Trois-Rivieres: Randy Pobst race notes
2008-08-19
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec (August 16, 2008) - In another show of strength and promise, Randy's #181 APR Motorsports team finished seventh out of 34 teams Saturday in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Street Tuner race in Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Co-driver Mark White did a great job in practice and qualified tenth on the grid. Mark had a good stint in the race and was able to run on pace with the leaders until Randy got into the GTI at the 40 minute mark of a shorter than usual, one hour and 45 minute race.
"We had a good, clean race and I am very happy with our accomplishments. The Trois-Rivieres circuit is really hard on brakes and we had to be careful to make them last. Also, our Volkswagen GTI is heavier and more powerful than many of the other cars so its harder on brakes. This kind of track is just not suited to our car. I had an interesting and fun stint trying to go fast without using the brakes up. At the end of the race, my brake pads were almost exactly worn out so I feel good about my brake conservation efforts."
"The APR Motorsports team is still growing and developing and this was a good step for us. Considering the situation, this was a good finish. I would like to thank my personal sponsors Team Janica Racing, Prairie Hills Motorsport Club, ChaseCam, and saferacer.com for their continued support."
Unfortunately, the other team cars did not fair as well this week. The #171 of Ian Baas and Dion von Moltke lost power earlier in the race and had to retire. The other GTI was badly damaged in a crash in last week's race in Iowa and is still out of commission. There will be no broadcast of Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Randy's next race will be the World Challenge GT race at Mosport International Raceway on August 23. This track is one that Randy enjoys. Rumor has it that the Porsches will be 50 lbs lighter for the race which would be great for the #1 team with all their extra rewards weight. Keep your fingers crossed.
Thanks for following friends!
-credit: randypobst.com
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Gearbox manufacturer announces service partnership
2008-08-19
Taylor & Goodman has been appointed as Hansen Transmissions' Approved Service Partner. Pete Ryder, managing director of Taylor & Goodman said: "We are delighted to be working alongside such a well established and reputable company as Hansen Transmissions. The partnership will benefit both companies and, most importantly, our customers, who will be able to enjoy an even better level of service of the repair or replacement of their geared units."
Following a period of training, Taylor & Goodman will take on responsibility for the service and repair work for part of Hansen's S4 range of geared units, whilst Hansen will continue to service and repair the larger gear units.
Gary Bills, Hansen Transmissions' After sales & service manager commented that "due to the geographical position of their branch network and the close nature of their relationship with end users, Taylor & Goodman proved to be an ideal partner".
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What's Kleenoil technology?
2008-08-19
Q. Kleenoil seems to be huge in Texas, but what exactly is it? Does it really lighten the environmental impact of driving? - Marie, TX
A. Fun Fact: Oil changes are necessary not because oil "wears out" after 3,000 miles, but rather because it becomes contaminated by particulate matter. That's because most run-of-the-mill oil filters can only filter out particles of about 40 microns in size, or larger. (A human hair is about 70 microns in width, just to give you an idea). The Kleenoil Bypass Oil Filtration System, on the other hand, claims to filter out particles as tiny as one micron. So yes, Kleenoil extends the life of your oil, says Jon Cleveland, managing director of sales and marketing at Kleenoil.
Unfortunately, the Kleenoil filtration unit is a bit pricey: $400 for passenger vehicles, or $700 to $900 for commercial vehicles. The company says that commercial buyers will see a return on their investment in just 2 to 3 oil changes, and that for the rest of us, filters will take about 2 to 3 years to pay for themselves. Keep in mind that you must also buy wood pulp filter cartridges (which can cost about $20 to $30 and need to be changed every 3,000 miles) to use in the Kleenoil unit.
But if the company's claims are accurate, and you really will drive between 25,000 to 50,000 miles before needing an oil change, the technology is great news for your pocketbook and for the environment. Motor oil is no joke: According to the Earth911, one gallon of the stuff can contaminate a million gallons of water. It's a major source of pollution in waterways and in drinking water.
If you can't afford a Kleenoil unit right now, consider recycling your used motor oil. Lots of oil change services, including Jiffy Lube and Autozone, now offer the hugely important service.
- Jessica A. Knoblauch
Eco-inquiries, conundrums, snafus? Write to askplenty@plentymag.com.
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Another tyre price hike in the offing
2008-08-19
TYRE prices in Qatar are to go up by 5-15% in September, the third increase this year, industry sources said yesterday.
Prices were revised upward by 5-8% in February and by another 5-10% some three months later. In 2007, there were two price revisions.
Importers of major brands such as Dunlop, Bridgestone and Pirelli attributed the price increase to a global rise in transportation and raw material costs.
"Oil, understandably has been the number one factor behind price increases. The other factor is raw material for tyres such as rubber, pigments and carbon becoming dearer," said an official of Dunlop, Qatar.
According to him, notices have been received by all the distributors in Qatar from the Association of Tyre Manufacturers in this regard and the new prices will be effective on the supply received in September. Sand tyres will be costlier by up to 15%, heavy truck tyres 10%, light truck tyres 8% and car tyres 5%.
Qatar also faces a shortage of tyres of certain brands and sizes.
"One reason is a significant increase in global demand," explained an official of the exclusive distributor of Toyo tyres in Qatar.
According to him, the demand for tyres is rising worldwide as people continue to buy more vehicles on the back of rising economies and greater purchasing power.
"Even the tyres being produced in China, whose tyre-grades are the lowest and the cheapest, have become expensive, as only 60% of their factories are working right now, with the rest contributing to the Olympics," he noted.
"Sometimes we request for 100 tyres and get only 50-70," he said. The shortage intensified some two months ago, according to sources.
"Another reason was a law introduced by the authorities as part of the standardisation efforts in the country, where every tyre has to carry a date of manufacturing otherwise known as DOT," explained the dealer of Pirelli tyres.
This law, although passed in 1995, was implemented some two years ago. All tyres must have a date of production on them and cannot be sold after two years. For instance, a tyre that was produced in the third week of August this year will show the DOT as 3808 and cannot be sold after the third week of August 2010. The shelf-life of a heavy-truck tyre is 30 months and it has to be discarded if not sold within that time.
"This has resulted in importers restricting their orders fearing waste of money in case stocks are not completely sold out. Hence the shortage," the dealer said.
Once the tyres cross the expiry date, dealers cut them to pieces and discard them at a municipality-designated . Authorities carry out regular inspections to ensure that the distributors comply with the rules.
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How to stop thefts from Brimbank cars
2008-08-19
THEFT from cars has been the number one crime committed in Brimbank in the past six months.
There are frequently more than 210 thefts from cars monthly with Brimbank currently having about the third-highest rate of any council area in the state.
In the week from Thursday, July 10, to Wednesday, July 16, we had 40 thefts reported. Seven involved the theft of registration plates.
Two occurred from cars parked at homes.
Watergardens railway station and shopping centre car parks had three thefts of registration plates reported, and one from Albion railway station.
About half of all other thefts from cars occurred outside private residences where the vehicle was parked in the street.
The other hotspots were the train station car parks with Watergardens (3), Ginifer (2), Sunshine (2) and St Albans (2) being targeted with goods being taken from cars. There was one theft from a construction site in St Albans where wheels valued at more than $2000 were stolen.
Locking wheel nuts is a cheap and easy way to prevent theft of wheels which is very common.
Sometimes I wonder why people would spend so much on their wheels and not spend money on locking wheel nuts.
If you know someone with expensive wheels, consider buying them some locking wheel nuts.
The total value of the reported thefts for that week period is more than $20,000. Generally, the thefts outside homes are at night while the car park thefts occur during the day.
The reason that thieves break into cars is because they know many people are generally lazy and will leave valuables in their cars.
Consider the hassle of not having use of your car while you replace a broken window and the cost of the window as well as the items stolen.
It is unfortunate that Brimbank has such a high rate of thefts from cars but the challenge is out there to Brimbank residents to give them nothing to steal. Do not leave items in clear view.
If you have to leave items of value in your car then lock them in the boot.
If you wish to avoid having your number plates stolen, then get one way (anti-theft) screws from a hardware store.
Another option is to use a heavy duty glue to fill in the screws on your number plates.
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Man flies plane to P'ville from the northwest - for surgery
2008-08-19
Instead of going to UCLA or Stanford medical center, a Washington man last week piloted a Cessna 150 to Porterville to have a specific type of hernia surgery done.
The reason Miles Erickson flew into Porterville is a matter of trust - for the Bard Kugel hernia patch repair method and Dr. Gaurang Pandya, who is one the few doctors in the area - if not the only one - who knows and understands the Bard Kugel Patch method.
Erickson, 30, found Pandya via the Internet, where he read about the doctor and the fact that he uses the Kugel patch method for hernia repair.
"I was surprised when he called," Pandya said. "Most people don't want to come to a small town for surgery. But if they're looking for service they come to the right place when they come here. We provide great service."
Pandya apparently provided the right solution for the medical problem Erickson was experiencing.
Four years ago, the enterprising patient had the Kugel Patch method performed on a hernia that developed on his right side. That surgery was performed by the inventor of the Kugel patch method, Dr. Robert Kugel.
In an informational handout, to better understand hernias, Pandya recommends thinking of your hernia as a bulge in a tire:
"The outer wall of the tire is like your abdominal wall. The inner tube of the tire is like your intestines. If the tire wall weakens, a bulge may occur."
That bulge, when it happens in the body, can be very painful and physically limiting.
After the first surgery, Erickson said, he suspected he would have another hernia because they run in his family.
Kugel is now retired, so Erickson, who lives in Everett, Wash., found himself searching for a surgeon knowledgeable and skillful in the procedure after discovering another hernia.
He found Pandya's Web site, made the call and set up an appointment.
A licensed pilot, Erickson flew in on Thursday evening, had pre-op procedures done Friday and had the hernia surgery on Saturday morning.
He was preparing to fly out this morning when he spoke to The Recorder.
"Essentially, there are three ways hernias are repaired," Erickson said while sitting in Pandya's office. "The open method, from which it takes longer to recover and you have higher risk of infection. There's the laparoscopic method. You need anesthesia and it has a high risk of complications. And there's the Kugel Patch method. With that there is lower risk and shorter recovery period."
Erickson's lifestyle begs for a quick recovery time. He is very active and jogs five to six miles a day. The thought of having to shut down his physically active life for a month because of surgery was not appealing.
Since his first surgery in 2004 he knew enough about the Kugel Patch method and its inventor to trust it. He learned enough about Pandya to trust him and his ability to perform the surgery.
The traveling patient smiled when he compared the surgeries and the two doctors who performed them.
"I actually feel better than I did the first time," Erickson said. "Even though the first surgery was done by the inventor, I think Dr. Pandya did a better job. The only medication I'm taking for pain is Extra Strength Tylenol. After the surgery I walked to my car and I didn't feel too bad about it."
That, Erickson said, is the beauty of the procedure: pain and down time are minimal, as is the risk of complications.
The procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete, and the average patient is able to go home in about two hours.
Pandya had a final look at Erickson today before he was to fly back to Washington. Friend and fellow pilot David Bliss accompanied him - just in case.
That Erickson wanted to have his surgery done in Porterville is not surprising to Pandya. Despite its size, Porterville is home to a host of premier medical professionals who chose a smaller town in which to practice.
Pandya, who worked in New York for a while, is one of them.
"I did my residency in New York, and it was just too much traffic," he said. "It took four or five hours to commute. People told me I shouldn't come here because it's a poor community. That doesn't bother me. I've been here 20 years."
And counting.
The successful doctor found Porterville because his cousin's husband works in Visalia. He settled here in 1988 after serving in the U.S. Air Force.
The service he provides draws patients from all over, including Washington. Caring for patients in the best way possible is so important to Pandya that after spending between $10,000 and $15,000 to learn about a specific hernia procedure, he opted not to use it.
He has, he says, good reason to use the Kugel Patch method. The patch is made from a medical grade nylon called marlex, Pandya said.
"The results are much better," he said. "It's tension free."
--Contact Anita Stackhouse-Hite at 784-5000, Ext. 1043, or astackhouse-hite@portervillerecoder.com.
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2-way car alarm transmits over 1,000m distance
2008-08-18
China (mainland) - Shenzhen Carmate Electronic Technology Co. Ltd is offering a 2-way FM car alarm with an FSK communication range of 1,000m.
The product uses code-hopping technology and features an anti-carjacking system. It has 14 programmable functions that include remote timer start, valet mode and remote trunk release. The model can also automatically roll up the windows.
The transmitter has a graphical interface and can start the vehicle remotely. It provides visual and audio alerts and detects the tachometer speed, oil level and battery voltage. The remote has low standby power consumption.
FOB Shenzhen price is given on inquiry. The minimum order is 100 sets. Delivery takes 15 days after receipt of an L/C or TT.
Click "Inquire Now" to request for more information from this supplier.
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Product Review: FMF Powerline Exhaust
2008-08-18
The Score
Our Polaris Outlaw 525 IRS test quad is one impressive ATV, but like any stock bike, there're plenty of things we'd like to do to it for performance and increased bling factor. One of the major areas of drawback with the IRS system is in weight. Polaris' claimed difference between the IRS and straight axle models is 20 pounds. Some of the best ways to drop pounds and add performance is with an aftermarket exhaust system, so we put in a call to FMF and had them recommend a suitable alternative to meet the needs of our 2008 Outlaw test quad.
The Scoop
Stainless steel is tough and hands-off when it comes to maintenance. That's exactly why it is used exclusively on both the muffler and header. In addition to adding a little shine and smoother lines where there was previously only the crusty black of our stock unit, the Powerline and PowerBomb combo give a different sound and feel. The stainless material is a core representation of what the Powerline stands for - durability and long-lasting function. Unlike traditional mufflers, this model uses a completely mechanical design to disperse its decibels. There is no packing inside the can. The PowerBomb header allows expansion and cooling of gasses, but also works as a sound damper. Combined, the output of our fiberglass-less system was a comfortable 95dB on the big-bore IRS.
Not only does the machine look and sound better, but the power curve has been altered slightly. Peak horsepower numbers are unchanged, but the motor is able to keep more ponies churning out in the higher rpm. The 525 peaks 500 rpm later at 7240 with 33.5 HP. While the stocker began to fall off, the FMF-equipped Outlaw continues to hold strong with nearly 32 ponies all the way to redline. Torque is delivered much the same but the Powerline actually drew a little extra with a 27 lb-ft. at 6K rpm, just a few hundred lower than stock. Again, the top-end pull is well-defined by our Dynojet, something we plan to make good use of on an upcoming dune trip. The downside is that both categories are both less than the stock output in the bottom half of the rev range.
The Sentence
We would have liked to see a gain across the board, but finding a pipe combo that truly accomplishes that is tough regardless. Horsepower especially takes a hit, but the 525 motor is so strong and luggable that we weren't too concerned with a slightly lower bottom-end tradeoff. The upper revs receive the benefit as well as a cleaner look and less maintenance with the mechanical design. We have no doubts that this pipe will continue to offer its performance characteristics as the miles rack up. Throw in a US Forestry approved spark arrestor and the FMF Powerline muffler and PowerBomb header are a good fit for the Polaris Outlaw 525 IRS.
Product: FMF Powerline Full-System Exhaust
MSRP: $599.99
Buy It Now: FMF Powerline Exhaust
Find More FMF Products
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It's easy to take a shine to Yaris
2008-08-18
Toyota compact peppy but skimpy on equipment.
SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Since a gazillion are sold worldwide, you'd expect Toyota's subcompacts to shine, and the Yaris sedan doesn't disappoint.
Two factors work against it, though. The '08 sedan's base price of $13,615 doesn't buy much of the equipment we've come to expect in any car, and that includes a radio, power windows and anti-lock brakes. Also, the Yaris is playing in a field of mini achievers such as the Kia Rio 5, Honda Fit and Toyota Versa. They're all worth consideration.
My $17,019 Yaris sedan's interior and seating were pleasantly accommodating for the price, and though the Yaris is tight inside compared with compact sedans, it's not confining or claustrophobic.
Two passengers can fit in the back seat, which has sufficient leg and hip room. The trunk is large and nicely finished for a small car, with rear seatbacks that fold down to reveal a pass through to the trunk.
The most irritating feature was the Yaris' center-mounted instrument pod, which isn't difficult to read, just awkwardly positioned and pointless.
The 1.5-liter, 106-horsepower engine is reasonably smooth and peppy if the Yaris is lightly laden, but the steering feels too artificial and the shock absorbers allow the car to unnecessarily sway on buckled pavement.
My week's fuel consumption in the Yaris was a pleasant surprise, beating the EPA rating in mostly highway, some city driving. My first tankful was 37.2, the second 39.
Nevertheless, shortly after driving the Yaris, I spent a week in a decently outfitted Toyota Corolla 1.8 that averaged 34.2 mpg, cost only $2,000 more than the Yaris and was much roomier.
The Yaris sedan is nearly the same mechanically as the shorter two-door hatchback, which will be joined for the 2009 model year by a four-door hatchback. Models for '09 will also have anti-lock brakes and side air bags as standard equipment. Yaris buyers should pass on the '08s and wait for the '09s later this summer.
In his 27 years of writing a column for the Austin American-Statesman, Pete Szilagyi has driven more than 1,400 new cars and trucks. You may reach him at petesz@mac.com.
According
to Pete ...
Highs: Quality, drive train, economy, passenger comfort for its size, exterior color palette.
Lows: Everything costs extra, appliance-like.
Bottom line: Just a little sportiness wouldn't hurt.
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Traffic accident involves on-duty police officer
2008-08-18
The Hawaii Police Department is investigating a traffic collision involving an on-duty police officer. At about 10 a.m. Friday, police received a report of a two-car collision at the intercession of Komohana Street and Kukuau Street in Hilo.
Officers arriving at the scene found the 34-year-old officer kneeling on the shoulder of Komohana Street next to his late-model Toyota 4-Runner patrol vehicle, which had come to rest in a drainage canal on the north side of the Kukuau Street intersection.
Officers also found a slightly injured 20-year-old Hilo man who had been driving a late-model Ford pickup truck.
Hilo patrol officers interviewed witnesses who had stopped to render assistance. The officers learned that the police officer had been traveling north on Komohana Street. He was responding to an emergency call with his blue strobe light and siren activated.
The driver of the pickup truck was traveling west on Kukuau Street, which had a posted stop sign. He failed to yield the right of way to the emergency response vehicle. The truck hit the police vehicle, which overturned once and landed upright.
Hawaii Fire Department rescue personnel took the six-year veteran police officer to Hilo Medical Center for his injuries. He is listed in satisfactory condition. The driver of the pickup truck declined treatment at the scene for his minor injuries.
Police want to remind the public that Section 291C-65 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes requires vehicles to yield the right of way to authorized emergency vehicles with both audio and visual signals activated.
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automotive fuel filter
2008-08-18
The number of Canterbury motorists left stranded with empty tanks has grown by nearly 30 per cent as petrol prices cause drivers to run close to empty.
The Automobile Association answered 425 calls to deliver fuel to stricken motorists between January and the end of last month, an increase of 28% compared with the same period last year. Nationally, the figure rose by nearly 8%.
AA technical services general manager Stella Stocks said people were putting their safety and the condition of their car at risk by not filling up.
"If you were to run out on the Harbour Bridge in rush hour you could have someone go into the back of you. There's also the inconvenience factor because you have to get someone to bring petrol out to you," she said.
It could also damage cars if fuel was at a consistently low level.
"It's a very false economy and in some cases you actually increase your costs," Stocks said.
When the AA is called out to fill up cars it charges for the price of the petrol it supplies.
AA spokesman Simon Lambourne urged people not to let the fuel needle drop too far.
"While we understand that filling up with higher petrol prices is hurting people's wallets, it is a false economy not to do so," he said.
Kerry Briggs, the owner of Briggs Auto Service in Somerfield, Christchurch, said driving on a low tank could damage cars.
"The lower you run your petrol the more damage you are doing to the tank," he said.
"It lets the pump run dry and that will do some damage to it."
Some of the pumps depended on petrol as a lubricant and it was possible low levels could cause a spark and lead to an explosion.
"The brushes within the pump can spark. It's a very long shot, but there have been instances when it's happened," he said.
Replacing a fuel pump could cost between $200 and $2000.
Briggs said it was more economical to fill the tank as less petrol was vaporised.
"The fact is you are using the petrol anyway. You would be better filling up the tank than going every time and just putting $20 in," Briggs said.
Peter Butcher, manager of Warren Auto Electrical Ltd in Linwood, said he had seen people run out of fuel more often in recent months.
Butcher questioned whether it was more economical to fill up.
"I think it's probably more expensive because there's more weight," he said.
Riccarton motorist Karen Northcott said she took advantage of fuel dockets on offer at supermarkets to try to fill her tank when she could.
"I put in $20 yesterday just so I could make it (to the petrol station) today and use my fuel dockets to fill it right up," she said.
Hairdresser Abbey Cox, 23, of Shirley, said she often ran her car on a low tank.
"Usually I just put in about $30. I know that's really bad for it," she said.
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Man creates a wooden world of his own
2008-08-18
The Forum of Fargo
BARNESVILLE, Minn. -- Gordon Shulstad keeps busy in the summer with a little farming, a little gardening, some fishing and time with family.
In the winter, though, he's often in a little world all his own. And a beautifully crafted world it is.
Give the 80-year-old enough pieces of oak and a set of plans, and he'll turn out handsome models of dump-trucks, backhoes, construction cranes, bulldozers, graders, combines, farm tractors -- even a steam locomotive with cars -- all of them with precisely cut, fitted and sanded parts that give them the articulation of their real-world counterparts.
"It takes lots and lots of patience," he said. "That's the secret to it. Just take your time."
Shulstad has worked with wood for years but started serious modeling about two years ago.
Before then, he made outdoor chairs, a lawn swing, settees, a replica barn and a 6-foot windmill for the gardens that he and his wife, Maxine, plant.
"I like working with wood, that's fun," the retired farmer said. "It's a great pastime."
He doesn't sell his models, though he easily could.
"I've given away several of them," he said. "I don't even try to sell them. It's just a pastime."
He measured his father's one-horse buggy and re-created it in wood. He's built a chuck wagon, a Conestoga and a stagecoach just by looking at photos.
For his most complex models, he buys kits from a catalog. The kits include a few dowels, steering wheels and some road wheels, but they're mostly several pages of plans. In some cases, he has to make hundreds of precision cuts.
For example, each cleat on the tracks of his bulldozers requires him to cut and glue four wood parts, plus two dowels. Dozens of cleats are required for each model.
He made and glued 320 treads for the wheels of an articulated four-wheel-drive John Deere tractor model.
"That took a long time to get that done," he said, though he enjoyed the project "because that's what I drive for my nephew."
Parts that offer articulation, such as the hydraulic pistons, swing arm and bucket of a backhoe, require precision sizing and drilling to work smoothly, he said.
"With a mechanism like this, everything has to be the right thing or it won't work," he said.
It took him several months to make the train model, with its locomotive, coal car and three passenger cars. The cars and trucks that got him started in modeling no longer have the same appeal.
"I love something that looks complicated. It takes lots of studying, lots of patience. And your hands have to be steady," he said. "I love the challenge."
Shulstad's most recent project, a combine, drove him to distraction when he found he had to guess the order of assembly for the completed parts and subassemblies.
At one point, he glued too much together, which required plenty of drilling and reworking and tested the patience of the genial perfectionist. "That made me quite angry," he said.
The models are largely made of oak and get a coat of lacquer to highlight the beauty of the grain, he said. But they're not tough enough to play with.
For the kids in the family, Shulstad makes more durable items, such as push bikes that look like trucks or playground-style sand scoops that children can sit on and pretend they're working a backhoe at a construction site.
Shulstad's wife, Maxine, is a full supporter of Gordon's hobby, but that doesn't get him out of the honey-do list.
"You need to get out here and dust, Gordon!"
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Group: Toxicity in Cobalt is low
2008-08-15
By HOLLY SCHOENSTEIN
The Cobalt earned a score of ‘low concern' in an examination of its interior.
YOUNGSTOWN - The interior of the Lordstown-manufactured Chevrolet Cobalt emits low levels of toxic chemicals, according to the results of a study completed by HealthyCar.org.
The Ecology Center, a nonprofit environmental organization that works for a safe and healthy environment, created HealthyCar.org as a project to determine the levels of toxic chemicals in popular vehicles in the U.S.
Researchers tested 450 of the most popular 2006 to 2009 vehicle models for chemicals that have been known to be toxic, persistent and/or have a tendency to build up in people or the environment. Chemicals of particular concern to researchers included bromine, chlorine and lead.
Researchers sampled 11 interior parts in each vehicle, including the steering wheel, arm rest/center console, dashboard and carpet.
The Cobalt scored 0.8 out of 5, with 0 being of "low concern" regarding harmful chemicals emitted from its interior. The level of bromine was measured at 0.5, chlorine and lead at 0.0 and "other chemicals" at 1.8.
The models of the same class as the Cobalt that earned scores of "low concern" were the 2008 Smart Pure and the 2008 Smart Passion Cabriolet. The models that scored the "high concern" were the 2008 Volkswagen EOS and 2008 Suzuki Forenza.
According to the center's Web site, the "new car smell" comes from toxic chemicals that are released from plastics, foam and fabrics used to make steering wheels, dashboards and seats. Drivers and passengers breathe in the chemicals through air and dust. Allergic or other acute reactions, including long-term health conditions, such as birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer, can result from the ingestion of the chemicals.
Some children's car seats are made with many of the same chemicals that have been found in auto parts.
HealthyCar.org also tested 130, 2007 and 2008 children's car seat models for the same chemicals. The seat cushions, foam backings and seat belt clips were among the parts that were sampled.
According to the center, not all interior auto parts are made with the offending chemicals; therefore, some auto manufacturers have switched to parts made with less toxic chemicals.
The results of each vehicle model's test can be found on the organization's Web site.
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automotive diagnostic equipment
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Hybrid Accidents Present Hazards
2008-08-15
They save gas and make the air cleaner, but if an accident occurs, what's under the hood in your hybrid car could make saving your life tricky.
"It is very high in voltage and if you don't work around it properly, you can electrocute yourself," said Tony Klimek, who works at the Miller Auto Service Department.
First responders often need to get a driver out of a car, but hybrid vehicles have a wiring system that's quite different from their traditional counterparts.
"This electricity does go back and forth, the batteries are behind the back seat in this car.and this is what charges it and uses the power back there, so underneath the car, the wires also travel. So if the car is on its side or anything, you don't want to want to be grabbing hold of those orange wires," said Klimek.
If emergency personnel respond to an accident involving a hybrid car, there's a few things they need to know. For instance the difference between cutting this wire of live electricity and this wire that's connected to the battery, could spell danger.
"We want to make sure our first responders are safe out there so we want to get them the education," said Broome County Emergency Services Director, Brett Chellis.
That education came in the form of a first responder safety course offered by the county last fall. The response -- a class booked full. Due to the high demand, the class is being offered again this year to step up awareness about hybrid rescue hazards.
"Where are these hazards located in the vehicle, how long is the vehicle energized after the ignition is shut off, how long does it take for the batteries to re-energize," said Chellis.
Knowledge will lead to more safe and successful rescues.
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Auto racing: Zippo practice gives Cup drivers a little seat time
2008-08-15
WATKINS GLEN - Defending Zippo 200 champion Kevin Harvick led a reshuffled NASCAR Nationwide practice session at Watkins Glen International on Friday.
NASCAR's junior series provided the only on-track stock car activity after intermittent rain raised havoc with NASCAR's schedule, forcing officials to scrap both practice and qualifying for its top Sprint Cup division.
Jet-engine dryers worked most of the day to dry the track surface of the 2.45-mile circuit, causing officials to alter the Nationwide schedule, combining the two scheduled sessions into a single 2-hour, 15-minute practice that began at 2:45 p.m.
Harvick, in the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet, navigated the twists and turns of the Glen layout in 1 minute, 12.822 seconds (121.177 mph). He was followed by Jeff Burton, who was two-tenths of a second behind in the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet. Road-race specialists Max Papis and Dario Franchitti were third and fourth, respectively. Two-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five.
Qualifying for today's Zippo 200 takes place this morning. The chance of rain for the 3 p.m. start of the 82-lap race is just 20 percent.
Carl Edwards, 16th in practice with his No. 60 Ford Fusion, would relish the chance to race in the rain again. Edwards finished sixth on a rain-swept Montreal road course last week when NASCAR made history in using treaded rain tires for the first time in a points race.
"It would be fun if it rained again ... and this time I've got a windshield wiper," said Edwards, who had to resort to using a small household mop as a squeegee to clean his windshield during caution periods of the Montreal race.
Fifteen Sprint Cup regulars took part in the Nationwide practice, providing each with some valuable track time on a day when most drivers' work consisted of extended press interviews.
"For me, it was real important to get some track time today," Edwards said. "It definitely helps to get as much seat time as you can here."
Sprint Cup points leader Kyle Busch, driving the No. 92 D'Hondt Toyota Camry, was 16th-fastest. The six-time Nationwide Series winner completed just 16 laps, spending most of his time in the paddock making adjustments. He wasn't concerned with the lack of track time.
"We didn't run too many laps, but it shouldn't be a problem," Busch said. "We were just trying to get the car better."
Busch, 23, is bidding to become the first driver to win three NASCAR road course races in a single season. He previously won the Nationwide race on the Mexico City road course and the Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway.
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Quad bike firm suspends tours after death
2008-08-15
The tourism company which ran the quad bike tour in which an English tourist died after plunging up to 30m down a steep bank has suspended its operations.
Police said the Department of Labour was investigating the death and police were arranging for the body of Sarah Bond to be returned to the United Kingdom.
The 24 year-old from Essex in England suffered life threatening injuries when her quad-bike landed on top of her. She died at the scene at Te Anga, near the Waitomo Caves on Saturday.
Miss Bond's body will be flown back to the UK and escorted by an Auckland based representative of the Jewish community.
Her family has described Miss Bond as "one of life's enthusiasts", who should have been travelling around New Zealand and Australia for the next 10 months.
It took emergency services almost four hours to retrieve her body because of the difficult terrain.
"Unfortunately, when we arrived on the scene there was nothing we could do," an ambulance spokesman said.
Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reported her quadbike was one of a group of five making their way along a narrow, rutted trail above a steep bank when the accident occurred.
The company has refused to make any comment.
"Sarah was one of life's great enthusiasts. She was so excited about this trip, she was so full of life," her mother, Elizabeth, told the Daily Mail.
Mrs Bond said her daughter had two jobs and had saved for more than a year to fund her trip.
"We don't regret her going, but obviously we regret that this accident happened, just two weeks into her trip," her father Jack said.
Sarah, second of three daughters, had obtained working visas for New Zealand and Australia and was due to leave New Zealand to fly on to Sydney at the end of November.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Ms Bond regarded her holiday to New Zealand as the trip of a lifetime. The paper reported that she worked two jobs - at a bank by day and as a barmaid by night - to save for the trip.
A neighbour of the Bonds from Ilford, Joyce Medley, said she had known Ms Bond since she was a baby.
"Obviously we are all devastated. It was only 10 days ago that she held a leaving party before flying out to New Zealand," Ms Medley said.
Miss Bond's death has been referred to the coroner.
The police serious crash unit and the Department of Labour are investigating the accident.
- NZPA and NZHERALD STAFF
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From Go-Karts to Nascar, and Now Heading to College
2008-08-15
PAULIE HARRAKA was 7 when he first settled into the seat of a go-kart and took several spins around a parking lot next to an abandoned building in Glen Rock. He could barely reach the pedals, but he sure knew how to hit the gas.
His father, Paul, entered him in a race in Flemington, not knowing that drivers had to be at least 8. Paulie won the race and several more that summer in 1997. He was the top driver in many fields, winning 13 national and 6 world go-karting championships.
"It was the competition," he said in a recent telephone interview. "You always had to be focused. You could always find a way to improve."
He has come a long way in the last 11 years, working part time for two prominent Nascar teams and landing one of eight spots in a program that seeks to diversify Nascar and develop minority and female drivers and crew members.
Although graduates of the program have yet to enter the Sprint Cup Series, the highest level in Nascar, competition to participate in the program has become keen. More than 200 drivers applied for 20 spots at a testing and evaluation for Nascar last fall, with only eight chosen to compete with an established Nascar team.
Harraka, who is of Syrian descent and was born and raised in Wayne, still aspires to be a full-time stock car driver and has distinguished himself this year with six victories in the Whelen All-American Series, three rungs below Nascar's Sprint Cup Series.
"He's marketable, very educated and very smart, which means you can take him into any room, and he can have a conversation with almost any sponsor," said Bill McAnally, the owner of Harraka's race car. "And he can drive the wheels off a race car."
Big-time stock car drivers from New Jersey, let alone minorities, are uncommon. Martin Truex Jr., from Mayetta, last year became the first driver from New Jersey to win a race in Nascar's top series since Frankie Schneider, of Lambertville, won one in 1958.
Harraka moved to North Carolina with his father before his senior year at Wayne Valley High School and completed his high school education while working as an intern in the engineering department at Joe Gibbs Racing.
"Paulie is a very, very focused person," his father said. "He loves the competition, and he loves the engineering part of it. He loves all of it, really."
He plans to finish the racing season, but is enrolling this month at Duke University on an academic scholarship. There, he intends to pursue a double major in mechanical engineering and public policy, with an eye on becoming a race team engineer.
"The more you can understand the mechanical aspects of the machine you're driving, the better race car driver you're going to be," he said.
Paul Harraka built race cars, but he sold his shop in Fair Lawn before his son was born because he said he did not want him to get involved in auto racing, an expensive, dangerous and ruthlessly competitive sport.
Paulie Harraka gravitated to it, anyway.
He moved to North Carolina last fall and got his diploma a semester early at Lake Norman High School. He took a few entry-level courses at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is entering Duke about one semester ahead of schedule.
Bill McAnally worried that Harraka's pursuit of a racing career would distract from his schoolwork - until Harraka, who had a 4.4 grade-point average, asked teachers to send McAnally letters saying he would be fine.
"Sometimes, you have to stop and think, ‘He's 18 years old,' ' McAnally said. "He thinks like a 40-year-old."
Harraka is driving the No. 16 Toyota - and winning regularly - for McAnally in races at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.
When asked when he might be a Sprint Cup driver, Harraka said: "I try not to put a number on it. If you can't be successful at what you're doing now, you're not going to get to the next level. The best way to move up is to win races."
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Welch Allyn Enhances Halogen Lamp UV Output and Stability
2008-08-13
SKANEATELES FALLS, N.Y., Jul 29, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Welch Allyn Lighting Products, a premier manufacturer of high-performance lighting and technology, is now offering HPX(R) miniature halogen lamps with enhanced ultraviolet (UV) output and increased stability. These innovations allow HPX lamps to produce high-quality 340-nm light with total output stability as high as 99.95%, making them ideal for integration into high-precision analytical equipment.
"Our new manufacturing process virtually eliminates the drift that occurs during lamp operation," said Doug Rutan, Welch Allyn marketing manager. "While many demanding applications require lamp output stability of 99% or even 99.5%, our enhanced-UV high-stability lamps can achieve up to 99.95%. This could ultimately allow integrators to achieve a significantly higher level of consistency and performance with their lamp-based analytical equipment."
The improved UV lamp performance results from matching specialized materials with a new fabrication process. Available to customers on a by-request basis, these enhanced capabilities underscore the company's long-established competency in custom design and engineering for unique applications.
Welch Allyn's full line of HPX lamps are available in 5- and 20-watt models with output extended down to the 300- to 400-nm range while retaining full spectral output into the near IR. Based on careful component selection that allows UVA transmission, the HPX UV lamps are unique on the market today. The lamps are constructed with a hard-glass envelope to enable trouble-free handling. Bright, small, efficient and stable, these sources are enabling next-generation devices such as low-cost point-of-care and portable analytical equipment.
The company's complete UV lamp offering includes HPX miniature precision halogen lamps Metal Halogen Lamp and Solarc(R) metal halide lamps. All Welch Allyn UV products are constructed with high-quality materials for optimal light production and held to precise dimensions to enable simple, repeatable integration. Each light source is backed by Welch Allyn's world-class customer service and support.
About Welch Allyn Lighting Products
Welch Allyn Lighting Products makes high-performance lighting devices and technology for professional users and original equipment manufacturers. We offer some of the industry's highest quality and innovative off-the-shelf and custom lighting solutions. Our mission is to ensure our products and services will enhance our professional users' effectiveness and provide our OEMs with a competitive performance advantage. For more information about Welch Allyn Lighting Products, please go to www.walamp.com.
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New High-Power LED MR16 Bulbs Consuming Three Watts for 12VAC/DC & 24VDC
2008-08-13
MR16USA.com introduces an addition to its line of drop-in replacement MR16-styled LED bulbs: High-powered 3-Watt LED MR16 bulbs. These new 3Watt MR16 LED bulbs have two big advantages over other MR16 LED bulbs. First, they are engineered to handle the variations in voltages that may accompany "noisy" or "dirty" AC or DC power supplies, eliminating potential burnout from incoming voltage that is higher than the lamp's capacity. Second, the new 3Watt MR16 bulbs eliminate the need to stock a variety of LED MR16 bulbs to coordinate with different voltages that power supplies of 12Volt AC/DC - 24Volt DC may present, simplifying procurement and inventory procedures.
High-powered 3Watt LED MR16 bulbs (Series Number MR16-3W) have the following characteristics; bi-pin bases just like standard incandescent MR16 bulbs, and light outputs of 102.9 lumens using only 2.6Watts with 12Volts DC, 120.6lumens using only 3.7Watts with 12Volts AC, and 140.7 lumens using only 3.8Watts with 24Volts DC. The bulb features three High-Power LEDs and is offered in Cool White (6500 Kelvin) and Warm White (3000 Kelvin) color temperatures. Both Warm and Cool Whites are offered in 61° beam angles (2? ½). With factory approval, MR16-3W bulbs may be ordered in other LED colors, voltages and beam angles. MR16-3W bulbs carry a three-year limited warranty. Unlike halogen MR16 lamps that create potentially damaging heat and have caused fires when accidentally in contact with other objects, LED-sourced MR16-3W bulbs generate less heat while operating and pose no threat to the objects they are illuminating or their surroundings. Lighting professionals, architects, industrial designers and maintenance departments will find these MR16-3W lamps to be excellent solutions for their maintenance-free and low-voltage applications. MR16-3W lamps are commonly used for accent, task, and display lighting, track lighting in museums, jewelry stores, and hotels. They are excellent for both residential lighting situations and entertainment venues like theaters, restaurants, and theme parks.
With an average White LED lifespan of up to 50,000-hours (five years), LEDs operate reliably year after year. Solid-state design renders LEDs impervious to electrical and mechanical shock, vibration, frequent switching and environmental fluctuation. Integrated current-limited resistors prevent short-circuiting. LED lamps use only 10%-20% of the energy consumed by equivalent incandescent lamps. When combined with their maintenance-free operation this results in substantial cost savings.
For additional information on LED MR16 Bulbs please visit our website, www.MR16USA.com
MR16USA.com is the largest wholesaler provider of quality MR-16 Light Bulbs MR16 Light Bulb for the US market. MR16USA.com specialized in Brand Name MR-16 Halogen light bulbs like GE, Philips, Osram Sylvania, Platinum and Ushio for markets like designers, home & garden, display and stage & studio. Since day one, the goal has been to earn the trust of customers by giving them a dedicated customer service as well as providing energy efficient lighting products to businesses and consumers. To learn more, please visit www.MR16USA.com.
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Solar Branches Light Tree-Lined Paths
2008-08-13
Solar streetlamps are gaining in popularity. It's one of the easiest ways for a city to green up in a noticeable way. Japan is even pushing the bar by setting up streetlamps powered by both wind and solar. While it's (relatively) easy to slap a solar panel on a streetlamp and call it a good day's work, it's nice to take the time to add a little style or pizzazz. Vienna, for instance, has some pretty daring sculpture-ish "trees" as streetlamps. Seriously cool stuff for an urban setting. But what if you want something a little more subtle - something that blends in? That's where Jongoh Lee's Invisible Streetlight comes in.
Going more along the lines of solar that mimics plants - and not just in the solar-collection sense - Lee has created a concept for solar lights led tree light that blend into tree-lined paths and sidewalks. Creating a beautiful, romantic evening setting, the lamps wind around existing branches, collect light during the day, and illuminate walkways at night. Since the lights use the trees as support, they don't need additional poles that would just increase the urban-ness of the scene.
I'm not sure how much sunlight they'd be able to collect, being installed under trees and all, so they probably wouldn't last long into the night. So there's that tiny detail to address, which perhaps will be solved with the increasing efficiency of solar we're seeing. However, the concept earned an IDEA award, and I hope that's the first sign that these will eventually make their way on to city streets and park paths.
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Police warn drivers to slow down near schools
2008-08-13
Summer vacation is nearly over for students in the Pikes Peak region, and Colorado Springs police are warning drivers that speeding through school zones can lead to a hefty fine.
The speed limit is 20 mph in school zones when the warning lights LED Warning Light are flashing. Other schools don't have lights, but signs give the times when the school zone speed limit is in effect. The zones are located near elementary and middle schools.
Drivers caught speeding in either can be fined $20 for each mile-per-hour over the limit, twice the regular fine for speeding. Police said officers will be out, starting this week, to watch for speeders in school zones.
Police said it is also illegal to drive through a crosswalk where there is a crossing guard until the guard has walked back to the curb. Violators can be fined $80 and receive three points on their drivers license.
Drivers who don't stop for a school bus with its "stop" sign extended and red lights flashing - on either side of the road - could face six points and a mandatory court appearance, police said. Drivers don't have to stop for a bus on the opposite side of the road if it is separated by a "depressed, raised or painted median or other intervening space serving as a clearly indicated dividing section or island," police said.
Police make an effort to warn drivers now, because schools have staggered starting dates. Some are already back to class, more start this week and the largest, Colorado Springs School District 11, returns Aug. 18.
"If you don't have kids, people are sometimes unaware of when schools are going back," said Maile Gray, who helps coordinate school zone safety for Colorado Springs police. "Until they start seeing active kids out there, they get complacent about driving 20 mph in a school zone."
The city had no crossing guards until 1989, when 7-year-old Joel Blair was run over by a truck and killed while walking to Jefferson Elementary. The death led to an outcry and a campaign by Blair's father, and there are 129 crossing guards today.
Since then, no child deaths have occurred in school crosswalks, Gray said.
"It has been very successful at schools and I think it's a big relief to parents to know their children can get to school safely," Gray said.
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Kitchen fixes cut remodeling costs
2008-08-13
Kitchens need a face-lift every now and then but cost more to renovate than any other room in the house.
Changing the cabinets can achieve the biggest overall impact on a kitchen's look. Replacing them, though, is usually the priciest part of any remodel - which for a basic job runs an average of $15,000 to $25,000.
However, there are ways to spruce up cabinets without the expense of new ones.
Linda Harrison said she needed just a can of white paint and new knobs to completely transform her very dark kitchen.
"I'm just much happier. It's brighter. It's more cheerful," Harrison said.
Since Harrison's cabinets were in good shape, she could also have chosen to resurface them - and either option would save her from spending thousands on new cabinets.
Adding under-cabinet lighting Halogen Cabinet Light is another inexpensive way to update a kitchen. Consumer Reports tested strip and puck lights and found that both types cast a pool of light onto the countertop.
"And they come in all different types of bulbs," Dan CiClerico, with Consumer Reports, said. "We have fluorescents, halogens, xenon and LED."
The tests showed that lighting using fluorescent bulbs and LED were energy efficient. However, fluorescents do not accurately show red, orange and purple, which changes the way food looks on the counter.
Halogen and xenon lights give off a more accurate color, but they use more energy and get hot.
To spruce up your kitchen also consider replacing the floor. Consumer Reports tested how well various types of flooring held up to scratches, stains and dents.
Plastic laminates are tougher than wood and usually cost a lot less. They are also easier to install.
"You can float them on the surface without the use of fasteners, staples or glue," CiClerico said.
Appliances can also be big-ticket items during a kitchen renovation. However, Consumer Reports found that price was not a guide to finding the best appliances.
Among smooth-top electric ranges a $4,000 Viking came in at the bottom of the ratings, while a $750 Kenmore topped them.
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UK & Australia. OceanLED appoints Queensland distributor
2008-08-13
Ocean LED, the leading manufacturer and designer of LED underwater lighting products underwater led light, is launching into Australia and has appointed a Queensland distributor.
The worldwide underwater lighting specialist has selected Yacht Products Australia to provide full sales, service and technical advice to Australian customers.
The Amphibian range, which is the world's first collection of underwater lighting designed to be used both in and out of the water, will be launching in Australia with a variety of lights to suit boats, yachts and superyachts of all sizes.
LED Founder and CEO Lee Savage, said, "The lights are injection moulded in a state-of-the art high tech polymer, we call Delnaeco, that is resistant to almost all know solvents and adhesives, and is completely corrosion proof. They are easy to install and can be used on a variety of surfaces such as trim tabs, engine brackets or even on boat trailers for night launching."
After having great success in the USA, OceanLED's new generation Amphibian range is one of the world's leading underwater lighting systems and is now being used as standard by many major boat and yacht builders.
The injection-moulded Amphibian Range has been designed with a unique linear shape, versatile enough to be mounted onto any transom and requiring just a quarter of an inch hole for the cable entry. Using the very latest LED technology, the Amphibians have an ultra low power draw, 40,000-hour LED life and pure unfiltered colours. In addition, extensive OceanLED research has enabled all electronics to be built directly into the Amphibian light range, therefore alleviating the need for an external LED driver
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Light tester simplifies cable assembly connection
2008-08-12
CAMI Research Inc. has introduced a computer-assisted technique for assembling circular connectors used in aerospace and other high-reliability applications. The Light Director system uses light fibers driven by super-bright LED lamps to individually illuminate target cavities in the connector being assembled.
How the system works
When the technician inputs the wire code printed on unconnected wires, a computer program turns on the right fiber, causing a bright, flashing light to project the target cavity inside, which guides the technician to the proper insertion point. Correct insertion is confirmed by the elimination of light from that ; whereas insertion into an incorrect mark leaves the flashing light visible.
The Light Director also uses synthetic speech in English or Spanish to read the pin number to the technician. Speech recognition is also available as an option to allow the technician to read wire codes to the system, thus minimizing the need for a keyboard or monitor. "Field testing has shown that the system doubles assembly rate over manual methods while nearly reducing errors," the company said.
Compatibility to other system
The light tester works well with CAMI's CableEye PC-based cable test system. Customers purchase a mounting kit for each mating connector consisting of a plug-in board with LED sockets that attaches to the tester, LED light Computer LED Light fibers, fiber guide boards and a connector support board. The CableEye tester checks cables and wire harnesses for opens, shorts and miswires; measures diode forward voltage; checks resistance values over the range of 0.3Ω to 10 MΩ, and tests conduction and isolation resistance against specified thresholds.
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Purse snatcher pursued
2008-08-12
Downtown cops are hunting for a thug who threatened a woman with a baseball bat and made off with her purse.
At about 6:45 p.m. on July 30, the woman was talking on a phone when she walked past a man sitting on a stair rail near 100 Avenue and 104 Street.
After she passed him, he leapt to his feet, ran to her and brandished the bat. He ordered her to drop her phone and hand over her purse. He got away with about $60.
He is described as a native man in his 20s, about five-foot-eight and 140 pounds, with short hair. He wore a light-coloured baseball cap Baseball Cap Light, light grey T-shirt, runners and dirty jeans. If you have any information on this crime, call Crimestoppers.
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OR: Let's Get Wonky
2008-08-12
My job is to wander the show floor looking for The Big Wow, the next Jetboil, but often--and especially on the first day of searching--it's the little details that only a backpacker would get excited about that really make my day. Here are two:
Surefire, who makes a line of handheld flashlights, each so tough you could use them to frame a house, has finally come out with a headlamp, set to hit the market in about 60 days. It's called the Saint and it's as feature-rich as any headlamp out there. Its output ranges from 0 to 100 lumens (dimmer-switch style... tick it down to 10 lumens to simulate a candle-light battery candle light dinner), and it has a 144 hour battery life. ...And about those batteries: it'll run on one, two, or three CR123 lithium ion batteries OR two AA alkalines. It's dual fuel! The housing is made of aluminum, and the whole deal weighs a moderately hefty 8.7 ounces.
And, are you digging on gravity filters? You are, aren't you? Sawyer has just finished designs on one of the best I've seen. It uses the same porous hollow fiber membrane that the MSR Hyperflow (a 2008 Editor's Choice Award Winner) uses, and the result is superfast filtration. It'll clean up a gallon of water in two and a half minutes. One model even filters viruses (down to 0.02 microns), formerly unheard of at this filtering speed. Sawyer is marketing this in systems of various sizes, but the coolest one is probably the Inline Filter -- it's a 1.8oz job (filtering down to 0.1 microns) that you connect directly to the delivery tube of your hydration bladder. Sick, right?
Sometimes it's the little wonky things, and that's okay. -Shannon Davis
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Lamps for Interior Design from The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co
2008-08-12
Just like the cherry on top of the cake, table lamps Touch Table Lamps are the finishing touch to an interior.
For the eclectic and for the classic interior design, the ideal choice is antique lamp.
Interestingly, antique or period lamps offer a much greater range of shapes, designs and styles than the range offered by contemporary table lamps, which inevitably take on a rather uniform look, in vogue with current style.
The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp offers a range of over 100 antique lamps. Each lamp is individually designed, producing an ideal table lamp in every sense of the word.
The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp offers antique and decorative English, French, Chinese and Japanese lamps in a range of porcelain, glass, bronze, cinnabar, treen, marble, pottery and even papier-mâché.
Advanced interior design requires thoughtful and subtle lighting. To over or under light a beautiful interior is to detract from the finished effect.
The ideal benefit of table lamp lighting is that it is easily portable, allowing for lighting to be repositioned producing the most satisfactory outcome.
Antique and decorative lighting is primarily a personal choice, from the ideally understated white lamp, through to the highly decorative, four coloured Japanese Imari lamps, all available from the decorative lighting specialists, The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp.
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