Touring piston oil ring "coiled wire"

[Bob Culver]

For any youngsetrs still hanging in there Cord rings were not flat. Could therefore distort to  accomodate oval bores. The normal operating priciple of a ring, that the gas pressure acts behind to apply wall tension, is more or less forsaken. Used in worn engines with collapsed split skirt pistons the rings were agitated severely. Thay supposed to block gas leakage just by the number of gaps. What really went on when used as comp rings who knows? I was astonished they stayed on the market so long and certainly not now. Bore top wear is largely associated corrosion; mid bore wear is more simple wear, often attributed to lube problems.
All rerings were not desperate short term measures. Our family 1952 minx by 40000 had the 4th ring fitted but burned pint in 300. My father fitted new rings (no honing) with a spring rail oil ring and when sold at 120,000 still not using original oil.