THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1931.
TYRE INDUSTRY,
Important Move by Oil
Companies.
A remarkable merchandising situation will be created In the United States within the next few weeks when five of the Standard Oil companies under the lentiership af the New Jersey unit. will start the anle of motor-car and motor-truck tyres, writes the American Editor It is bo of the Financial News. lieved that the new brand of tyres will soon be on sale at between
90,600 zl 100 000 petrol stations, thus far exceeding the number of outlets available to any other large chain merchandising system.
ber of months the damaged tyre was in service.
Aid to Petrol Sales.
The great advantage which the Atlas brand will have over iyrea sold by indidual dealers, rogard-
les of the admitted excellence of
THE CHINA
MAIL.
11
PEDESTRIANS.
Home Writers on Their Rights..
none the less effectively-by the proposed Highway Cole, through forcing him to use the footpath. where there is one, instead of the roadway.
The following letters
appear in all tyrea which can now be sold the London Observer. under conmpetitive American con- Sir,Under this title a legal cor- ditions. is the fact that a motos-car | respondent in your last issue points owner may buy a tyre in New York, out how the rights of pedestrians travel to the Middle West and nave may be affected-not directly, but any small adjustment made at any Standard Off station, and possibly have the tyre renewed on the Pacifi const. In other words, the guarantee holds good not only as to recourse to the manufacturer, but as to seri vire by almost innumerable stations throughout America. Such a situa tion will also tend, it is expected, to induce motorists to buy petro: at Standard stations wherever they may be.
Many factors have nduced the Standard Oil interests to engage in the retailing of tyres, a move which
I do not think many persons will quarrel with the view that where a
proper footpath is provided pedes- trians ought to use it, although this involves an abridgement of their present rights. But is your cor- respondent quite right when he goes on to say that both law and common senso will in the future hold drivers justified in saying, at first ridiculed in miany when
. an accident
to Dccurs quartors. Competition in the sal: pedestrian on a road provided with of petrol is ቢዛ aggressive in a footpath, "Since I knew there was America as it is in Great Britain, a footpath, I was not looking out and there is a large over-multiplica- for pedestrians and I am not to
blame for not seeing him."
was
A
The first move was the organisa- tion by Standard Oil of New Jersey of the Atlas Supply Co., which wil be owned jointly by the Standards of New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, Ken- tucky and Califorma. This com- pany will merely be the holding unit for trade marks, etc. Contracts for the new Atlas brand have alon of the facilities actually re ready been placed. half with the
quired. Overhead expense Нов In the first place, may not the United States Rubber Co., and half
been so great that no profit was pos pedestrian be able to justify walk- with the B. F. Goodrich Co.
sible in thousands of Instances and ing on the roadway on the grounds individual owners of petrol station urged by Mr. Boss in the case re- tried to augment their takings by ferred to by your correspondent, selling sandwiches, fruit, honey, viz., that the footpath was in a bad and a long list of other articles, In-state, so that it was not reasonable' cluding aspirin, which got some of to expect him to use it? In the them into trouble with the laws second place, will not a driver be governing the sale of drugs and still obliged to look out for pedes. trians who are in the roadway, not pharmaceutical products.
for the purpose of walking along it, but of crossing' it?
must
Nation-Wide Service. These five companies cover practically every State, and there is no doubt but that their entry into the tyre business means a radical dislovation of former methods of retailing tyres. It addition to selling the tyres at the service slations owned or controlled by the Standard companies and by dealers who only sell Standard petroleum products, the new tyres will be offered in wholesale lute to indeper dent dealers and garages, The price at which the latter will be able to sell tyres will be alightly have the prices naked by Scars, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, the great mail-order houses, so that no direct competition is expected between these important interests. the main base of operations for
According to the Wall Street | motoring." Journal, the tyres will be guaran- Dealers In other articles related teel for 12 months for pas- to the motor-car are watching the
Dear Sir, Your Legal Corres- senger cars and six months for com- success of the Standard Oil move pondent, discussing the pedestrians' mercial cars against breakdowns with some apprehension, fearing rights under the new Highway through accidents, biowouts, enta, that it may be only the opening Code, suya that, if a pedestrian chose bruises, rim cuts under-inflation, welge for a much greater experi- to waik on the road when a foot- wheels out of alignment, or other nicht. The articles of incorpora-path was provided, a driver would road hazards.
tion of the Atlas Supply Co. give be entitled to plead: "Since I knew In the event of a breakdowa It.authority to engage in practical- there was a footpath I was not look- tyres will be repaired free or willly any form of merchandising which ing out for pedestrians, and it is be one twelfth or nine-sixths of the might be thought profitable.
the plaintiff's own fauit that I did usual price multiplied by the rum (Continued at foot of hexf Column-1 |not see him until too late to avoid
Other Dealers Watching. When the Standard Oil of Indiana announced its entry into I venture to think that both law tyie retailing. the board of diree and common sense will still concur tars said: "For a long time the in neserting that motorists motorist has been dependent on the continue to keep a lookout for service station, the garage, the pedestrians if they want to escape. wayside store, etc., for the servic-responsibility, civil or criminal, for ing of tyres with air. Now he may running them down.-Yours faith- turn to those for complete tyre ser- fully." vice. More and more the motorist is looking to the service station as
BUYERS' GUIDE
MOTOR CARS.
ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's
Road. Tel. 24759.
BUICK The Dragon Motor Car Co. Ltd., 33. Wong Nel Chung
Road, Happy Valley, Tel. 50228.
·
CADILLAC.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tol. 24759. CHEVROLET.Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel.
21769,
FIAT MOTOR CAR-A Gocke & Co., China Bldg., 7th floor.
Tel. 22221,
MARQUETTE-The Dragon Motor Car Co., Ltd., 33, Wong Nel
Chung Road, Happy Valley. Tel. 30228. MORRIS.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel. 24759. OLDSMOBILE.-The Dragon Motor Car Co., Ltd., 33, Wong Nei
Chung Road, Happy Valley. Tel. 30228. ROLLS-ROYCE-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel.
24750.
Tel. STUDEBAKER-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road.
24759. WILLYS-KNIGHT & WHIPPET MOTOR CARS-Gilman & Co.,
Ltd., 4a, Des Voeux Rd. C. Tel. 28011.
OUTBOARD MOTORS-Rudolf Wolff & Kew, 54 Queen's Roud
C. Tel 22173:
MOTOR TRUCKS AND TRACTORS, CHEVROLET.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel.
24769.
G.M.C. The Dragon Motor Car Co., Ltd., 33, Wong Nd Chung
Chung Road, Happy Valley. Tel. 30228. DODGE. South China Motor Car Co., 33, Des Voeux Road. C.
Tel. 25644.
i
MORRIS-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel. 24759.
Tel. STUDEBAKER.—Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road.
24769. WILLYS-KNIGHT & WHIFFET TRUCKS.-Ġilman & Co., Ltd.,
4a, Des Voeux Road C. Tel. 28011.
MOTOR CYCLES.
BЯA.-The Sincere Co., Ltd., Des Voeux Road.. Tel. 27767.. NORTON,The Sincere Co., Ltd., Des Voeux Road C.. Tel
27767.
MOTOR OILS.
GARGOYLE MOBİLDIL-Vacuum Oil Company, King's Bldg. SHELL-Asiatic Petroleum Co., (8.C.), Ltd., ́Asiņtic Bldg.
TYRES AND ACCESSORIES. ACCESSORˇES-Hongkong Hotel, Garage, Bueen's Road. Tel.
24769, ACCESSORIE The Duro Motor Co., Nathan Road, Kowloon.
Tel. 55253...
FISK TYRES-Gilman & Co., Ltd.. da, Des Voeux Rd. G. Tel.
28011.
INDIA TYRES-W. R. Loxley Co., York Bldgs. Tel. 22285... MICHELIN TYRES--A. Goeke & Co., Chign Bldg 7th floor.
Tol. 22221, g.
PRESTOLITE BATTERIES, Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's
Kord T61., 24789.
WILLARD BATTERIES-Gilman & Co. Ltd., 48, Des Voeux Bd
d. Tel 2011.
A. KAYE BUTTERWORTH, Chairman of the Committee. The Pedestrians' Ass.ciation, 134, Fleet Street, E.C.4.
him."
Surely the purpose of the Code ia to make walking safer for those who observe it and not more dan- gerous than ut present for those who fail to observe it. If it were to have the latter result it would be far better to have no Code at all.
Failure to observe the Code will not be a criminal offence, and any one, through absent mindedness or tiredness, might easily break the Code, particularly in the first twelve months of its operation. The punishment under such circum stances should not be excessive risk
Even if you paid considerably more you could not get more satisfying motoring, or ownership, than you are offered in this new Buick!
In all Buick's twenty-five years of achievement it has never produced a series of cars of such outstanding beauty, comfort, performance --- or value. On this reputation Buick owners are buying the new Buick with the same confidence with which they have purchased preceding Buicks.
In this space we could not possibly enumerate the many features and advantages that contribute to the remarkable popularity of this new Buick. You must ace it - and ride in it ------ to appreciate why Buick is the car that satisfies so completely.
114" Wheelbase Bulck Models 118" Wheelbase Buick Models 1247 Wheelbase Buick Models 132" Wheelbase Buick Models
G$1,530 to G$1,655 G$1,820 to G$1,930 G$2,160 to G$2,195 G$2,160 to G$2,705
THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.
Telephone 30228,
33, WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY.
The BUICK 8
MOTORING SPRINGING.
Overcoming Side-sway.
Many motorista in Australia who have done considerablo driving on large softly-sprung saloon cara have been surprised when they have had a drive in a low built sports model, at the greater feeling of sta-, bility when cornering, at a fairly high speed. The reason is that the sports model is generally driven with
of death or injury. A driver who is shock absorbera more tightly ad- killed or injured a pedestrian in-justed, and tyres fairly hard, while fringing the Code would still be the bigger car runs on larger and liable to prosecution for dangerous softer tyres and more flexible or careless driving, and if he plead-springing, consequently is apt to ed "I was not looking out for pedes have a rolling tendency at the back trians" he would be self-convicted. when taking a turn at speed. In
Yours faithfully,
many instances shock absorbers are fitted to obviate this disconcerting tendency; the ultimate result being that whlist it partially cures one evil, it stiffens up the action of the springs and a degree of comfort disappeara.
AVIS DOLPHIN, 178, Green Lane, Norbury,
S.W. 16.
A Life-Saver for Pedestrians.
Sir, May I suggest a fender for all motor-vehicles, expressly design.
this humane
Lucerne,
BELTRAND SHADWELL.
In England a simple device is be- ed to save the lives of pedestriana? ing marketed that is stated to suc- Such a fender is already successful- cessfully overcome this back side- short ly used by street tramways in sway. It consists of two America. It extends for the whole supplementary springs comprising breadth of the car, and resembles a thres leaves, stepped in length, very broad wire garden seat, with- which are clipped on to the top of out lega, coming close to the ground, each of the front sections of the and eloping backwarde. The lower rear springs in such a manner as border in front is shielded and not to Impede the functioning of the softened by rubber tubing. The spring. after the manner cominon pedestrian who le encountered by in Australia of clamping a piece contrivance must of spring steel over a fractured Inecitably, by the lows of spring. A small block of rubber equilibrium and gravitation, be- is inserted between each end of at- come seated upon the flexible wire tachment and the top loaf of spring framework, which will carry him proper before the clips are fastened. anhurt until the car can be stop At the engine end of the attachment ped-Sincerely yours,
the topmost leaf, which is the short- est of the three and does not come under the holding clip at that end, is bont up about in. for length of Big Demand Anticipated.
2in., and a hole bored in the centre. Undoubtedly the new move comes The attachment for front end of at a time when there will be a very both rear springs is treated the large demand for tyres. Sales of same way. A cross steel tube of tyres during 1980 were the lowest about Min. to lin. In diameter of of any year since 1924, but the sales sufficient length to reach to ful' of petrol show that the motor-cara width across from spring to spring, have been running all the time. and the ends of which are flattened With the expected upturn in Anori-and bored (probably also lightly re- can business activity there is al- inforced) is used to hold this trans- most certain to be a very large in- verse tube to each of the bored up- crease in the sale of new tyres to lifted end of each attachment. Thus motorists who have been patching when a car so fitted has a tendency up and conserving old tyres during to roll, the cross member and sop 1980. plementary attachments check the The effect on the United States toll to aromarkable extent. The Rubber Co., and the Goodrich Co, fitment is also stated to have a of these large contracts is hard to steadying effect on a car as a estimate in advance. The price whole, making it much nore plea- made to the oil companies was un-sant to drive at high speeds. Bo doubtedly a very close one, but, on fore attempting to fit an attachment the other hand, the certainty of a of this paturë, it is advisble to sea large and steady production will an that the cross tube will not come able them to cut overhead and figure into contact with tall shaft, etc., very closely on other competitive when the car is in motion on a business"
bumpy road.
The Eights with Buick's Prestige
A-9
A DEPENDABLE
EIGHT
luxurious and economical
Owners of the Dodge Eight-in- Line find it a truly economical motor car... it has the de- pendability so typical of all Dodge cars. It requires little in attention or maintenance; de- livers its smooth, vigorous power with surprisingly low fuel and oil consumption
.
Bodies are squeakproof, rattle- proof, exceptionally roomy and comfortable. The internal hy- draulic brakes need no lubri cation or equalising adjustments ..In economy as well as in power and masteiful performi ance, the Dodge Eight-in-Line is a sound choice for those The safe, silent Mono-Piece Steel who ask much of a motor car.
DODGE BROTHERS
SOUTH CHINA MOTOR CAR CO.
Tel. 25644.
35, Des Voeux Road Central
Tel 25644.