Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[roverdriver]

From the "Brisbane Courier" of the 15th of July, 1914 (page 6), comes this interesting tale.
Note- the word 'station' means a very large rural property, usually measured in dozens, if not hundreds of square miles.

A FORD TOUR.


It is not often that the experience which befell Mr P. L. Tully, of Pinkilla station, Adavale, and his 20 h. p. Ford car, falls to the lot of the ordinary motorist. Mr. Tully is frequently called upon to visit outlying parts of his stations where roads are an unknown quantity, and where there are numerous creeks.

Under ordinary conditions, most of the rivers are but dry sand beds, which to negotiate en- tails a considerable amount of trouble owing to the loose land. By the aid of chains or ropes lashed around the back wheels, in order to make them grip, these difficulties can be negotiated by the car under its own power, but in this particular instance Mr. Tully found himself on the banks of the Bulloo River, 180 miles from Charleville with the river in flood.

The portable belongings of the motor car were taken across the river in a rowing boat. Then the car was dragged through the water, which, in places was upwards of 20ft. deep, and com- pletely disappeared from view. But for the unavoidable necessity of crossing the river nothing would have caused him to have attempted it in this manner. However, with upwards of 10 yards of fencing wire, twisted together to make a wire rope, aided by a portable hand winch they were able to drag the motor car across the river.

Everything, of course, was saturated with water, excepting the petrol tank-the latter being airtight. After getting the car across the river they were compelled to spend the night on the banks of the river, during which time rain fell almost incessantly. However, the car was again got under way, little the worse for its submersion, early the following morning, and the journey to Charleville (180 miles) was continued, and completed the following day. Beyond being well soaked with mud and water, the car sustained no damage, and the agents advise that Mr. Tully speaks in the highest possible praise of the unique performances of the Ford car.

On the journey in question, which comprised a distance of over 1000 miles, no trouble of any description was met with. Mr. W. Parker, the Ford Co 's representative, drove the car through- out the entire journey, which occupied, inclusive of stoppages, about a fortnight.
_________________
Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[peter scott]

Wot! No air vent in the petrol tank and a crankcase and cylinders full of water! Me thinks the Ford representative must have (partly) drained the sump and possibly taken the head off before they got away again.

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[roverdriver]

Peter- the petrol tank vent is simply a hole in the screw-on cap, so easy to seal. Some waterproof material covering the exhaust pipe and carburettor intake would also be rather simple. Similarly the oil-filler could also be covered and sealed, so it would be very easy to minimise ingress of water into the engine, and even if the sealing was not completely effective, the likelihood of much water getting into one or more cylinders would be very small.

One would have to assume that the four coils would have been removed, but as they simply slip out of their case, that would be no problem, and a quick wipe would dry the commutator. There are no other items of electrical equipment that would be affected.

It is a pity that the newspaper story does not give a bit more detail.
_________________
Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Churchill Johnson]

Just to add to this i still have my father's notebook from WW2 on how to waterproof engine's for the d-day landing's,he did a course for this in Brighton.