SERVICE
REAL SERVICE
Latest Machinery Expert Mechanics. European Supervision
MAY WE SERVICE
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1930.
MOTOR NOTES.
Farcical Trials of Motoring
Offenders,
In a recent issue The Motor pub lished an article which is contribut ed by a legal authority and deals
YOUR CAR? with a subject of the greatest in
NO JOB TOO SMALL. NO PROBLEM TOO INTRICATE.
MAIN SERVICE STATION
10. CROSS LANE 0.3193
WANCHAI
KOWLOON CAMERON RD.
THE PEAK PEAK GARAGE
K.1624
portance to motor owners. For a
very long time motorists have suffered from the existing system of trial before the "Great Unpaid "— that is Justices of the Pence, the great majority of whom have minda entirely untrained from the legal point of view, and who are too
Should 17-Year-Old Girls Drive?
Referring editorially to a reader who asked whether it would be wise to allow his 17-year-old daugh ter to drive his car, The Light Ear
and Cycle-car says: "There is not the least reason why he should have any compunction in the matter. Youngsters of 14 have always been allowed to ride motorcycles, and to
Has the Motor-Cycle Reached.
Perfection?. Reviewing the development, of atur Cycling remarks that engines the motor-oycle during recent years, and transmission systems are now. above reproach from the point of view of reliability, and the average. motor-cycle possesses all the speed and power required for normal riding; its performance can be com- pared, in fact, only with that of An extremely expensive car Vastly improved steering, and extremely effective braking systems, have given the motor-cyclist a degree of safety in his riding unknown in
former
years.
drive cars when they have reached 17, yet accidents due to their reck lessness or negligence have been almost unheard of, me a depato-
Better addles, often actuated by motives of pre-tion of MLPs mentioned to Mr. larger tyres, and improvements in judico rather than by judicial im Herbert Morrison in the House of comfort. The modern motorcycle suspension, minister to his greater partiality.
Commons-a sequel to
too, is in its best examples, silent. meeting of MPs when it was All this has been achieved, it must
greed that no case had been made be remembered, in spite of out for raising the minimum age general towering of prices. The for motor-cycle driving licences-motor-cycle is now-a-days essential- by a practicable and serviceable
A recent
The remedy for this unsatisfac tory state of things, in the opinion of the writer of the article, is the P. 208 appointment of stiprings of understatie is no evidence to justify the
IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY
C. 3193
LANE, CRAWFORD,LB
trates to try motoring cffenders belief that young people are neces
The suggestion." remarks Thesarily less desirable as drivers than Motor, is well worthy of serious their elders. consideration. The present system has not improved to any great ex- tent during all the years of motor development, and it is still Rcandal that motorists are so often convicted after hearings that are farcical from the fact that bina and ineptitude combine in so many CROCS to defent the ends of justice.
We believe that motorists would have less reason for dissatisfaction and would feel more confident that their cases would be fairly tried, if they had to appear before a magistrate with a mind legally trained and accustomed to sifting and considering evidence judicial
MODERN MOTOR SERVICE|||ly."
CAR FOR YOUR
· LEAVE ?
LEAVE CARS
-LTD.
7,Upper St. Martin's Lane,
London, W.G. 2.
WILL, BURPLT YOU WITH ANY MAKE OF CAM.
New or Second-hand. All cars sold with a 'definite re-purchase guarantee if required. Cars shipped to all parts Deferred Payments to suit your convenience.
Under the Patronage of FIELD-MARSHAL
573 WILLIAM BIRDWOOD,
BART, G.C.B., E Commander-in-Chief in India.
SIL JOHN L. MAFFEY, K.G.V.O., Etc.,
Governor-General of Bada
BILIGADIER-GENERAL
518 JOSEPH A. BYRNE, K.1.E, Etc.
Governor of Sierra Leone. |
WHITE FOR BOOKLET.
Local Agents:
J. H. BACKHOUSE & CO.
CRATER ROAD.
Car Registration Farce.
|
The control of a car in these busy days calls for a sense of res ponsibility to the general public and the exercise of judgment and nimble wits. Who dare say that the rising generation does not make up in the last two respects for any. thing which it may be lacking in the former 1 Boys and girls of are quite likely to be far safer and more competent drivers than their grandfathers, but whilst the law and public opinion appear to have no quarrel with the senile mind which puts on its brakes too late, it has its doubts as to the proficiency of youth. It was ever thus; youth striving "to assert itself and age smugly erecting barriers in its path".
Avoiding London Traffle.
company's officials from Charing Cross, London, down the Thames te Dagenham, where immense new motor-car building works are now in course of erection.
Early this week," says The Light Car and Cycle-car, "' a daily, The construction of a fast cabin paper had a fine tale to tell of how launch for the Ford Motor Co. is car thieves go about their busi reperted in The Motor Boat. The nes of thwarting the good inten-craft will be used to convey the tions which brought into being the registration book scheme. It acems from this story that organized car thieves simply obliterate.engine and chassis numbers, fake new numbers. and get one of their representatives to register the stolen car as a new model, producing evidence of good faith in the form of a receipted invoice from a spurious firm of motor traders. As everyone knows, however, this is not by any means the only way in which dishonest people can ride rough shoil over the alleged safeguards of the present method of car registration and, as everybody knows equally well, it would be difficult to the point per- haps of impossibility so to vary the regulations 45 to put any serious difficulty in the way of determined thieves.
If the authorities want to keep an accurate check on the cars in use and the folk who own them, they could surely do so in an ade quat manner without compelling is all to have in our possession a document which theoretically proves our possession of the car but which in point of fact does nothing of the kind. An excellent illustration of the stupidity of the whole system is provided by the fact that a de ferred-payment purchaser, although only hirer until completion, can produce his registration book. as apparent, albeit denied, evidence.. of ownership
The boat is 36 feet long and the her a speed of 24 m.p.h. It is 200 h.p.. engine installed will give therefore anticipated that the nine mile journey will occupy under half an hour, whereas, if the same trip is undertaken by road through the dense traffic of East London the time taken is almost invariably nearly two houra..
vehicle; a thing to use. Those in search of adventure can still find it, in plenty, in the sport. just as the staid and the non-athletic can obtain, in motor-cycling, the most economical form of transport that we possess.
NEW GAS.FOR MOTOR- CARS.
CHEAPER ROAD TRAVEL CLAIM.
a new high-pressure gas as a fuel Engineers are experimenting with
for motor-cars, which they claim will be cheaper than petrol.
It is intended eventually to sup ply this gas to motorists on the road from filling stations distribut ed throughout the country...
Experiments have been carried out at a north-country works, and it is expected that gas-making piants will shortly be erected at many pitheads which are to act as centres of distribution," said a leading gas engineer to a Press representative.
It is claimed that the new fuel will make it possible to eliminate petrol and remove the carbon monoxide peril. Pipes could be laid from the generators to filling stations,
"The gas is a high-pressure type, much cheaper than any other fuel. It can be made from any kind of coal, and used for almost any pur pope.
It can be carried in small con- tainera suffetent for a fifty miles journey,"
SIMPLE CAR-BUYING.
"FIRST" AND, RUNNING
COSTS.
My first direct experience of one of the ways of selling motor-cars occurred when I was a schoolboy, Writes Mr. George C. Stead. I was passionately interested in cars, and I had the regrettable habit of writing to manufacturers for their catalogues, although there was no hope of my purchasing one out of pocket money.
"
Judge of my borror one day when car arrived at the door and asked a large man with a large moter. for me by name. I retired to hid ing at the end of the garden until those in authority bad made the necessary explanations..
as his running costs throughout the year.
Preliminaries,
Before purchase, therefore, a cave- ful survey should be made of "all
USED CARS
FOR
SALE
ARROL-JOHNSTON TOURING
CAR,
1924 Model, 4-cylinder 15.9 h.p.. Miles 18,592 HK $600
financial resources, including both ARMSTRONG-SIDDELEY
EATON SALOON
capital and income. A figure can then be calculated representing the limit which can be paid for ars: 1928 Model, 6-cylinder, 20 h.p.
In Excellent Condition cost. A list of makes should be
HE. 83,200, drawn up coming within this limit, and particulars obtained from the manufacturers or agents regarding
CADILLAC 7-PASSENGER these which appear most suitable.
The outstanding features of the various cars should then be com pared on paper and the number of possibles" reduced to two or three..
The next important step is to have a trial ran on each of the cars
TOURING CAR,
1918 Model, 8-cylinder, 36.b.p., Miles: 54,532
EK. $560
in question, preferably under sim-HUPMOBILE TOURING CAR
1922 Model, 4-cylinder, 15/20 b.p., Miles: 31,960 H.K. $650
lar conditions. to those under which the car will be used. The prospec- tive purchaser having previously satisfied himself regarding the
will then be a position to form a personal opinion of its running.
I found afterwards that my letter been good) had been treated as a genuine inquiry from a prospective purchaser, and so both car and demonstrator had been despatched to show the excellences of the car to me, a mere schoolboy i
(surely my handwriting must have macal attractions of the or
I have recalled this incident to show how keen some firms are to sell their cars, and it gives" one reason why timorous, purchasers are diffident concerning writing for details, owing to the fear that silver-tongued salesman will arrive Ed perauade them to buy before
they have really made up their
minds.
No Bad Dars.
Buying a satisfactory, car is a
matter very simple
nowadays. There is such keen competition be tween manufacturers that there is not the remotest possibility of buy ing a really bad car, while the pros pective purchaser can adopt & superior attitude and make his choice at his own convenience,
When embarking on the purchase. of a cur the two factors which must first be decided are: (1) The amount which should be laid out on the actual purchase, and (2) the aum which can be afforded yearly. for upkeep and overhead charges. First cost is by no means the more important of the two. Many a man has been able to purchase ́s car and has afterwards found that the upkeep is too great a drain on his resources,
If this plan is adopted the new owner can start his motoring with every confidence, as he will ensure that the car possesses features: which appeal to him, and also that it runs well-kn
Dost of Banning.
running, it must be
When budgeting for the cost of remembered that certain charges do not depend on the mileage covered, while others are in direct proportion to the use of the car. Among the fix
fed charges are the tax, insurance, efand, garage, while among the vari
The widespread popularity of pay as you drive schemes, has further complicated the problem.. as the buyer has to take into ae- count his periodic payments as well
ables are running costs, repairs
and replacements, and washing.
The prospective purchaser should, therefore, make an estimate of the approximate mileage which he, in- tends to cover during the year, and should then work out the figures. including both the fixed and the variable charges. He will thus obtain a fairly accurate idea of the amount which his car will cost him. apart from the purchase price and depreciation.
ADVICE FOR INVESTORS,
READERS are reminded
that inquiries relating to the share market are answered, on page 11 every. Tuesday by Kufan! Let ters should be sent to this office, and must be accom panied by writer's name and address, not for publication. Letters should be addressed to "Eufan," care of the. Editor.
MINERVA TOURING CAR, 1924 Model, 26 b.p.. Miles: $2,204 HK 8800. STUDEBAKER SPECIAL SIX
:: SEDAN
1921 Model, 6-cylinder, 29 b.p., Miles: 38,000 Thoroughly re-conditioned.
H.K $900 STUDEBAKER STANDARD SIX TOURING CAR 1926 Model, 6.cylinder, 27.84 h.p., Miles: 18,229
HK$1.150.
STUDEBAKER DIRECTOR SIX TOURER 1927 Model, 6-cylinder, 27.34 h.p., Miles: 28,000. HK $1,250.
THE
HONGKONG HOTEL GARAGE,
25, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL. Tel. Central 4758.
A youth when charged at Mary- lebone, W., with stealing a motor- car pleaded that he took it only for a ride. Oh, bosh!" said Mr. Bing ley, the magistrate. "Why were. you dismantling the car f The youth was sentenced to six months': modified Borstal treatment.
MICHELIN
THE NON-SKIDDING TYRE.
MICHELİN
Q
FIRST IN HONG KONG
??
1930 BRITISH MOTOR CYCLES
NORTON
MODEL NO. 18 4.90 HP,
"Unapproachable" as the machines have proved in the past, 1980 witnesses an even finer production in NORTON. Many important improvemente are embodied in the new NORTON designs including enclosed valve gear mechanism and push rods, detachable cover for Booker Box, improved arrangement of cylinder head layout, efficient silencer, and Chromium plating.
COME AND INSPECT IT AT
THE SINCERE Co., LTD.
SOLE AGENTS.
The
SEVEN TWO SEATER
The pleasing lines of this smart Two Seater give a sporting appearance and the colour schemes are attractive.
The wide doors give easy access to comfortable seats.
There is ample luggage space and the spare wheel included in equipment is reatly stowed away.
ARRANGE FOR A TRIAL RUN and you will find that the AUSTIN SEVEN TWO SEATER is a "nippy” and “patty" little job, with performance in line with its appearance.
ALEX. ROSS & COMPANY (CHINA), LTD.
HONG KONG AND KOWLOON.
HEAD OFFICE
PRINCES BUILDING.
HONG KONG
DEPOT:
CHATER ROAD,
Phone C. 2487.
Austin
Seven
KOWLOON
GARAGE:
SALISBURY ROAD,
Phoné:
K. 1486.
C. 222
Distributors:
A. GOEKE & Co, Tel.
China Building, 4th Floor, DEPOT FIAT GARAGE:
Tel. C. 4821. 67, Des Vœux Road Central. Tel: C. 4821.
give free tyre service to Michelin owners
at our De