10
THE CHINA MAIL.
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1931.
MOTOR TRAPS.
For the Unsuspecting
Motorist.
The warnings that have been issued recently by the motoring bodies regarding traps that are being laid on the roads to induce motorists to stop for the purpose of being molested by thugs, would seem to justify motor drivers in resolving to treat with suspicion each and every indivi- dual who appeals for a lift, and to be on their guard against diabolical tricks, devised to on- trap the unsuspecting motorist, remarks The Motor.
The deceived
i opped valise trick has but now that the warning has been given the desperadoes who are out for loot in any form, with violence if in the mood, are de- vising new methods.
A
The latest of these takes the form of an appeal to the humanity of the motorist. woman confederate of the ruffians is left lying in the road. The first instinct of the average motorist is to stop, but in a recent instance, before actually coming to a standstill n driver luckily saw the heads of two men watch- ing behind a fence. He accelerat- ed and drove away.
ZMOTORISTS THIS IS YOUR PAGES
MOTOR RECORDS.
67 Made on British
Cars.
months
The Royal Automobile Club has prepared a summary of all world's and international class motor recorda made during 1981. The total number of records re- ported from all countries in the twelve
was 155. of these 67 were made on British Of the and 88 on foreign cars. drivers concerned 113 were Bri tish and 42 foreign, and 62 re- corda were made in Britain and 93 abroad. Eighty-four of the total number of records were made at speeds of over 100 m.p.h., twenty-two were over 120 m.p.h., whilst the fastest record of the year was the flying kilo metre in Class B, made by Michel Dore on an 8-cylinder Panhard at Arpajon, the actual speed being 138.47 m.p.h.
There is another trick to be on This was tried guard against. recently on a lady driver return-m.p.h. ing alone after a dance. She Two other records atand out saw a red lamp being waved in for special attention, viz., the front of her, and stopped, think-100 kilometre and 10 miles ing it might be a policeman or a world's records made by Mrs. road obstruction warning. Stewart at 128.06 m.p.h. and man got on to the running board 137.21 m.p.h. respectively. This in a menacing manner, but she is the first time a woman has was able to push him off and
ever held a world's motoring, drive on.
It is quite clear that there are now prevalent forms of highway robbery which, while lacking in
HAMPER DESIGN.
Whitehall and the
Motor Cyclist.
·
MOTOR SHOWS.
Industry Must Move Forward.
SOLD TO BRITON.
Ford Trimotor Club Plane.
New York, Jan. 10. In a reference to the Motori
The Ford trimotor high-speed As an American instit Tan, the club plane exhibited at the recent Vehicles (Construction and Use)
automobile show is wit
un to International Aeronautical Exposi issued by the Ministry of Trans-have been levelled at it. Regulations which have been
stay, in spite of criticis that tion in Paris has just been sold to the Earl of Lovelace, prominent This conclusion is based on the British sportsman, W. B. Mayo, port, Motor Cycling prophesies that some of the regulations and definitions will seriously hamper support given to the thirty-first bead of the Aviation Division of annual national show by the au- the Ford Motor Company, announc- tomobile industry held here dur-led to-day. design.
Lord Lovelace, according to dia- "Others," Motor Cycling says, ing the last week. There are rea- "seem merely to be silly. For sons for it in the belief of the patches from Paris, is planning to example, was it really necessary automobile magnates.
take off in the new plane on a flight for the Ministry to specify that
to Tanganyika, British East Africa, motor cycles must be fitted with med up by R. H. Grant, Vice-Pre-where he will shoot elephants on pneumatic tyres? And was it sident of General Motors Corpora- his catates. His pilot will be the wise to lay down a definition of tion, in an interview after he had British flier, Captain Barnard, the the pneumatic tyre that will, al-seen the New York Show which Duchess of Bedford's famous pilot, most certainly, hamper inventors ended to-day.
who flew that titled sportswoman on her aeroplane tour
of Africa in their efforts to improve it?
"The Regulations are
A few of the reasons were sum-
+
HIRE CARS.
TRACTION CO.
Taximeters May Go to Increased Revenue and
Singapore.
Intoreating decisions in connec- tion with Singapore transport facilities were made at a meeting of Committee No. 1 of the Singa- pore Municipal Commissionera.
It was decided that the Registrar the of Vehicles shall, while on leave at Home, investigate further question of providing taximeters for hire cars, The Registrar will strictly enforce the standard fitness of hire cars.
of
It was recommended that notice be given that, after July 1, 1933 no more buses of old Ford Model (",") be licensed, on the under standing that buses scrapped may be replaced by modern vehicles to the same extent of seating capa
city.
ing space are two compartments, the forward one of them is for the stowage of trunks and other lug gage. Above it is a food storage compartment, equipped with vacuum cases. The rear compartment Is a well-equipped lavatory.
Distribution.
Gross revenue of the Singapore Traction Co, for the year to Sep- tember 30 last amounted to £196,527, compared with £174,047. Net profit shows an increase of £6,846 at £57,944. After appro- priating £4,576 (against £4,247) to debenture redemption, £3,000TM (same to writing off discount and commission on debenture -stock
and £18,000 (against £15,000) to depreciation and renewals, there is a diepesable balance of £35,725.
of 8 per cent. (against 7 per cent.) It is proposed to pay a dividend on the seven per cent. cumulative preference on account of arrears, leaving arrears of 10 per cent. This will require £16,000 and car- ries with it a like sum to the man- Shanghai Electric Construction Co. The carry-for- ward is £3,725, compared with £3,357 brought in.
agers,
the
Again, why does the Minister Recently, the National Automo-last year. think it proper to put forward a bile Chamber of Commerce decid- The Earl of Lovelace comes of an series of rules that have for theired to find out if new models are ancient titled British family, the ultimate effect the total prohibi- being introduced too frequently first of the name having been Baron |- Outstanding performances were made by J. Dunfee, P. K. Bamber Lion of the drawing of trailers by far the good of the industry and King, according to Burke's peerage. the public. The question inter- The present Earl of Lovelace, and D. Frey, who captured six-motor cycles?
locks with that of the status of Lionel Fortescue
King, D.S.0. teen records all at over 100 m.p.li.
dis-the Automobile Show, because aur- Viscount Ockham, Baron King and in Class D and E on Sunbeam appointing. They exhibit merely veya made independently indicate Baron Ockham, has large estates in cars, the best speed being 126.09 the desire to restrain and restrict; that between 40 and 50 per cent. of Surrey.
During the year new trolley for the kilometre. J. Cobb's they lack any indication of en- the new jobs are brought forward Lord Lovelace's new plane is
bús routes were opened with a three records in International couragement. And it is
during Automobile Show periods, fitted luxuriously and contains ap-
Lights are diamond-shaped, fitted total distance of approximately Class A at over 129 m.p.h. on a couragement that this country In talking about these matters, pointments which made it a central with opal glass, and mounted above two route miles. At the date of Delage are also noteworthy, as and its harassed citizens need at Mr. Grant speaks in the light of attraction at the Paris Show. It the Beats, to facilitate reading. the accounts there were in opera- are S. C. H. Davis' thirteen long this juncture of our history. Nor distance Class H records in one do they reveal any practical grip, experience that goes back through is similar in type to the Ford club interier metal fittings are plated tion 24.28 miles of trolley bus the years that he served as head of planes used by many American with chromium. Trays may be fix-route (of which 7.83 miles are day on a 7 h.p. Austin at over 80
on the part of their authors, of the Chevroict merchandising organ-business
to facilitate their ed to the arm men
rests of the seats, traversed by motor omnibuses the subjects involved. On the isation. Prior to that, Mr. Grant business tours about the United for writing, reading, or serving also) and 18.58 miles of motor
Traffic receipts. contrary, they show to what had his initial training in the cash States.
lunch, while a large table, which omnibus route. lengths the bureaucratic mind can register field, from which he came The plane is equipped with six may be mounted on the arms of the for the current year show a small go when it is allowed to run riot to general motors.
reclining chaire, richly upholstered two pairs of facing seats, may be increase compared wiith the cor- The Minister, for example, has
"Yos," he said, "I am a believer in steel grey silk moire, piped with used for bridge, writing reports or responding period of the year just
ended. thought fit to commit to print a
The external surfaces of the regulation providing that the in the Automobile Show, and parti-silver grey leather, and a six-foot map study,
with an overcoat of green. The wings and fuselage are aluminised. entire weight of the vehicle is cularly the national exhibitions held divan upholstered in red leather
PITY THE POOR MOTORIST., transmitted directly to the road annually in New York and Chicago. re-surface by circular wheels, Un- This is because the attendance has tatter harmonises with the sidewall The windows are of the solid type, employment figures may rise like Indicated from year to year over a trim, which is of heavy silk of a fitted with adjustable ventilators. a rocket; the bottom may fall out long period, that the public interest coral rust shade, done in modernis The plane is fitted with the new Referring to the glut of regula- tie design.. A similar fabric of high-speed equipment including tions now being issued The Motor of our trade and Whitehall puts la there.
shades of peach blended with grey ring cowls on the outboard motors, says: "What motorists are suf- a positive ban upon wheels that
"Naturally, I am interested in is used for the celling trim. The wheel "pants" and stream-lined fering from to-day is acute re- the intention is to deter us from the public interest because I am in-floor is covered with a carpet of landing gear. Among the naviga-gulationary hemiplegia, alternat-
terested in selling automobiles; and walnut shades.
tion Instrumenta is an earth induc- ing with chronic inflammation of rlding about in tanks."
it is easier to sell something that In the rear of the passenger seat- tor compase.
the schedulitis!" there is a natural, spontaneous public interest in. If the public already is interested, naturally one docs not have to go out ДА 冉 salesman to create it. This is tt hardest part: of selling some types of products."
"To what extent," Mr. Grant was asked. "Can shows be credited with atimulating the manufacture and sale of cars?"
cord.
those touches of the romantic im- villainous in intent, and all parted to the profession in the motorists. particularly women days of Claude Duval, are being drivers, are justified in being on planned with a subtlety that is guard.
are oval or square! Presumably
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"Well," was his answer, "the psychological reaction of the public for one thing indicates the extent to which new interest has been rekindled in the industry from year to year. The annual shows have helped to increase automobile manu- facturing, volume materially, but by just what per cent, nobody will ever know.
"The shows too, have the effect of renowing the energy of the en- gineering, production and sales forces of the factories. They are Chus afforded an opportunity to see each other and each other's pro- ducts and to draw inspiration there- from.
A Wonderful Stimulation. "The dealers as well feel the same stimulus and benefit by it. The shows put on throughout the coun- try by the dealer associations are a wanderful contribution to the con- stant stimulation the industry is given."
On the question of new model introduction and its frequency, Mr. Grant said the industry must move forward whenever engineering and design have something worth while to contribute.
"The frequency of model chang. ing" he said, "for the best inter- este of everybody concerned, has probably been overdone by some makers. Model changes must take place in the course of progress, but the best of business judgment should be used and the interests of everyone concerned the public; the dealer and the manufacturer should be taken into consideration.
"To my mind, it is a mistake to try to stimulate the industry by merely putting a new overcoat on a car but if new designs have been created in new style which la dis- tinctly more pleasing, or if en gineers, have worked out mechan- isma to make cars easier to handle and more comfortable to ride in then it la to the interest of the aublid to get the beneft of this -progressant proper intervals of
Grant added that the trend ufacturers, among all
quent model
BALLOON TYRES
ARE OBSOLETE
·KILLED BY A NEW PRINCIPLE
THE NEW.
AIR-FLIGHT
PRINCIPLE TYRES BY
FISK
MEANS MORE
mileage
OBTAINAB
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