Magazine Articles
useful information from pre- & post-war Motoring Magazines

PM CoverThroughout the 1920s & 30s many men were skilled craftsmen and prepared to carry out much of their car repair and maintenance; also to help someone not so mechanically minded.  The cost of garage repairs, and servicing, was another factor when wages were low.  Additionally the motor manufacturers were not, at that time, insisting that any repair, and servicing, work on cars had to be undertaken by their approved dealerships in order to preserve the warranty on the car.  They sold genuine parts to allow the owner to carry out their own work and the store-man was often able to give advice on how to dismantle and fit the parts purchased.

The manufacturer's in-house magazines and the monthly motoring magazines, eg. Practical Motorist, The Light Car and The Motor magazines, published technical articles of a specific, or general, nature to provide the information that enabled everyone to try their hand at most tasks.  The magazines continued to offer technical articles during the post-war years into the 1950s as owners tried to keep their pre-war cars going, or new owners purchased second-hand pre-war cars as their first step into car ownership.

This section reproduces a number of general articles, most of which are not specifically 'Austin Seven', which apply to many pre-war, and early post-war, cars where the advice offered is as relevant now to owners of Austin Sevens as it was when the article was first published.  

Original Copyright:  The articles from magazines included in this section are published in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, which is the current UK copyright law.  They are covered by the Act as typographical arrangements of published editions of Magazines, periodicals, etc. for which the copyright exists for 25 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first published.  Hence, an article published in May 1988 may be copied as being free of copyright from the 1 January 2014, (ie 1 January 1989 + 25).  For books the period is 70 years.

Please note: The technical advice and information given in these articles is that of the original author and the publication cited.  The Cornwall Austin Seven Club, its officers and members do not necessarily endorse the advice given in these articles, and do not accept any liability for loss, damage or injury from persons acting upon that advice.  Anyone following the advice given in any of these articles, shall be deemed to have accepted this statement.

Our technical members are only able to answer questions relating to the Austin Seven (1922-1939) and may not be able to answer any questions arising from these articles as they may have developed their own method of undertaking the work.

Articles specific to the Austin Seven are in Austin Seven Handbooks; also sections of The Austin Service Journal  produced by The Austin Motor Company Ltd. and issued to their Agents & Service Depots.  Articles written by our members are in Technical Articles.

You may wish to consider referring to The Austin Seven Manual.
Fully recommended for the d-i-y enthusiast.  This is an all embracing workshop manual covering 'Seven' models from 1925 to 1939, but does not adequately cover the 'Big Seven'.  The sections deal with the Engine; Fuel System; Gearbox; Prop Shaft; Rear Axle; Front Suspension; Steering; Hubs & Brakes; Road Springs; Chassis; Electrical, and Accessories.  Each section is divided into periods ie 1923-28, 1928-1932, 1932-35, although not always these years.  Within each section are subsections on Dismantling and Assembly.  Diagrams support the step by step easy to follow text, but the only problem is that the text does not cite the letter identifying the part in the diagram, so there is a need to have a reasonable technical knowledge in order to use it.  by the late Doug Woodrow, published by and available from Mercury Vintage Services, Rosedale, Station Road, Emneth, Norfolk PE14 8DL.  Tel: 01945 430058  e-mail: woodrow@mercuryvintage.freeserve.co.uk.

 

NB: Cornwall Austin Seven Club is unable to supply an original
copy of any article from an old magazine which is reproduced here.

 

Articles so far:    More articles are added as they become available.

The AC Fuel Pump   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, July 1954

Another New Austin - the two-door 'Forlite'  From The Austin Magazine, April 1938.

The Austin Seven - Part 1  The Design.  From The Light Car, May 21 1937.
The Austin Seven - Part 2  The Braking System and Transmission.  From The Light Car, May 28 1937.
The Austin Seven - Part 3  The Synchromesh Gearbox and Single-plate Clutch.  From The Light Car, June 4 1937.
The Austin Seven - Part 4  The Power Unit.  From The Light Car, June 11 1937.

Austin Clutch   From The Austin Magazine, August 1933

Austin Seven's Back Axle  From The Austin Magazine, September 1929   (See also Rear Axle Overhaul below)

 

Austin Seven Maintenance and Overhaul part 1  From Practical Motorist, April 20 1940

Austin Seven Maintenance and Overhaul part 2  From Practical Motorist, April 20 1940

 

Automatic Ignition Control  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, April 1955

 

Ball and Roller Bearings    From Practical Motorist, August 11 1934

Battery Care and Maintenance   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, March 1955 

Bearings and Con-rods  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September and October 1954

Big Seven Brake Modification   From: Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, July 1957


Carburettors Explained  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, June 1954.

Care and Maintenance of an Austin Seven  From The Motor, June 14 1927.

Care in Adjustment and Maintenance    From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1955

Centrifugal Ignition Control  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, December 1955.

Checking the Electrical Fittings   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, October 1954

Coil Ignition    From Practical Motorist, August 11 1934

Coil or Magneto  From: Practical Motorist, February 1 1936

Con-Rods & Little-Ends   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, August 1954.

 

De-coke the Side-valve Engine   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, July 1955.

Difficult Starting    From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, November 1955.

 

Easy Starting   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, April 1955

Engine Bottom Half  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, August 1955.

Engine Knock  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, May 1955

Irregular Engine Noises   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934

Engine Runs-on  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, July 1955.

Excessive Oil Consumption   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934


Fitting Cylinder Head Gaskets  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, June 1954

Fuses - Purpose, Use & Replacement    From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, November, 1956

Front Wheel Alignment   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934

Garage Inspection Pit (Construction of)  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, October 1954

Gudgeon Pins (Removing)   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, August 1954

 

Ignition OK?   A Technical Motograph from The Austin Magazine, July 1933 

 

Jerky transmission reversing Big Seven.  Transcribed from 'The Austin Magazine' April 1947 p371.

 

King Pin Renewal   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, January 1955

 

Linkage Joints   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, May 1955

Lucas RF 95 Control Unit  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, March 1955 (Only relevant to the Big Seven)


Maintaining the Fittings (door handles, locks, hinges and retaining straps; bonnet clips)
From: Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, October 1954

MInor Engine Faults and Remedies   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, October 1955

More Miles to the Gallon   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, December 1954



New Windscreens and Windows (Fitting)  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, August 1954

 

Overhauling the Gearbox   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, July and August 1955


Overhauling the pre-war Austin Seven  - part 1.  (Advice for work on the engine, clutch and front bearings.)
From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, August 1954.

Overhauling the Pre-War Austin Seven - part 2.  (Advice for work on the timing wheels; prop shaft; axle leakage.)
From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1954

Overhauling the Steering  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1954

Overheating Causes & Remedies   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934



Prepare for Summer Motoring    From The Austin Magazine, April 1933

Propeller Shafts and Universal Couplings  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, January & February 1955

Plugs and plug points (gaps)   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934

 

Radiator Repairs   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, December 1954

Rear Axle Overhaul    From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, October 1954.

Renewing Timing Chains  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, March 1955 (Only relevant to the Big Seven)

Refusal to Start  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1955.

Reglazing Sidescreens   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, February 1956

Relining the Brake Shoes   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, June 1954.

Re-metalling Bearings   (White Metalling)  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, March 1955

Removing Gudgeon Pins   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, August 1954.

Repairing Hoods   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, March 1955

Repairing Leaf Springs  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, December 1954

Repairing Wire Wheels   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, October 1954.

Re-spraying the Car   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist  July, 1954

Rewiring the Car   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist  July, 1957

Ride Comfort   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, June 1955.

Rosengart Austin Seven  From the Light Car and Cyclecar Magazine June 27,1930.


Seasonal Check-up    From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, April 1955

Semaphore Indicator (Trafficator) Problems   From Carrycurrent Chronicle Vol 2, No 1 December 1935.

Servicing Springs and Shackles   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, February 1955

Servicing the Starter  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, May 1955

Sliding Roof Repairs   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, February & May 1955

Slow Running   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, June 1955

Speedometer - how it works   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934

Spraying and Painting   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, June 1955

Starter Motor - Use and Abuse    From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934

Starter Motor Repairs  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, August 1954

Synchromesh Gears   From Practical Motorist, August 11 1934

 

 

Tracing & Rectification of Ignition Troubles  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, February 1956

Transmission Judder  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, November 1955.

Tuning an Austin Seven  From The Motor October 6 1943.

Tuning & Maintenance of the Austin Seven  From The Light Car & Cyclecar, June 6 1930.

Tyres and Tyre Valves   From Practical Motorist, August 11 1934

 

Underside Inspection   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934

Upholstery - Repair and Renovating    From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, June 1954.

 

Valve Adjustment & Valve Grinding   From Practical Motorist, May 26 1934

Valves and Valve Seating   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, May 1955

Valve Grinding   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1955

Vibration - causes and cures   From Practical Motorist, August 11 1934



Wear in Pistons, Cylinders and Pistion Rings   From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1954.

Windscreen Wiper Maintenance  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1954

Wires and Terminals - How to ensure their electrical efficiency  From The Austin Magazine, August 1933

Wiring Diagram Simplified  From Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist, September 1954.