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By "The Extractor."
M.O.M. on Gas .Usage.
The following extract is taken from a letter just received •trona the Explosives Department of the Ministry of Munitions in answer to an inquiry from the Robin Hood Motor. Gas Holders, Ltd. This should set a few doubtful minds at rest.
"There is no present intention of restricting the use of coal-gas for motor vehicles ; indeed, the extended consumption of gas -offers considerable attraction By reason of the additional by-products which automatically result."
Chairman of the A.T.C.
The features portrayed on this page can barely be termed a caricature, It was -a thumb-nail sketch furtively made some years ago at my suggestion, because it was clear that Mr. A. Arnold Remington, of the Wolseley, would sooner or later come right to the forefront. We announced in our issue of the 6th September that he was elected to the important post of chairman of the Automobile Technical Committee, and I feel myself that he is an ideal selection for this job.
Remington is w e 11 known as the chief engineer to the Wolseley Co. at the Adderley Park works_ He was with Sir (then Mr.) Herbert Austin at the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Co., and has lived through the many changes of management and policy of the Wolseley concern. He is now also technically attached to other of Vickers' huge interests. Personally; he is a man of modest, retiring nature, and one soon discovers that he has a strong mathematical and analytical -bent, with originality and t h e requisite pluck to try new ideas. He has keen, penetrating eyes, and when you first meet him you feel that he has the röntgen ray faculty of looking through you, causing you to wonder if he has already visualized those mended braces and that Jaeger body belt. He naturally drive a. lot, and is extremely musical, being art excellent performer on the oboe and other unusual wood-wind instruments. You easily realize, that he has a devoted wife, .but he seems too youthful also to possess, as he does, quite a covey of bright, jolly-youngsters.
Mr. A. Arnold Remington, chief designer of Wolseley Motors, Ltd.
Van Der Vell.
It transpired at. theC.A.V. delnonstration last week that Mr.C:• A.Vandervell's ancestors were originally Dutch (as the name would imply); but they 04,
have been in this country for a little matter of 400 years. As they settled in the county of broad acres, I think we can hail our own particular Vandervell as Yorkshireman.
Never Studied History.
In the early days of the war, the C.A.T. technical representative, Mr, E. L. Cadwallader, was told by a, prominent concern that they must decline further. communication with him, as he bore what was obviously a German name. He was indignant, indeed, look you, and no wonder 1' The other must have shrivelled up, whateffer, with the history of an old Celtic name like that explained to him ! Why, some of the• Welsh . kings bore• the name of • Cadwallader.
Aptly Named.
The opportunity was given to rue recently of trying the Lightning motor fuel. I had half-a-gallon of ordinary (very ordinary, these days!) motor spirit in my tank, and I added two gallons of the Lightning substitute, so the recommended proportion was about correct. I started up, I may say, before adding the new fuel, and whilst moving slowly off I heard the familiar noise one associates with substitutes, but, as I gathered speed, I opened my Bowdenair inlet slightly and, when I eventually found the correct adjustment, the car moved along with all it usual life. For the return journey, after a two hours interval, the self-starter picked it up at the first attempt, and then, with the extra air in as before, the Bedford-Buick never brought me home in better time. I did not alter the carburetter, but I daresay that in a smaller-powered car it might be necessary to alter the jet because the spirit is heavy, but with commercial vehicles there should be little or no trouble.
I understand it is largely used on L.G.O.C. buses, and after the war this fuel will be obtainable at not much in excess of ad. per gallon.
A Dennis at Hell Fire Corner.
By no means do the letters A.S.C., M.T. spell safety, although their work may not compare with going "over the top." I have a letter from one who was a valued assistant of mine in the early motorcycling days. The extract given below tells modestly and briefly how it came about :—
" I was away from the column at the time, being attached to the R.E.s at an advanced dump. On the night of the 11th, my lorry was loaded with sandbags, etc., for a dump some distance beyond Hell Fire Corner on the Ypres-Menin Road. Well, I set sail in the usual way, my Dennis subsidy being in good trim, and duly reached Menin Gate, the traffic there being at a standstill. Fritz was shelling the roads, horse and motor transport being lyadly punished. A shell eventually landed a, few yards from, my lorry, a portion coming up through the footboard, badly peppering my face with shrapnel arid severely wounding me in the right ankle. A stretcher was soon brought, and off I went to the dressing station. Thence on an ambulance to a C.C.S., where my right foot was amputated just above the ankle. So far I am going on all right and i9 good spirits."