THE M. V. 8,1 W. U. ASSOCIATION. THE DRIVERS' COLUMN.
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A conference on the subject of extraordinary traffic will take place at the Automobile Club, 119, Piccadilly, W., on Tuesday next, the tith instant, at 4.30 p.m., between representatives of the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
From information that has been received from the local authorities it would appear that the re-registration of commercial vehicles is not proceeding very rapidly. Members of the Association are advised not to delay re-registration to the very last as the registering authorities can only deal with a limited number in a day.
The purchasers of new vans or wagons ,should always insist that the manufacturers should carry out all the registration formalities. They should refuse to accept delivery of a wagon until it has been re-registered. Manufacturers who are dealing with a very large number of wagons are more acquainted with the formalities that have to be gone through than the user of only one or two vehicles.
A most interesting case in respect to damage to roads by alleged extraordinary traffic came on for hearing at the County Court at North Walsham, before his Honour Judge Willis, K.C., on the 31st March. The action is brought by the Erpingham Rural District Council to recover the sum of '178 in respect to damage alleged to have been caused by Mr. R. Finnagan, of Northampton, who is constructing a new line of railway between Runton and Mundesley.
Some of the larger authorities are rendering every possible assistance to enable the Users of heavy vehicles to re-register their machines. They have sent out circulars to all owners whose names are upon the list drawing their attention to the regulations and enclosing an application form for re-registration. On the other hand there are authorities who have not thought it necessary to take any steps of this character. They are leaving it to the users to inform themselves of the new requirements of the Local Government Board_ The regulations of the Local Government Board with regard to re-registration are sufficiently complicated as to puzzle not only the users but also some of the local authorities. In more than one case that has been brought to the attention of the Secretary of the Association the local authority has mis-interpreted the intention of the Order. In these eases the Association is most glad to take up the matter on behalf of the user. Members of the Association who have any difficulty in re-registering their vehicles should at once communicate with the Secretary. " E.J." writes :--" The following incident which happened. to me may interest your readers in the Drivers' Column. While driving a three-ton petrol lorry one dark night some miles from London, along a narrow but good road, we came round a corner right on to a piece of the road torn up for re-laying and covered with about two feet of loose stones, but with no warning lights. Almost before I was aware of it the car plunged forward about three yards and then the back wheels sank in over the axle caps, On examination we found the stones extended for about 7o feet and beyond was a good wide road. I inserted a small Castle jack under the frame on to a thick plank of wood and raised one side about three inches, putting some blocks under to keep it at that height, and raised the jack on to a thicker plank, repeating this until the wheel stood clear in the air. Then did the same to the other side. We then commandeered. some thick planks from a neighbouring cottage, and, placing these under the wheels and across the stones like railway lines, I drove the car across safely to the other side. It was a tricky bit of steering to keep on the planks, which were the same width as the wheels, and being a very dark night made it worse. But after a delay of ti hours we proceeded on our way rejoicing, but cussing at the road officials."
" S.J.C." writes on the subject of gland packing :—" During my experience of driving a steam wagon I had endless trouble with the glands. After trying several kinds of pack, ingI almost gave up in despair, as do what I would, as soon as T had packed a gland and travelled about 20 miles, the old familiar sound greeted my ears. Being awkward glands to pack imagine my feelings when T had to repack 'all hot.' I was airing my troubles one day to an old friend of mine, a traction engine driver, who was driving a traction engine for a firm where I served my time as a fitter, and he offered to put my troubles at an end and even gave me the stuff to try it with, at the same time telling me that I was doomed to disappointment the first time or two. I gladly accepted his offer, and the first shed day I packed the h.p. piston rod, as this was the rod that gave me the greatest amount of trouble, only to find he was right, for as soon as I had started on Monday morning and gone about three miles I was packing that gland again. However, the following Saturday I had another try, and imagine my relief when I never touched that gland again for nine weeks. I religiously keep a piece of that stuff now, and often think about it now the blisters have gone down on my hands, and have even gone as far as to say that when my friend dies he deserves a monument erected to his memory. Now to work. Unscrew the gland nuts; run the gland back on the rod and clear out all the old packing-. Procure an old air pump rubber valve, cut a strip off round the edge about tin. thick with a sharp knife dipped in water—this will give a strip of rubber about fiin. wide and bin. thick ; square the end and offer it up round the rod as with ordinary packing, leaving it a little bit longer ; then cut off square and cut another off the same length. Bind these two pieces round and round with asbestos string for their whole length, starting and finishing with a half hitch, when you have two pieces of packing which should fit the stuffing box easily all round and the ends just butt ; insert these the same as ordinary packing, first giving the asbestos some cylinder oil; then bring the gland back and screw the nuts up finger tight only, using a spanner for the lock nuts. Keep the cylinders well lubricated or the packing will dry up. When the glands blow the packing is all used up and only some charred asbestos left. I have had glands stand it weeks packed like this with steam at zoolb. per sq. in.
[Five shillings awarded to sender, Sydney J. Chapman, 38, Wandle Road, South Wimbledon, S.W., as it is exactly such "tips " we want to encourage.]