Page
THE BRITISH MOTOR
INDUSTRY
A RECORD OF PROGRESS---AND. ITS FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1932.
SPARKS
FROM THE PLUGS
11,736, value £2,414,019 in 1931 40 GADGETS OF MOTOR A NEW BRITISH CAR thrown into and out of action as
20,304 value £2,845,007, an increase
of 8,858, valute 2431,385,
The Future.
Satlefactory as has been the pro- gross already made the Industry is convinced that it in but insignis cant to that which Ties within the immediate future. The results that may be anticipated from the Ot tawa Conference should yet further improve the position of the Indus try in the Empirs markets, for the motor vehicle must play an increas ingly important part in the deve allopment of Empire resources.
!
CARS
WHAT PIONEERS DID WITHOUT
(BvQ, CORNWALLIS-WEST.)
SOME INDUSTRY NOVELTIES
COMBINED WITH A FIRST.
· RATE PERFORMANCE
Signaling. Devlons.
The history of the British Motir and to secure a larger share of the Industry, from its earliest days, has non-manufacturing countries of the bren one of progress in the face of World. difficulties. Through prejudice. hostility, legislation and the 'hun- dred and one difficulties that beset its early days the Industry had. struggled until, when progress was in fact being made, the advent of the War caused its plant and per important exporting countries of pire possesses, for not only does he a car. A couple of inadequate oil ¦ Astor in the Evening Standard. premely comfortable, for the bodying signal cannot escape the eye,
sonnel to be required for other du
During the Depression. Considerable progress has ready been made in this direction. During a period of general trade depression the British Motor In- dustry has almost alone among the
is vitally interested in the immen. The British Motor Manufacturer
se potentialities for general prò-
sperity which a united British En.
automatic signalling arises in The general adoption of semi-
1033 cars particularly that type, In respect of general excellence! pioneered by Morris, which depends and value for money I do not know upon lights alone as led to con its superior, while its performance į troversy. will withstand the most exacting trial. First, and foremost it is situes is that its automatically flash- To my mind one of its great vir
The petrol consumption, at or required, and Lockheed hydraulic dinary speeds, is about 2 miles to brakes. "Startix" automatic start the gallon. Free-wheeling improvea ing prevents the engine from being this figure by roughly ten per cont accidantly stalled. Many refins. Altogether a most delightful car, ments are included in the details nice to ride in as to drive. One specification, such as electric diree gets a good idea of modern automo tion indicators fore and aft, revers. bile progress when one compares ing light, folding table and foot this Wolseley with the best thing rest, fog lamps, and illuminated obtainable at the same price three It is interesting to look back up- One of the most welcome recruits name badge on the radiator.
years ago. on the extraordinary progress that to the ranks of British cars which
The standard saloon, as placed at has been made since the war in the ean, be relied upon to accomplish my, disposal by Eustace Watkins, equipment applied by manufac- their appointed tasks equally as Ltd., the London distributors for turers with each car, and also, the woll in Overseas countrica as on Wolseley, carn, costs £325. extraordinary number of useful, if their domestic roads is the Wolse
which can now be purchased. not actually essential, "gadgets "ley "Sixteen." From front bum per to rear it is an entirely new Five-and-thirty years ago very design, boasting important and little equipment was provided with original features.
writes Gordon
tamps and a horn were included, but if one wished to travel by night at any pace it was accessary to buy
af an expensive net acetylene lamps. The tools. furnished were Home Market and to endeavour al- poris for the eight months to Auties to be accorded by Rail and Air. spanners and a hammer.. Such Both front and back passengers is proved by the fact that, on top!
few and far between; two or three so to find an outlet Overmens for the gust as compared with those for the He realises that if the immense thing as a box-spanner, a pair of have all the leg room that the gear, it will accelerate from 10 to "bearing right" will rarely be us products of its factories. The pro-
same period last year are an indi- undeveloped areas of Empire are to Pliers, or even a screwdriver had tallest could need. The distribu- 40 m.p.b., in 20sec., while, using ed, and many will deem them to be blem this double aspect has at
to be bought separately.
tion of weight is such that even the gears, it will reach 40 m.p.k. unnecessary, The "going straight times presented difficulties which
Tyra trouble was an everyday oc- with only two up the car is ex have appeared almost insuperable
from a standstill in 15800. These on" signal is also largely super duous. Thus two only, the essen plied a jack. An oil gauge had plied, 'but only a few makers aupon bad roads.
The six-cylinder engine if of
The maximum speed against the tials, are left, and these are ob was just under 63 tained by, an easy, quick and in not even been thought of, and it 2025 cc capacity and rated at 15,7 stop-watch was necessary to watch carefully ed by a chain-driven overhead cam miles circuit it was found quite
b.p. It has overhead valves work. m.p.h. Ou a give-and-take seven stinctive method of control, the drips from half a dozen points shaft, hardened cylinder liners and
What will be the official attitude order to make sure that the oil was net with a fumo extractor and an hour, the steering, braking and scheme remains to be seen. We are of the ailer on the dashboard intro-seal pistons. It is also equip easy to average over 47 miles an to the various kinds of signalling
aircleaning device. circulating freely,
road-holding being beyond criti-fortunate in now having liberty to cism. Gear-changing at almost any try them all, with the confidence wheel in use it is mere child's play. will ultimately emerge. speed is very easy with the free that which is the practicably best
ties and the Industry as such vir tually censed to exist,
Tho ten years aucceeding the War had, therefore, to be devoted to a determined effort to build up 藤
the World virtually maintained its position and, indeed, in compari son with the previous year ita ex-' ports have increased both in mum- ber and value,
The figures of Imports and Ex-
visualise an ever-growing outlet for his producte but he recognises that in the development of Empire re- sources motor transport has an im- portant role to fil, individually, and in conjunction with the facili.
cation of the progress made. be turned to fruitful advantage, a During the period under review vision of Empire is an essential in
These include the system of work and the road-springing are mounting the power plant well for alike admirable," ward in the specially braced frame. The result is that a most unusually large body space becomes available through its speed scale is agreeably of a wheel-base of only 8ft. in. smooth. That it is intensely lively
The motor attains a high stan dard of quietness, and
bat by a titiktive, courage, and this year to Gross Imports of Mo.matters of transport as it is incurrence, and tyre levers were sup-tremely stable even at high speeds are impressive figures.
lopment of Empire communications politica, and that a policy of deve:
must be inspired and carried out with the goodwill and co-opera: tion of all concerned.
determination the Industry to-day tor Vehicles have amounted to 2,313 finds itself with a Home Market (value £423,020), as compared with virtually assured to it.
3,430 (value £505,494) for the same Throughout this period it has of period in 1931, a decrease of 1,013
véhicles and of value £171,879. It is with this realisation that course been evident that no inbility Gross Exports on the other hand the British degree of prosperity the Motor Industry looks is possible for any main national have amounted so far this year to a position of pre-eminence in the productive industry unless or until
22.010 (value £3,200,617) as compat-į motor markets of the world, and it is able to export a growing pro-ed with 15,173 (value 3,010;100), anticipates with confidence being an increase of 7,705, value £250,511. able to play an increasingly im- The excess of Exports over Important part in the development of purts has therefore increased from Empire resources..
portion of output, and for the next decade the task will be to obtain the bulk of the Imperial markets
DODWELL & Co., Ltd.
ANNOUNCE
Sweeping REDUCTIONS SWEEPING
ON ALL
MORRIS 1932 MODELS
IN STOCK
INCLUDING
MINOR
Saloons.
COWLEY
Two-Seaters, Saloons, Coupes.
MAJOR
Tourers, Saloons,
ISIS
Saloons, Coupes,
One of the first and most neces
sary "gadgets" that the original piotorists bought was what was known as a "dust protector"; a 4ightly stretched piece of canvas projected from the back of the car and caught the dust as it was thrown up.
America's Example.
It was only a few years before the war, when the botter equipped American cars, made their appear ance in the English market, that English manufacturers, in self-de- fence, were forced to bring their. own products up to date. Now it can be said with truth that no cars. are better equipped in every way than those made in this country.
When one considers many of the "gadgets" now in use, one wor ders bow ano ever did without them. Take, for instance, the winds screen wiper. What pain it used to be to drive a car at anything over 23 m.p.h. in polting rain. Certain enterprising individuals wold stuff to rub on the glass, which they guaranteed would avoid ali blur. Needless to say, nothing had the slightest effect.
The original speedometers, which were always on extra, were most unreliable, Sparking plugs were also a constant source of trouble, and in order to find out which was not functioning, testa were made with a screwdriver, often resulting in a severe shock if one was care 1038. Nowadays, & spark detector, which can be bought for a few shif lings, should, in my opinion, be supplied with every tool kit. This also applies to another most useful implement, the type fester.
Direction Indicators.
„Sonię makes of car, sro this year supplied with a direction indicator. In certain countries in Europe these are obligatory by law, and aurely should be in all countries. In the cold weather a driver is apt to take riska soonor than open the window wide enough to put out his hand; and, in addition, the indicaTM tor helps the police.
{ I had ap instance of this recently, The policeman-who was directing the traffic at one of the many street, obstructions said to me, as I drew up!" I wish all drivers could let er know viùch way, they intend going. Thes looking at Alis huge boarded obs truction, he added: London, wil Be & nice place when it finished,
Free Wheel
gear-box, a free-wheel that can be There is a silent-third, four-speed
AN
nor is it easy that there can be any misinterpretation of its main mes anges. The complexity of t lamp combinations, has bon the right switch, which offers five distinct
subject of criticism.
Two of these "bearing loft" and
ANNOUNCING-
EXHIBITION
(For One Week from. 26th November),
OF THE
NEW FIAT
SMALL FAMILY
FAMILY CAR
COME
IT IN
MODEL 508
AND SEE
THE GLOUCESTER BUILDING
ARCADE
GOEKE & CO.