HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1931.
SPARKS
FROM THE PLUGS
SOME NOVELTIES IN MODERN MOTORS. THE LIGHTER SIDE. MODERN DRIVERS'
OLD METHODS IN NEW GUISE.
SUCCESS OF AN ITALIAN EXPERIMENT.
Motor practice swings in a circle, | equipped with radio sets which had. so that the investigator of novelties to be self-contained as no outside finds frequently old methods in a new guise, writes Mr. Thornton Rutter the London. Maruing. Just motoring correspondent. Today we see more battery and coil ignition on various makes of cars than the magueto. True, these are high ten
sources of energy were "permitted. Sperd was not the object of this. competition as that was limited to 22 to 28 miles an hour average, ac- cording to the site of the motor.
As we may have a similar com-
The following "humour." has been taken from the Wheel, Stude- baker's "freewheeling maga: zine:-
"The Early Bird."" John was never an early bird at the office. One morning his boa exclaimed: "Late again. Have you ever done anything on time?"
"Yes, sir," was the meek but prompt reply, "I purchased a
car."Motorland,
***Thanking."
"Where's the car, Dad" asked the son of an absent-minded pro-
fessor.
"Why, dear me, I really don't know," he said, scratching his head
FAULTS.
SELFISH AND OVER-
CONFIDENT MOTORISTS,
MALVOT
During 'n freent train journey, the News
writes Chiltern Ha
Chronicle, my companion, a British traffic expert, was rather severe on slow-moving car drivers, and said a number of traffic chiefs were with him in desiring a minimum speed limit as & means to relieve trafic
congestion,
plotely forgetting their training behaving like mild hooligans at the wheels of cars.
To take a few of the varieties of thoughtlessness" and selfishness so often encountered nowadays.
There is the man who drives well. away from the left-hand side où a main road at 28-30 miles an hour. It is his idea of safety. He may be right, but by doing this he in eelfishly making a road that should hold four linea of traffic a two-line, or perhaps a three-line, highway,
He forces others who want to get on to wait and the hasty to take the risk of overtaking him on the
rion in place of the old low tension Petition one day in England, it may in an effort to recall. the pastchool which thinks the standard or bad does," Cars behind him take up
system, but the principle is the ramé-electricity for sparking plugs provided by the battery-as in the "original sparking plug feeder of 30
years ago.
...¡
be of interest to note how the Italians organised this cross-country ovent guided by wireless messages.
The entrants from the various
Italian cities and elsewhere were
divided into two groups, A and B.
were
"Did I take it out!"
"You certainly did. You drove it downtown this morning,"
Well, now, that is quite remark able," said the professor, I re-
member now that after I got out
tleman who had given me the "lift
Last week I tested the new 20h.p. six-cylinder Sunbeam saloon, rated At a given hour in the early morn-1 turned 'round to thank the gen for tax purposes at 23.8 h.p. This ing direction instructions new car has an excellent and high-broadcast to the various groups. A and wondered where he had gone class motor, developing a road speed group of one city being directed to-Detroit Motor News. of over 80 miles an hour if desired. n'point different from that ordered
for B group."
I actually travelled at that pace for a few miles, and the steering was as comfortable and as steady as at 20 miles an hour.
I
!
"Rumble. Sent."
"
Is Harry good company1" "Good company! Bay, that boy can make you forget you're in a
"Assembling,"
Further instructions were shortly afterwards sent out by radio so that competitor numero 9" for exam-rumble seat!" The novelty, however, in this new ple would he ordered to a different model is the system of fitting steel point from that originally instruct- linors in the cast-iron cylinders ined, and similar counter-ordere were order to get the highest possible efficiency from the aluminium alloy pistons.
The tourist rushed into the coun- broadcast to other individual com-try store. "I wanna quart of oil, some gas, a couple of spark plugs, petitors. Instructions ordering ver. tain care to stop for a given interval & timer, a five-gallon kerosene can, were also sent out by wireless.
and four pie tins."
want to."
"Damming,”
Here, again, the "wheel" bus
"All righty," replied the enter In order to vary the fun of diivprising elerk," " and you can as- turned round, and the systent of cylinder linera has been revived from ing by directional wireless, graina semble 'er in the back room if you the practice applied to agricultural phone records were played and motors twenty years ago, and broadcast, and the competitors were brought up-to-date. Cast-iron lihers expected to take a note of the nunt were the original idea. Then gero-ber of the recording discs, the name plane engines developed steel liners, of the piece played, the artist or and now the Sunbeam Company artists and the opera from which the have applied this system to their music was taken. latest "twenty?”
The result is a much improved eu-. gino Rapid acceleration and high speeds are attained in a few seconds. No doubt the seven bearings of the crankshaft help to provide an en- gine entirely free from periodic vibrations, giving extremely silent, smooth-running at all engine speeds, but the increased power developed can be credited to the new steef diners.
Advice to Competitors. Messages, were also broadcast and
Lady (at busy corner): Isn't it wonderful how a single policeman can dam the flow of traffic?
Her escort: Yes, but you should hear some of the motorists that are held up-Boston Transcript.
"Tree Air." "Ja.there any truth in the report these had to be taken down verthai Angus MacTavish bought the
corner filling station1"
-batim
"Well, I don't know for sure, but the free air' sign has been taken. down."
Detailed maps of, cách section of Italy, with milenges from town to town, were furnished to enel som petitor, so that they were aware of- the exact distance to be covered after receiving direction instruc tions on their radio sets, and were aiso able to calculate the exact time when their destination should be reached at their scheduled con- A DEVICE TO SIMPLIFY petition speed.
2. J
Small Bonewal Cost.
Marcover, these are easily renewed should by chance a cylinder wear unequally. Also such a renewal Entries from those towns far die would cost only a very small sum tant from the capital were given two and is an economical method of days to reach Romne, while those in maintenance-
the vicinity of that city completed their reliability test run in one day
Comfort to a high degree is pro- vided for the passengers in cho now
as their allotted time,
"SEEING ROUND
CORNERS."
ADJUSTMENTS TO INAC- CESSIBLE PARTS,
Every motorist who works at all. on his own car has at some time experienced difficulty with a inau- cessible nut or other part that can not be seen directly, owing to its 20-h.p. Sunbeam saloon, ooting That as many as 600 care could position. Especially does this ap 8775. It travels particularly easily take part in this reliability run as ply to the contact points ou some without jolt or jar to the occupants & test of car, radio set, and driving machines fitted with magneto igni at all speeds, high or low, without ability, will possibly
1.
tion. A common procedure in such
surprise
uny swaying or rolling when round. British motorists.. I think that this ing corners, I can thoroughly recom. directional wireless touring is an mend it as a high class carriage.
excellent iden to amuse the passen. gers' in a car, as usually it is the
circumstances is to employ a small
mirror. In the direction of aini-
plifying cperations of this kind,
A great effort is now proceeding driver, who gets all the fun out of the Mirrorlite really meets a de
to persuade motor manufacturers to competitions. In this
standardize a wireless set as part
the pas
mand of long-standing. It consists
sengers also played an important of a small mirror, held in a light and parcel of the car's equipment role in taking the messages and reframe which incorporates a Bush cording them on the official sheet lamp battery, a bulb and a neat
In England so far, only the cara belonging to New Scotland Yard's special squad are fitted with re- ceiving wireless outfits.
to be handed in at the end of the watch.
Petition
When the bulb is switched on light is provided to illuminate the Tyres play a very important part inaccessible component, whatever Under the auspices of the Royal in all touring and other forms of it may be, so that it can be clearly Italian Automobile Club, the Turin motoring. To-day the low prices seen in the mirror. Thus is the Automobile Club organised, a few ruling for rubber and other comwork facilitated. There am other úsen to which this devid which weeks ago, a unique motor race in modities have enabled the Britishicouts the modest sum of 31 com- which the participants were guided Goodyear Company to announce plate, and, is made by Martines, by directions broadcast from the new and exceptionally moderate Frias and Watson, Ltd., 2-3, Golden prices for their well-known range of stance, it can be used as an ins Square, WI.-may be, put; for in Home wireless station. The race Pathhader covers. These are bepection lamp, and offers advantages ended with the arrival in Rome of lieved to represcut the lowest cost to feminino passengers in facilitat from all parts of at which tyres of this quality haveing those nishing touches to the complexionat night!The Mirror available to motoristsite possesses the merits of extrace any Summer holiday runs on then simplicity; replacement batteries covers should leasen motoring excost od. each, and can be obtained wherever electrical supplies are availablo
some 800 cars Italy
Sote of the competitors.
verboen....
came fro
All
cars were pensos
Yugoslavi
showed that he belonged to the.
driving nowadays bad.
He predicted a time when trunk roads in Britain would all have a white line or other dividing device keeping each line of traffic separate from the other, with a section set apart for vehicles driven at less than 30 m.p.h.
I believe be is right in regard to arterial roads being divided into oneway pathe for traffic.
cara bonnet to tail
who hung on to the man's tail were Some may say that the motorists thoughtless also, because they ought to leave a space of two car lengths between the car in front of them so that they could overtake the easier when conditions allowed..
FUELS.
youth rushes up on the wrong side EXCELLENT MODERN of the road and then, realising the difficulty, bores into the line, forcing one car to brake harshly and, with the driverjunable to give any signal, three or four cars behind becoma j involved in a minor crash.
Another curios act of thoughtless pest most prevalent now
now is that of driving on the wrong side of the rond at corners whether there are white lines or not.
A Poor Excuse,
FINEST PETROL IN THE WORLD.
The British taxed more heavily than are the arist, who is
motorists of any other country, can at any rate congratulato himself upon a distinction of a more pleas ing character, namely, that he is supplied with the world's best motor fuels. The various branded
successful in fulfilling these difficult
If tackled with this dangerous rudeners he would probably say ha was avoiding the reverse cambor, left-hand side or to go over to the
but the modern car will take reverse. He was also rather severe in his long side of the road in passing,
cambers safely at higher speeds than petrols now available throughout remarks about 'modern drivers, and If this does not happen through the average man travels..
Great Britain have achieved a de-" his selfishness, something equally
Under the Road Traffic Act, ignor-gres of excellence and consistency station on his tail until 20 or moreing a white line can bring about a which reflect great credit upon those are held up, for no one without the Prosecution for dangerous driving, who organize their préparation, acceleration of a racing car dare and the police of many counties will blending and distribution. risk overtaking a line of five or six probably this summer give a court | Everyone will agree that the leeron to many such offenders. petrol companies have been highly
Qucation any motorist and he will requirements so that modern British
Then there are the *cross-roads."
readily reply that accidents should engines which, as a class, develop be avoided at all coste, but, judging more power per litre than those from observations at cross-roads and made in other countries, can never rond junctions at Whitsun, i theless run efficiently and without would seem that not all motorists detonation upon potrol from the |hold that view.
pump." Neither have other desir-i What is the singular psychological able features been neglected such as change that sets in when a man cleanliness and the volatility needed takes over the Wheel of a car for easy starting. & GAR
For this reason it is false economy Talk to him away from his car and he will say that a
go to purchase other than reputed crossing or road junction of any kind must be branded fuels. Cheap spirit may taken at a speed at which another be kerosene adulterated to the ex- motorist doing a reckless thing tent of 10 to 20 per cent, dilution. could be avoided. cft is fortunals for the consumer But how many do approach thrac that the reputable oil concerns may crossings and junctions with their be relied upon to supply branded The traffic, for some reason or minds concentrated on the possi fuels which are scientifically blend- either-a_narrow bridge or an ab- bility of meeting the unexpected 11ed to meet engine requirements in struction on the road-forces ail With the holiday season begin-every respect, and to guarnated that docent motorists to move in a jamh ning, the highway is to place for their fuels do not contain admix- at slow speed when some bright thoughtlessness or selfishness.
Nor do I agree with him that the standard of driving is bad now- days, though bad he said that much, of the present-day, driving was so thoughtlessly relaxed as to be dau gerous, I would have agreed with him.
Thoughtlessness, over-confidence, and selfishness in driving I believe to be responsible for a considerable part of the road trouble of to-day,
Like Mid Hooligans,
Week-enda and holiday, times are the periods when these three faults are mostly displayed. Then, oue secs cultured men and women, com-
Intrusion.
But if they did, some hasty driver would come along and, in an at- tempt to overtake, would 11 the space, possibly to save himself from a trash with an oncoming car, the speed of which he had misjudged.
Another example of selfish rade nces is experienced in every traffic held-up every week-end on roads to popular seaside placca.
NOW COMING
tures of kerosene,
CADLO LAKER
MODEL 522c!
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In town, owing to the silent running, the third gear may be kept almost continually engaged thus affording a lightning acceleration.
On the open road the silent third speed which is easily engaged in the high engine speed affords the most pleasant possibility of driving on hills, on curves and when overtaking.
FIAT 522C
522c Saloon 5 Seater de luxe $4,800.
For Service:
7
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FIAT GARAGE:
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