The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-08
THINGS ABOUT
AUTOMOBILES
WORTH KNOWING

In connecting any battery. either Of
~et or dry cells, good grade of in
sulated wire should be used, and the
ends of the wire that are to be at
rached to the binding post should be
scraped clean and bright The nuts
on the binding post should be screwed
down tightly. A loose connection Will
become oxidized and will prevent
electricity from flowing.
IL motor is not equipped with
drainage device to get the dirty oil
out of the crankcaSe compartment,
large pet cock installed at the bottom
of the crankcase will answer the pur-
pose admirably.
Inside and outside tire patches, al
though mighty handy to have when
puncture occurs. should never be used
for other than temporary repairs. The
casing should be vulcanized at the
very earliest possible opportunity.
Already thirty-eight automobile fire
vehicles. chiefly high-pressure hose
trucks, have been ordered by the New
York Fire Department. The high
pressure auto tenders cost S5,350
each They have a speed of 80 miles
an hour, and carry 1000 feet of hose,
tools, and crew A smaller type costs
$4,350, has the same speed, and car
ries 1900 feet of hose, tools and crew.
An autom obi1e water tower. costing
$1,000. has been converted into an au-
weighs 10000 pounds, has SO horse
power and a guaranteed speed of Is
miles an hour.
Misfring Is sometimes caused by a
poor contact of the carbon brush
when forming a part of the low
tension circuit The spring pressure
OF the brush must be strong enough
TO insure good contact. All insul;t-
ton surfaces in the distributor should
be kept clean, and the path travelled
by the carbon brush fabricated with
the slightest trace of oil.
The life and elastic qualities of the
springs may be greatly prolonged If
the surfaces of the leaves, the toy
giles and the links are fabricated ut
Frequent intervals.
A 10 per cent. solution of muriatic
acid will give an excellent fluid for
cleaning a spark plug. The solution
should be applied with toothbrush
Brakes are placed on a car in order
that II may be controlled more easily,
but, except in case of emergency. they
should never be applied suddenly.
The application should be gradual,
reducing the cars speed quickly as
possible without locking the wheels.
The retarding action of the brakes
will last just as long as the tires re-
tain their grip on the road. but .;s
soon as the wheels are locked. the
brakes have little or no effect. and the
car will skid or slide; in either case
the driver. If the wheels become
locked while descending a hill, the
brakes should be released until tho
wheels are again revolving, and then
reapplied gradually until they act sat-
isfactorily.
1t has been virtually decided that
the Glidden Tour shall be one-weeK
affair, starting in Washington, d. c.,
on June 18th. and ending in Ottawa
Canada, on June 26th, and covering
al a.
route will not be made public until
the pathfinder has completed its trip
Not satisfied with good roads. the
Federation of Women's Clubs IN
Grand Rapids. Mich. wants the high
ways made beautiful, ana to further
this plan it has had the Common
Council OF that cf:y authorize the
building Of parkway along both
banks Of the Wisconsin River, above,
below and through the city. The
ladies, bless them, are aiding Michi-
gan motorists IN their road-improve-
ment work.
Motorists who are contemplating
touring through Nova Scotia this sum-
rner will be acting wisely If they study
well the motor laws in force in tina,
section before venturing across the
boundary. Several counties restrict
the use OF automobiles to certain DAYS
OF the week, alleging that on the 9TH
er days the farmers are entitled to a
A1A 1Ad uHNlspulcu possession OF the
highways. Lunneburg County has
gone a step further, and has forbid
den the use of automobiles on sun
days. but its officials vouchsafe no
reason for their action.
Texas motorists have been much in
evidence along the Mexican border
and during the battle between the
Mexican federals and the insurrectos
at Aqua Prieta every move of the
contending troops was followed close
iy by the Texans. As soon as the hos
rilities ceased the automobiles cross
ed the border and were driven at full
speed onto the battlefield, where their
drivers gave first aid to the injured
and helped out the relief work of the
Red Cross organization.
III a bill passed by the New York
Assembly on March 21st gets by the