Drivers and Mechanics.
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TEN SHILLINGS WEEKLY is paid for the best communication received, and one penny a line of ten words for anything else published, with an allowance for photographs.
WorkshoP tips and smart rellahrs ; long and successful runs; interesting photographs; all are suitable subjects. We will knock your letters into shape and will prepare sketches, where necessary, before Publication. The absence of a sketch does not disqualify for a prize. When uniting, use one side of the paper only and mention your employer's name as a guarantee of bona fides. Neither voter own nor your employer's name will be disclosed. Payment will be made immediately after publication. Address your letters to The Editor, TRE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, 7-25, Rosebery
Avenue, London, E.C.
A Funny Way of Feeding a Drill.
1.1086] " A.L." (Mile End) writes :—" I am sending you an account of a little ' wangle ' which my mate and myself carried out some little time ago. The governor had got it into his head that a speedometer ogght to be fitted on the van, and he purchased one from some enterprising salesman, and handed it over one morning, with instructions to me to fit it up right away. In order to fit this speedometer, I had to drill a hole in one of the side members of the chassis. The only tools we had at hand consisted of a brace and bit and a twist, drill. When the drill was held in the jaws of the brace, there was barely sufficient room, between the side member and the ground, to place it in position, and, of course, no pressure could be exerted. As the job had to be done somehow, we jacked up the van for a couple of inches and placed a piece of wood packing under the head of the brace. We then lowered the chassis until pressure was put on the point of the drill, and then we ratcheted until it was necessary to lower the van a little more in order to let the drill bite. We kept on lowering the jack until the drill went through the frame, which was not a matter of many minutes."
A Simple Wheel Drawer.
[10871 " A.L." (Notting Hill) writes :—" Some time ago' I sent you a sketch and description of an adjustable wheel drawer which you were kind enough to publish. It had one little defect, which was, that it was apt to damage the paintwork of the wheel. I now send you a description of another device for wheel drawing, which I think will be found very effective. There is nothing new about it, but 1 have no doubt many drivers will hear of it for the first time ; its simplicity makes it a desirable feature. The main part of the drawer is made from a steam-pipe reducing-socket, the metal of which is thick enough to allow of a little alteration in fitting, in order to fit it to the boss of the road wheel. The smaller end of this reducing socket should be tapped either 1i in. Whitworth or 1 in. gas thread, according to the size of the set screw that. is to be used. The plug may be made from any suitable odd piece of metal, or, the three pieces can be bought complete at any engineer's stores. The large end of the socket should be a fairly good fit on to the hub of the wheel. The tool is just as useful as the heavy gun-metal pullers that one falls over at times in garages, and it may be made at one quarter the cost."
The "Watering Places" Prizes.
In connection with the steam-wagon drivers' new competition, in which a first and second prize of
and 1 guinea are offered respectively, we beg to call our readers' attention to the fact that accuracy is of the greatest importance in compiling these lists. There is no need to pay attention to grammar or language. Each list of watering places given must, however, be complete over a distance of at least 35 miles on any main road, and details of interest or special information in connection with these places should be given at the bottom of the list. Care must be taken that no places are given in competitors' lists which are debarred by local authority.
For the b9nefit of intending competitors, we give a condensed account, of counsel's opinion on the subject of what constitute legal watering places. This opinion appeared in our issue of 9th March, l911. Counsel was asked to advise on the following questions :-
(1) Whether a driver has any legal right to take, for the purpose of his engine, water which is to be found on the roadway, or in streams which are forded where the road crosses them.
Counsel replied that. if the water is dedicated to the public as part of the highway it may be taken. The only action that could follow would lie at the suit of the owner of the soil of the ditch. It is quite permissible to take water from wayside ponds, in counsel's opinion.
(2) Running streams crossed by the highway at a ford.—The rights of the owners of the soil of the highway. and of other owners further down the stream must he bore in mind, said counsel.
(3) Canals.—Proprietors of canals are almost invariably protected by their private Acts of Parliament, which usually prohibit any use of the water, except by certain excepted persons.
(4) River crossed by a bridge.—In counsel's opinion, it is difficult to see how water can be obtained without. the commission of an act of trespass. It is not a criminal offence to take water unless it be enclosed in pipes.
If competitors will keep these points in view when submitting their lists, it will do much to avoid confusion when the Editor decides as to which are and which are not legal watering places in competitors' 1Ms.
A Make-shift Lock-nut.
[108S] "J.T." (Old Kent Road) writes :—" I am sending to you particulars of a lock-nut which can be very easily made. You will see by the sketch which • File the under surface, and make the key taper.
I enclose that a piece is filed out of the side of the nut. The resultant slot should not be so deep, however, that it cuts into the thread. A wedge should then be made of the same section as the slot and this should be slightly tapered along the top. When the nut has been screwed down fairly tightly, the wedge should be knocked into position with a centre punch or a spanner. The nut will, by this means, be wedged on to the bolt, and will be held very firmly indeed. The under-cut portion will prevent the wedge from Slipping out whilst it is being driven."
Advice on Steam Boilers.
[1089] " C.B." (Hornsey Rise) writes :—" Perhaps a few useful hints on steam boilers would not come amiss to some of your readers who are in charge of t hese vehicles. The young driver is apt to be much worried when he finds leaks and crustings taking place on and in the boiler-tubes and spaces. There is no need to worry over these matters, however ; they can be obviated or remedied in quite a simple manner. I send you a few good hints which I have picked up during the course of many years' experience, all of which have their supporters, at the same time T am not very much in favour of some of them myself. Your readers must understand that. I give them for what they are worth. The first dodge is to put raw potatoes in the boiler, a quantity of 1-501h to the weight of water is about the right proportion. Another tip is to use 12 parts of salt, 2-.1 parts of caustic soda. ith part of extract of oak bark, and part of potash. Again, a piece of oak hark ciuspended in the boiler, and renewed about once a month helps to keep away furring. Two oz. muriate of ammonia put into the boiler twice a week helps in a similar manner. Then there is the dodge of coating the inside of the boiler about every six or eight weeks with a coating of three parts blacklead and Is parts of tallow. For smaller makes 12i lb. molasses put into a boiler of, say, 8 h.p., keops the
inside clear for six months or so. Another remedy is mahogany or oak sawdust in small quantities. This should be used with caution, as the tannic acid pits the iron plates. A little carbonate of soda is a useful thing to put in a boiler, as also is slippery elm bark or spent tanner's bark. Chloride of tin helps to keep the boiler free from fur_ " It must be borne in mind that methods such as these are only required when the boilers are filled from standpipes, etc., where the water is hard. Where it is always possible to obtain rain or soft water there is not nearly so much danger or trouble incurred due to the furring of the boiler."
A Water-level Indicator, The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 10s. prize this week.
[10901 " C.T." (Fulham) writes :—" I send you particulars of a reliable water-gauge for steam wagons. Makers sometimes fit glass gauges for this purpose, and these are awkward to use, for drivers have to walk right, round the back of the wagon to see the water level, and these glass gauges also break pretty frequently. I have rigged up an appliance on my own wagon which is giving me the greatest satisfaction. I enclose sketch [We have had this redrawn. —En.] which gives a good idea of the construction. A wooden float in the interior of the tank is attached to a wire, and the float is kept in position by two staples, which are bolted to the top side of the tank. The wire from the float is led, by means of pulleys, to sonic convenient part of the engine cab. The indicator is made from a piece of board, and is grooved, in order that the indicating finger may slide up and clown the groove. The balance weight on the indicator finger is made of lead, and may be cast in the lid of an old cocoa tin or any other convenient mould hat may be to hand. A little testing of the weight, and its relative balance with the float in the water tank will soon show whether it requires a little lightening or a little additional metal. When once the device is fixed, the tank should be emptied, and the position of the indicating finger marked on the indicator board. The tank should then be filled, and the position of the finger marked again. The inters-ening space between the two marks can then be
scribed off into gallon spaces. The quantity of water in the tank can, when this has been done, be seen at a glance at any given time, and it is particularly useful when water is being bought away from home. Empty cotton reels are good enough or use as pulleys for the wire. Of course, the general location of the parts must be left to each individual driver's ingenuity. The great thing is to allow the float to slide freely up and down the guides in the tank, and to avoid fouling the wire in any way."