In the 1930s, some cars had controls on the steering wheel to adjust the ignition timing. This was mainly due to varying levels of octane in the fuel (there were few standards), so you would have to RETARD the timing via adjustment levers on the steering wheel to prevent the engine from pinging (premature detonation while piston approaches top dead center)
Better or higher octane fuel burns slower and gives you better economy and power if you properly ADVANCE the ignition timing.
The levers were clearly marked in bold letters saying: ADVANCE or RETARD. The destruction of useful words that help us to be more precise in our communication to one another is not only obnoxious, but retarded.
For the youngsters:
In the 1930s, some cars had controls on the steering wheel to adjust the ignition timing. This was mainly due to varying levels of octane in the fuel (there were few standards), so you would have to RETARD the timing via adjustment levers on the steering wheel to prevent the engine from pinging (premature detonation while piston approaches top dead center)
Better or higher octane fuel burns slower and gives you better economy and power if you properly ADVANCE the ignition timing.
The levers were clearly marked in bold letters saying: ADVANCE or RETARD. The destruction of useful words that help us to be more precise in our communication to one another is not only obnoxious, but retarded.