The
Headlamp
‘Dipper’ was foot operated like cousin Amby had for quite
sometime but in the process, the RH one went completely off (side/clearance
lamps remained on) and the LH one was pulled down by a solenoid to lower
the beam - both being single filament bulb type. Of course this ‘system’
too stopped working within the first few years but nobody bothered. Eventually
when I came of age, I modified it to twin filament system but could never
get their focus right. Again no problem, as headlamps were meant more
to be ‘seen’ by the opposite party and not as much to illuminate
the way for yourself. Afterall, one moved at < 50 kph those days!
Its Suspension comprised 4 x laminated leaf springs (‘I’ Beam
up front). For some inexplicable reason, its front axle was mounted off-centre-of
the front springs, towards its nose. Looking back, perhaps it was meant
to reduce the shocks that would get transmitted to the Steering.
These were supported by 4 x double acting/swing arm ‘Armstrong’
type Hydraulic Shock absorbers, with provision for ‘topping-up’
with an appropriate grade of oil, which none worried about. Ordinary mobil
oil was good enough, for I doubt if they lasted even 20k miles on the
then terrible ‘kutcha’ Roads. I later replaced these with
‘telescopic’ types in late fifties – borrowing the idea
from the ‘Hindustan-14’ - though it was not easy as their
‘mounts’ had to be improvised/fabricated all afresh. Prior
to this ‘modification’, due to the then condition of our roads/and
its ‘English’ shock absorbers, Spring-leaf breakages were
quite a matter of routine.
If you compare it with inflation since 1948, based on Petrol prices alone
(60X), then its 1948 OTR of Rs: 6.5k is eqvt of today’s 400k! There
were hardly any Customs Duties worth mentioning then, soon after the Independence.
On the other hand, today’s M-800 still costs only ~ 200k+ OTR, that
too after 50% on ED/ST on its ex-works price!
Throughout it's 18yrs/100,000 miles with us, I don't remember it having
ever gone for a ‘preventive maintenance’ service as today's
ones do, other than oil changes and chassis greasing - it had 'British
Admiralty Brass' suspension bushes, which, amongst others, required regular
greasing. Engine tuning was unheard of. I doubt if its DB points/cond/plugs/clutch
parts were ever changed more than twice (at each engine o/h) during its
18-years/100,000 miles stay with us, incl its radiator hoses and the fan
belt!
In the '50s, the old 'Madhya Bharat' had the dubious distinction of having
'summer n winter' Capitals – like today’s J&K –
but courtesy the feud between the Scindias and the Holkars. So every 5-7
months, the Capital and all its paraphernalia shuttled between Gwalior
and Indore - 320 miles away - both located on the then prestigious 'Bombay-Agra'
Road (not highway - less than 50% asphalted!).
On the appointed day, my Dad and the family (two adults and 4-kids) would
just take off in the Car with bare essentials in the Boot for a practically
non-stop 320 miles drive, even without bothering to check oil/water/tyre
pressures, stopping only for food n refreshments. Never did the Car once
stall for any reason - other than an occasional - if not frequent at times
- a 'puncture'.
Content
generated by S. K. Gupta. - 11/’02. |
