All that glitters...
Sir,
Your reader L. W. Buckley lists all my complaints about Lodge Golden Plugs. I, too, spent money and miserable miles of poor performance with my Renault Gordini.
Unlike Mr. Buckley, though, I had excellent starting, even through the coldest of last Winter; that’s why I didn’t suspect the plugs.
I returned the plugs to Lodge after about 4,000 to 5,000 miles; they replaced them with a newer design, but the new ones were at bad as the first lot, to I scrubbed them after about 500 miles.
Anybody want a set of Golden Plugs in their original box?
Frank Clarke.
Cwmbran
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Sir,
Due to the awkward position of the sparking plugs on my car— a Jowett Javelin—it has been my practice to change the complete set once a year. By this time they are usually looking decidedly second-hand with excessive gaps and cracked insulation internally.
About nine months ago I fitted a set of Golden Lodge and have no trouble whatsoever. Out of interest I have just removed one for inspection and, apart from a slightly “used” look, appear, and operates perfectly.
Any Lodge Golden Plugs from dissatisfied users accepted with thanks for next October’s change!
Michael H. Spearing.
Epsom Downs.
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Sir,
Lodge “Golden” sparking plugs were recently fitted to a 1959 Wolseley 1500 saloon which has completed 30,000 miles and to a 1955 model Rover 60 saloon which has done X,000 miles, 15,000 while in my possession. In both cases I fitted new distributor points at the same time, this being a standard procedure whenever I fit new plugs. The following comments apply to both cars.
Instantaneous and very easy starting, no choke at all being necessary.
Very much easier pulling away from cold, far less sluggishness and no spitting back through the carburetter during the warming-up period.
Better tick-over especially when cold; incidentally carburetter settings were not adjusted in any way.
Very much improved hill-climbing in top gear.
No accurate check of fuel consumption has ever been made, but since fitting the “Golden” plugs it has certainly not worsened and has probably improved.
Both cars have only done 500 miles since fitting “Golden” Lodge and they show no signs of L.W. Buckley’s alarming faults. In view of the cost, I hope they will last longer than the normal type of plug and as regards the no servicing claim time alone will tell.
P. Haslam.
Bristol.
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Sir,
In compliance with your request for experience with Golden Lodge plugs, this was mine:
Prior to leaving for a Continental tour I fitted a set to my Rover 60 in place of Type CLN-H which had been in use for about 12,000 miles. These new spark plugs oiled up after about 400 and 900 miles respectively, and I then replaced all with the old plugs, which I had taken with me as spares. Thereafter the tour of about 2,200 miles was completed without further trouble.
On my return I sent the plugs back to the makers who, at my request, sent a set of Type C.L.N-H with cash adjustment.
Percy L. Osborne.
Coulsdon.
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Sir,
My car is fitted with a Ford 100E engine, Willment i.o.e. head of about 10-to-1 c.r., Aquaplane camshaft, etc., and is habitually driven hard and fast with revs up to 6,500-7,000 in the lower gears.
I used occasionally to get trouble in starting due to “wet” plugs in cold weather or possibly if the engine was started, allowed to idle for a while, and stopped and restarted for any reason, before attaining full running temperature.
I decided to acquire a set of “Golden” Lodge Plugs when they were announced in the latter part of last year. My suppliers had a considerable delay in getting them and were informed that a fault had been found in the first deliveries, due to the faulty work of a sub-contractor.
In due course the four plugs were received and fitted, and after 4,000 really hard miles they live up to the manufacturer’s claims entirely. Starting is always instantaneous, there is no sign of mis-firing at any engine speeds, and although examined each 1,000 miles they show no signs of fouling nor need of attention, and have been put back as taken out.
I should imagine that Mr. Buckley was unfortunate in getting some of the original plugs with faulty manufacture, although these appeared to have been withdrawn promptly.
I may add that I have normally been “wedded” to another make of plugs and the “Golden” ones are the first Lodge plugs I have ever used.
I have, of course, no connection with the Lodge Company.
K.B. Shaw.
London, E.C.3.
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Sir,
Our motor mower has run for the last four years, trouble free, with the same Lodge Plug but my TR3 had them fitted recently for one week only.
In the same way as Lodge make motor mower plugs, Dunlop make excellent hot water bottles!
Chris A.O. Holt.
Ambleside.
***
Sir,
You request the experiences of your readers using “Golden” Lodge plugs. Gladly—my four “no-fouling” plugs failed at the following mileages: 1st, 28 miles; 2nd, 61 miles; 3rd, 72 miles; 4th, 196 miles.
Lodge must get the gold.
T.J. Palmer.
Kidderminster.
(This subject has attracted a very bulky correspondence, of which a selection appears above. Other comments can be summarised as:—
Lancia Aprilia.—Plugs no good—money refunded.
M.G. TF.—No good—replaced with Champions. For sale at 8s. 6d. the set.
Triumph TR3A.—Satisfactory over 5,000 miles.
Speedwell Mini Minor.—Two sets, both unsatisfactory—replaced with normal Lodge.
Aston Martin Mk. III.—No good—replaced with normal Lodge.
M.G.-A Mk. II.—Very Satisfactory over 11,000 miles.
Triumph TR2.—Extremely good, over 12,000 miles and ideal for M 1 motoring.
Jaguar XK 140.—Immediate trouble. Reverted to Champions.
Sunbeam Rapier III.—Very good results over 4,000 miles.
Triumph Herald 1200.—First set no good. Replaced by satisfactory second set free, and 50% garage fees refunded by Lodge. These plugs O.K. over 15,000 miles.
Jaguar Mk. 8.—Inferior to normal plugs. Owner says: ” The thing I am most annoyed about is Lodge using everyday motorists to test their plugs instead of doing it themselves. Perhaps they copied the British car manufacturers!”
Ford 105E.—Very satisfactory over 7,590 miles.
M.G. TD. Mk. II—No good. oiled up after 40 miles. Replaced by normal Lodge.
Austin-Mini—Sooted up in 200 miles and twice stopped engine. Replaced by Champions.
Sunbeam Rapier—Entirely satisfactory over 30,000 miles. Now used in second Sunbeam Rapier.
Austin-Healey 3000—Trouble in less than 700 miles. New set provided free, insulted in friends Alla Romeo Giulietta.
Sprint Veloce—Are now lying in the bed of some river in Yorkshire!
Significantly, no comment has been received from anyone at the Lodge Company. The excuse seems to be that early “Goldens” were badly constructed. Not being taken in by what appeared to us the old spark-gap stunt applied with a new veneer, we didn’t use the test-set sent to Motor Sport, which were never taken out of their gold box. Everyone makes mistakes sooner or later but this one has done the reputation of Lodge no good at all. What, we wonder, has become of the inventor who sold this old and respected company this golden design?—Ed.]