Page
THE
*
GEARLESS"
CAR ARRIVES
CONTROLLED ONLY BY,
THROTTLE-
INVENTION OF YOUNG AUSTRALIAN
Yesterday 1 rods in and drove "gentless" motor-car, writes tho London Unity Telegraph, motorjog correspondent.
Inventors all over the world have heen trying for years to produce a car without gears. At last one--an Australian youth aged only 24-has sonicredex.
The coat I drove was propelled by by a standard éngine. But its only controls werd throttle lover a brake lever, and a reverse lever. It was a flexible and as simple to control as a steam engine.
Unless the evidence of 30,000 miles of testing and the verdict of unwillingly convinced exports are wrong, it promises to revolutionise
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1932.
SPARKS
FROM THE PLUGS
With the engine "ticking over," the handbrake was released and the car moved off, anther more briskly than this model usually does, and less noisily, heenase there were no gear teeth meshing and parting, although the engine, could hear, was revolving much faster than the propeller shaft..
hand throttle lever on the steering|A NEW A.E.C. LORRY wheel he mad the car climb over the box, stopping halfway up tha side and resting before descending as slowly the other side.
FOR OVERSEAS WORK
MOTORING" LAW SURPRISE
THIRD PARTY RISKS SUMMONS FAILS
---
TWO WHEELS OR FOUR?
RIVALRY OF THE "BABY" CAR
the machine going like a living. thing, the wind playing a melody
of speed over, eam and checks, that the motor cyclist think of change only when the blood is running cold with the years,
Then there is the question of ex-
pense. It is easy to think that four-wheelers will come down to
From then until he stopped to let me drive, the inventor used only the accelerator. When the car had gathered speed he lifted his footing to do bat steer and use his momentarily and the car put itself accelerator pedal, the invention is into "top" We came to a hill and
form of transmission with an in- the car put itself into indirect gear or its equivalent, the ratio auto number of gear ratios in the most lorry was only designed after a terrace, S.W., which had been ad. comparable with that of the motor. Cyclist who turns to four wheela
matically adapting itself to the
Jond.
He then set the front wheels
Numbered amongst the enterpris- straight, opened his garage door,ing British manufacturers who re set the hand throttle, and the car | making determined efforts to ex- A decision which affects all mo-
It happens annually before a car followed him into the garage like pand their overactua sales and con- | torists was given by the magistrates i an affectionate hound.
Bolidate their Empire markets is at Whitehill, Hampshire, last show, and this year is not unlike Although to the driver the car is The Associated Equipment Co., month, when they dismissed n suin- others.. truly "gearless," since he has noth-Ltd., of Southall, Middlesex. Imons for driving a car without be- This Company have just introing insured against third-party duced a
now 3-5 ton lomy-the risks. Marshal "apecifically built for!
The summana was against Miss avernous transport operators. Tho Rosaleen Oak-Rhind, of Harcourt. careful personal inspection by the journed. A summons against Lieu. Company's overseas sales organisa-tenant William E. M. Townsend tion, and study of overseas special for aiding and abetting was also requirements. In so doing A.E.C. dismissed. have broken away from the usual When the case was originally British standard, and made aheard Miss Osk-Rhind was fined £1 vehicle for operation under all for driving Lieutenant Townsend manner of road and climatic condi without a licence, and Lieutenant Townsend was fined £1 also for
finitely variable gear. The largest
elaborate gear-box yet made is twelve; the gearless car puts at its driver's opmmand every possible ratio between 50 to 1 and direct drive.
Simple Construction.
On the steepest part of the hill about ane in seven--we stopped and started again, without using the brakes but only the accelerater. The restart was as smooth and free
A roller clutch permits the pro- ** pinking, "* as the finest from
one direction driver with the world's best carpeller shaft to turn in
only, so that the car cannot run could achieve.
backwards unless a lever is moved
“Vehicle With Brains,"
When I took over the wheel, in
to allow, reversing.
The heart of the invention is
tions,
Before its debut, the "Marshal "aiding and abetting. underwent rigorous trials, and was
Covering Clause. Miss Oak-Rhind's solicitor, Mr. submitted to II.M. Army autho- rities as
1
I refer to the rumour that we are mater cycle prices, but they never will. Initial cost will always be going to have a shoal of cars of five or six horse-power at a price greater. On top of that the motor-
finds running costs immensurably m oycle and that motor-cycles will die, greater. It is not only a matter of writes the Motor-Cycling Corres-fuel consumption, but insurance, garage tax, repairs and reliabi pondent of the News-Chronicle.
I may be wrong, but I do not lity, which, in so many ways, aje think the motorcycle will ever die, j not equal to that of the two-wheel- nor do I think that the baby car sr. will ever strongly appeal to the young people who mater-cycle.
Running Costa,
Some may question this remark The car no matter how "nippy" on reliability, but experience has it may be is a lifeless, ehow thing taught many and lesson through to the motorcyclist. He feels con- the pocket.
a typo eligible for the W. Bradley Timmer, rained the lined by the mass around him and That is not all. Compare, with restricted to the highways. With your small-car friends who have motor transport. For it I simple, see it there was some peculiar trick! Pair of centrifugal weights. like British War Office subsidy. The point whether Miss Oak-Rhind and the motor-cycle a rider is part and been on a tour, the prices charged in handling. I was amazed at the ed in a casing which forms the fly passed all its trials, and has now ponded for driving a car automati. Parcel of his mount; with a car for refreshment, food and accom.
cheap, fuotpronf, and durable.
Start On 1 la 7 Hill.
simplicity of the control. There uns no trick or knack.
Beyond opening the throttle to the natural extent suggested by the conditions, I had nothing to do The car adapted itself to the load just as if it had brains.
In a quiet suburban road yester-" day morning the young inventor and 1 snt out to put the car through its paces. The preliminary explona- tion of a mechanism had not led me to expect too much. The car was of a well-known, make and Arrived back at his house, the model and was standard, except for inventor produced a box about ten clutch, gear box, and propeller.inches high and placed it in front shaft.
those of an engine governor, mount
wheel of the engine.
Its netion is complicated to ex plain, but the construction is of the simplent, and there are very few moving parts-not a quarter of the number contained in the clutch and gear-box it replaces. The principle is applicable to every form of mater driven vehicle, including war tanks,
Tho inventor, Mr. Howard Hobbe,
result Was fully successful. It
Lieutenant Townsend could be sus
ing. The sport thrill is what he been very careful in their selection been officially certified as a model cally uninsured at the time shaf ho feels he is just the man steer modation. Unless the friends hate
misses.
of stopping places they will tell fully complying with W.D. require-drove it without a driving licence. ments. This means that the pur could be proved that Miss Oak- Mr. Trimmer argued that if it
For and Against.
yọn that they had to pay na up- chasers of this type receive, the sub-Rhind had previously held a driv
preciable amount more for travel- ing licence she could not be sus
It is still necessary on a foul day ling with those extra two wheels, ponded, peither could Lieutenant Townsend for hiding and abetting. for a rider to wear special cloth
There may cause a time when cars. Mr. Trimmer added that Missing, but the motor cyclist places of small horse power will be near- Oak-Rhind was coveted by a clause against this the hundreds of fine ly as cheap as motor-cycles, but Do Lieutenant Townsend's insuran
certificate which read. The days and evenings in summer and the only competitor mechanically
sidy of £120.
Short Wheel Base.
The ** Marshal ” is a short wheel base, 3 axlo model, employing
L'e
of a rear wheel. Using only the (Continued at foot of next Column) { *pecial design of a robust rear axle words licenced to drive hereon shall winter when the fast, exhilarating that I can foresee killing the mo-
NOW IS MOTORING TIME!
The light clear-air cool-the going dry
NOW IS THE TIME TO PURCHASE
YOUR
MORRIS
In Hongkong now, ready for the road, are stocks of Morris Minor salcons Morris Cowley two-seaters, saloons and coupes. . Morris Major tourers. And Morris Isis saloons and special coupes-all available at usual prices
It doesn't cost any more to buy British- and when you buy a Morris you get a car manufactured in England by a company which is 100 per cent British. What with the sea- sonal amenities and the operation of the Imperial Preference tax- NOW is certainly Morris Motoring Time!
MORRIS owners are well looked after in Hongkong. There is a service. station at 876, Lockhart – Road; and at 787, Nathan Road, Kowloon, where spare parts and technical advice and assistance may be obtained stocked showroom at 84, Fung Ning Road models at our Ice House Street showrooms, or telephone 28011 for a demont-
tration, free of obligation"
There is a liberal discount on cash sales while no interest is charged if a car is purchased on the Instalment plan-
At. Canton there is a commodious and well- Come and see the Morris
Dodwell & Co., Ltd.
P.D. 16.
hogic to withstand the arduous con- ditions of difficult cross-country work, and is of the forward drive Foperation; an ordinary model has been designed for the driver behind the ongino, if required. It can haul 5 tons over hard roads, or 3 tona bror bog, sand, gullies or grade, bush veldt, or any conceivable track condition. The engine is the standard A.E.C. 4-cylinder overhead camshaft type, which has proved so successful in the range of A.E.C. passenger and goods models. The four-spoed spur gear box, is provid- ed with specially wide gears, whilst an auxiliary gear box gives an ad- ditional reduction of 2,6 to I on all speeds. This auxiliary enables the "Marshal," when fully loaded, successfully to traverse deep sand, mud, etc., and surmonnt gradients of 1 in 2. Naturally, this auxiliary gear box is only required for operat ing under abnormal conditions. All other chassis details have been de signed and built to give exceptional strength so that there should be complete freedom from serious breakdown in isolated parts where Service Depots may be few and far between.
Special Winch
Another interesting détail is in a special design of winch that can be fitted to both forward control and bonnetted typos. It carries 230 it. of in. dimunoter steel rope, the drum boing driven at any of the four main gear box speeds.
It is anticipated that this now A.E.C. model will meet with in- mediate success, and should add one more name to the line of the British products that the winning new prestige for British craftin and reliability, oVOZSNIS,
who has just v taken out world patents, is the son of South Aus- Fralian Trub gruz I Hellove that he has had no special engineering or mechanical training, but ho cer tainly, has special mechanical gifts, for, besides this on
gearless car, ho kasalready to his creditulke machiba ples
11.
with which all Australia! exported to this country aro
or has held a hence, and is not spin a ride without a destination tor-cycle is a light aeroplane at a
in view, is the main thing.
cheap initial cost, and that is not
be deemed to mean hotls a licence disqualified by order of a court of law"
Miss Oak-Rhind produced a driv- ing licence she held in 1929.
It is days and evenings such as likely to happen for a long time
these, with the fuel tap turned up, yet.
MOTORDOM PRESENTS
For Service:
FIAT CARAGE: 950, Hennessy Road
TEL. 24821.
THE NEW 1932
FIAT
21c cylinder
22e
6 cylinder
It's a splendid car for the money as you'll find on the road car to be proud of. Built on lithe, graceful lines with a motor that has "guts" its a wonderful buy at the price.
PRICED FROM
$2,850.00
-AGENTS:
A. GOEKE & CO.
SPARE PART DEPARTMENT: CHINA BUILDING
TELEPHONE
Showroom
FIAT GARAGE: 60 Hennessy Road
24821.