car related

[Victoria Neufeldt]

"Armstrong or armstrong adj." (=hand or arm powered) is in the Dict of
Canadianisms on Historical Principles, with a first cite from Rod and Gun in
Canada, 1920 (pub. by Cdn Forestry Assn): " . . . via the armstrong and
elbow grease route".  The second cite is from 1922 and refers to "a
hand-windlass, an 'Armstrong hoist' we called it".  So it appears that its
application was more general than cars.

Re "4/70" air conditioning:  I have to admit I don't get it.  Can you
explain it?  (Four windows, maybe, but what's the "70"?)

Victoria

Victoria Neufeldt
Merriam-Webster, Inc.
47 Federal Street
P.O. Box 281
Springfield, MA  01102
Tel. (413) 734-3134 ext 124
Fax  (413) 827-7262


> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at UGA.CC.UGA.EDU]On Behalf Of
> A. Maberry
> Sent: Friday, May 14, 1999 12:17 PM
> To: ADS-L at UGA.CC.UGA.EDU
> Subject: car related
>
> Many years ago I heard various cars described as having:
>
> 4/70 air conditioning = no air conditioning
> Armstrong steering = no power steering
> double-leg brakes = standard brakes
> and two brands of worn-out tires: Golden Balds and Maypops
>
> probably not from the Quartermaster Corps.
>
> Allen
> maberry at u.washington.edu