Page
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1932.
SPARKS
FROM THE PLUGS
AN ISLAND PARADISE FOR EIGHT H.P. FORDS.
MOTORISTS, 20 horsepower. I pay £3 á star
CAR TAX £3, PETROL CHEAP: FREE GARAGING
By NORMAN. RAE.
London, Aug. 6.-"I have found
tax and 24 d. for a driving licence,
an
I do not insure it. I have driven
and years
I have! for 19
hadTM never
accident, Pe trol is cheap, I pay 31. a week for garage accommodation. I have never been cautioned, let alone sum moned. If I am shopping. I leave my car in the street. If I am go-1 ing to the pictures. I: garage it free
A RECENT PACKARD MODEL.
London, July 31.-Ford Moter Company an ounces that deliveries of the Ford 8 h.p. car from the Dagenham Works will begin in August, and that production will start with the "Tudor" Baloon, price £120 at works.
Although the Packard Light
MOTOR VEHICLE WORLD: CENSUS.
AUTOMOBILES DECREASE SLIGHTLY DURING YEAR.
ACCUMULATED NEED OF AUTOMOBILES
THROUGHOUT WORLD.
22
New York. An increase of nearly per cent in automobiles owned in foreign countries during 1031 failed ito offset a decrenés, of 2.8 per cent.
States, with the result that the world's ownership of automobiles dropped to 38,363,307 as of Janu-
The United States continued in first MOTORING HINTS.
plies, with a' ratio of 1 automobile! for every 4.77 persons; Hawaii was again second, with 1 to 7; Canada and New Zealand once more tied for third place, with 1 to 8; Aus- tralia fallowed again in fourth place, with a ratio of 1 vehicle to 12 persoan as against 1 to 11 in 1931; the Principality of Monaco, of infinitesimal importance as a market, was nevertheless fifth among all countries in density of motor ization, with 1 car for every 14 inhabitants; France had 1 for every
the owner-driver's Paradise. Potrol at any garage, Garage proprietors Eight came out at the New York in registrations in the United 20 per cent. of the automobiles are 24 persons,
mod, and 11d; a gallon, a tak of £3 a year, driving licences cost ing half a crown a year-these ars some of the joys, of the island of Jaracy.
Not by any means have exhaust. ! ed the joys of my present trip, Fresh from Lordón town, I was met on the quayside by a friend who drives a similar car to my own,, We halted at a wayside potrol fill- ing station, where he filled up at 1ld, per gallon.
A Comparison.
I thought hard for a few moments,
and then we compared zotes. My car costa £20 a year in Road Fund `tax, £24 a year in insurance; petrol costs le. 4d, a gallon, garage no commodation in towns about 153.
a week.
garage cars free in the hope that they will gain our petrol; oil and other custom.'
year
Motor Show, production was not started still some time later, and it is only recently that the model has been introduced into England 1, 1939-a decline of 2,235, or 1.5 per cent, from the preceding 7:000 Lmoky Motorikts,-
It is a remarkable car in many Although this Island of Jersey in ways, and well preserves the high only twelve miles by seven in ex-standard, associated with the name tent there are 500 miles of roads,
Seven thousand lucky motorists: have registered their cars in St. Helier.
There is no speed limit, for the absence of any really fast stretches of road brings the gener- al speed down to a maximum of
about 30 miles an hour.
income of the owners. In Germany it is estimated that 20,900 cars and 10,800 trucks have been withdrawn from cireulation; in Brazil about
estimated to be inactiva; in Italy the estimates range from 25 to 33 per cent. of passenger cars and 10 per cent. of trucks; in New Zealand buses and 7,40% trucks as "dor- official figures show 22,162 cars, 197
mant, although registered.
population in all countries outside The combined ratio of cars to the United States was 1 to 201. as compared with 1 to 200 in the pre. ceding conkus
Tracks and 'Buses Continue to Increase.
MYSTERIOUS NOISES.
I view of the multitude of parts. that go to the making of a car and the almow innumerable joints, etc., that necessarily occur in the body- work, it is not surprising that my sterious noises-mysterious as to their cause and source-not infre quently arise on all mankes and models. Many, if not most, of them can be prevented from occurring, though not all in this category can be cured in the same way by syɛ-. gun and oil-con tematic and frequent use of grease-
Prevention is better than cure, in this matter as in others, if only be cause dismantling may be necessaTY to stop squeak that has developed through lack of regular lubrication; fresh Jubricant applied whe
needed.
It is not suggested that the esti- The decrease in wld ownership lengthy neglect has caused the old mates for these countries are ap of automobiles in 1001 occurred grease or oil to congeal in the bear- plicable to all others. It is known entirely in passenger cars. Of ang grooves, etc., will not be able that no such condition exists in world figure of 35,283,307 automoto reach the point at which it is, such markets as England, France, įbiles on January 1, 1902, passenger
Process of Elimination. and many other countries; in others cars numbered 20,201,172, a 1.1 per
Many of the noises in a car can the extent of withdrawals from cent, loss during the year. Trucks operation is probably as great as totalled 5,009,441, an increase of 1.4 only be located by a process of eli indicated above. Many of the per cent. 'buses, 362,784, a gain of mination. Thus, if one suspects. automobiles temporarily withdrawn 6 per cent. Of 8,377,044 automo- that a rattle arises from one of the from operation throughout the biles in countries outside the United doors, each door in turn should be world will, of course, later he re- States, passenger cars numbered, opened an inch or so by a passenger turned to circulation or replaced 16,870,022, a drop of 0.9 per cent.; whet the noise is heard to note whe- by new vehicles. These temporarily trucks, 2,143,133, an increase of 4.5 ther it continues or ceases while the inactive vehicles will, when return per cent.; and buses, 263.894, a door is apart from the framing of
late the demand for new automo- ed to circulation, be outmoded and gain of 7.4 per cent, less efficient, which should stimu- biles to replace them. Thus, the removal of automobiles from cir- cuintion, though nu unsatisfactory development at present, is not en- effect upon the demand for replace
Cumulative Need Suggested, Apart from its eight cylinder-in- The Agures of this. census reflect line engine and syschro-mesh gear the impairmont of the world's change with spirally cut wheels for motor-transport. facilities by the all the forward gears, it has the continuation of adverse economie latest innovation-namely, power conditions: but they also suggest control of the clutch with automa- the development of an unusual need tic free-wheeling. The principle, of automobiles, which should great which adds to safety, reduces exy stimulate market activity when conditions improve materially, Until recently there were as many penditure, and makes much of the | French and American cars as Bri-driving of the car, automatic, is Reports from dozens of countries tish on the Jersey roads. During cubtedly be one of the chi automobiles and, in some cases, likely to become universal and will reveal, the greatly prolonged, use of the last few months British-made features it our next Motor Show.
1. The general, scheme of power con- their substitution by obsolete and cars have gained in public favour.trol of the clutch, coupled with au- less efficient means of transporta- Cars up to about 12 horse power are tomatic free-wheeling, need not betion. This backward stop can only the most popular, this despite the described here, but it may be anid ifact that there is no horsepower tax to discourage the purchase of big gerengined vehicles.
ments.
that on this Packard the change be regarded as a temporary conditiraly so in the light of the future control of the clutch with free lowed by a pronounced trend in the from the orthodox drive to power tion and will undoubtedly be fol- wheeling is effected in the simplest way possible damely, by moving a other direction. small red button lever on, the top of the steering wheel with one fing-
Every time I park my car, if only to buy a packet of cigarettes, sumb attendant or official has to be tip- ped a sixpence unless I risk a sum
Sales of automobiles, like those muns for obstruction. If I am to what is known as ride-control, byer. Thus the bogy of free-wheeling of almost every other commodity, be longer than hour I must put, which the resistance of the hydrau--the absence of the engine as a have dropped sharply in the United
le shock absorbers can be varied pensica set according to the tyne of road being travelled on at the moment. This Packard in a fast car which is clean in its design and in its running. The Times..
my car in a garage. The last time I did so I was charged 3. d.
My friend, a native of the island, was amazed. He told me his story
"My car," he said, "is one of
from the driver's sent and the sus normal transmission is available at
continues.
Brake is laid, because locked and States and abroad during the past any time by merely dicking the red year and longer but the need of button an inch into a lower posi- motor transportation tion. Another feature-also likely In many countries this need in to find widespread adaption-is greater than the existing supply of (Continued on" Previous Column.)
MOTORDOM PRESENTS
For Service
FIAT GARAGE: 950, Hennessy Road.
- TBL – 24821.
THE NEW 1932
FIAT
21č
6 cyllader 22ċ
6 cylinder
· It's a splendid car for the money. as you'll find on the road-a car to be proud of. Built on lithe, graceful lines with a motor that hae "guts its a wonderful buy. at the price.
PRICED FROM $2,850:00
AGENTS:
A. GOEKE @ CO.
SPARE PART, DEPARTMENT
CHINĂ BUILDING.
TELEPHONE 22221,
Showr
FIAT QARAGE: 850, Hennessy Road,
T24821
automobiles, which is not being re- plenished because of reduced pur- chasing power of the public or be cause of other less tangible in- fluences.
Changes in Number of Automobiles, by Gountries.
The drop in registratious in the United States, with its predomin- ant share of the world's automo- biles, was naturally the outstand-
ing influence in the decline shown by the current world census. Among the other important automotive markets there was no especial con- stency from a geographic stand- point in the changes, upward or downward, in the ownership of automobiles, Among European countries, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Sweden, Den- mark, Italy, Switzerland, Czecho- slovakis, and Irish Free State all showed a larger number, while Germany, Austria, Spain, and Fin- land registered decreases. In the
Western Hemisphere, Canadaj Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Cuba,. Moxico, and Peru had fewer auto- mobiles, while Chile and Venezuela. had more. In the Far East, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippine Islands showed in- crosses; Australia, British Malaya, British, India, and Netherland Indía, registered decreases. South Africa and Boviet Russia showed gains
Thesg increases in the ownership of automóbiles in many countries, even in the face of most: adverse. business conditions, are a further indication of the fendcity with which motor-vehicle owners cling to this mode of transportation.
Cansus Discloses Temporary With drawalsynes
from Operation.
In preparing the current world oendus, it had been found nécóssáry. to distinguish between the posses sion and the registration of auto- mobiles This study is based on reports of official registration Bgurer or best available estimates of the ownership of automobiles in 1160 nations, possessions, and depen- dencies Many of these reporte indicate that some of the automo- biles owned in the regions covered are not actually registered and in operation because of the reduced.
One Automobile for Every 56.5 Persons,
The world ratio of automobiles to population declined slightly in 1901, are they bob, persons as cord pared with 1 to 54 a year before.
|
the body. Doubt will sometimes. arise as to whether a knock or other noise has its source in the engine or the transmission; the doubt can often be removed by coasting is. some detail of the engine is pro- neutral: If then the noise ceases, bably the culprit; if it continues, the transmission may be suspected."
! American-Type Automobiles 66.3 Per Cant, of Tòtal.
and official reporte, 56.3 per cent. According to careful estimates of all automobiles in the world; as disclosed by the census, were of American origin or type (design). A rattle seeming to arise from the The percentage shown by the pre- seattle may be located by the front coding survey was 87.8. According, passenger leaning forward and put- to types of vehicles the American · sing his hand, or one or two fingers, charo was as follows: Passenger, on any wires, rods, levers, etc., ho cars, 87.9 per cent (80.3 in Janucah feel there. He may identify the ary. 1001); trucks, 79.8 (84.8 in detail at fault by the noise ceasing Doll) 5, 60.8 (50.3 in 1031) when he touches it. Commerce Reports,
#Continued on Page-3,)
TRUST A THORnycroft With Your TraNSPORT
DEAL DIRECT
THORNYCROFT
SIX-CYLINDERED
COACHES & OMNIBUSES
MOTOR VEHICLES
Pioneer Manufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles
Full Range of Spares carried in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
4 or 6 Wheels
4 or 6 Cylinders
30 Cwt. to 10 Ton Loads
20 to 70 Passengers
JOHN I. THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED,
Pioneer Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon.
TEL. 56752.
| TRUST A THORNYCROFT WITH YOUR TRANSPORT