know) looka curiously like a.brush—something like a doll's hairbrush. In point of fact, it is made of copper gauze of first quality, which just wipe-saver the lour contacts-does not turn on a centre like a roller ; being held outwards by a spring, its connection is always sure. Then the inside of the cover looks all wrong—at first. It is an all-metal track. -It is not quite continuous as a track, because it is divided into eight tracks, between every two of which is a hairline of separation. Four of the tracks are "live "—that is, connected through with the four circuits via the erminals on the cover : the other four are " dead " or " dummy "—not entering into the circuits at all, but being provided merely to give the copper gauze brash the same substance to push against all round the Then this altogether surprising timer does • not need to be oiled at all; indeed, you must not, oil it : on the contrary, it is your business to wipe out any oil that does get through into the timer from the engine. TheRunbakeit timer is meant to run dry and clean.
What happens as a result of all this oddness ? (1) The start is so easy that you can hardly believe yOu have started. This is because of the dry, clean contacts.
(2) The firing is so regular that you wonder why= till you think of that all-metal track and the copper gauze brush. You remember that the track cannot wear into hollows and bumps, sirnply because it is of the same material throughout, and. that material is exposed to just the same amount of wipe throughout. There is no jump between brush and metal segments. (3) The, thing lasts so longthatyou are apt to forget it is there. The Runbaken is like "kind words." At least, while I will not say that it "can never die," I begin to wonder if it ever will. eriously, I have Only one qtiarrel with the Runbaken timer—which is, that its makers call it a commutator.