Page
·AUTOMOBILE AND ALLIED TRADES
A YEAR OF PROGRESS
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1933.
SPARKS
FROM THE PLUGS
ANTI-DAZZLE RULES-
****
NOW BEING STUDIED BY TRANSPORT MINISTER
The Minister of Transport is Evidence of improving conditions in Australia is afforded by the regain considering the imposition of gistration returns for September of regulations prohibiting the use of the four largest States of the Com dariling headlamps or lamps not!
fitted with some anti-dazzle device monwealth, showing that the num ber of new cars sold in the States was approximately 30 per cent. greater than in the corresponding month of 1931. The proportion of United Kingdom cars sold nearly doubled, increasing from 20,7. per cent. in September, 1931, to 39.6 per cent. in September, 1932.
Draft regulations to this effect were drawn up nearly two years ago. They have been pigeon-holed ever since, and until quite recently it was understood that there was no intention of proceeding further Now Mr. Pybus bas called for
shortly.
with them.
NEW STANDARD ON THE
ROAD
PERFORMANCE OF THE 1933 "LITTLE
TWELVE
1
PROGRESS IN 1932
SMALL CAR'S POPULARITY IN ENGLAND AND ABROAD
The
TRAFFIC LIGHTS
AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED SIGNALS
THORNYCROFT MOTOR VEHICLES
USE OF COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINES
vered in the development of com- Thornycroft have for long per
igaition engines, and
has been
A factor contributing as much small car is beginning to get a variants would be to invité troubla, | og and 150 h.p. respectively.
In New Zealand: the September them, and his decision is expectedly proud, and it must certainly as anything to this effect is the ex-kets where, we have been told so pected to remember the, peculiari-¡ ton vehicle having 'the cylinder
figures for the new car registration reveal that British cars are in a very favourable position in this market. British cars again head
holding her the registrations, place for the nine months of 1932 imports of United Kingdom cars and commercial vehicles into the Dominion during the first half of 1832, increased in comparison with the corresponding period of 1931, from 1,588, value £137,275, to 1,703, value £247,575,
Succeeding mails bring from va rious parts of the Empire reports of the growing popularity of Bri- tish-made motor vehicles, In South Africa, India, Ceylon and in other parts of the Empire the United Kingdom vehicle is going ahead.
Not only in the Empire is this so, for of late there has been a distinct interest shown
In May, 1831, proposals to deal with dazzle were circulated by the Ministry among the representative motoring organisations. The chief provisions were:
To probibit lamps of more than 38 Candle-power.
car manufacturing industry
In the near future one may ex- one that can congratulate itself pect a big development in traffic on a successful year. It has not control by automatically operated merely held its own throughout signal lights. Sufficient experience the continued depression; compar- with them has been accumulated to pression. ed with. the figures for 1031 it can show increased sales in the home prove that such signals are both were the only manufacturers to in- useful and economical, and there cloda a working exhibit of such an I was one of the first journalists in a few hundred yards found my market and, better still, as are many districts in which they engine at the last Olympia. Com- can be installed with advantage to mercial Motor Transport Show. It privileged to take out this latest self quite at home at the wheel, stantial increase in the value of its production from the Coventry and felt that I could have at once! axports. And as the tendency to all concerned. But, if confusion is then aroused considerable interest,
but further progress works, and a most delightful and set off on a day-long journey with- day is towards the purchase of to be avoided, there must be a fascinating experience I found it cut experiencing the slightest fati-small cars this increase in overseas standard pattern of signal through- made, until the Basingstoke Works. The car something of which thegue at the end or it.
business means that the British out the country. To allow local have now gone into production with 4 and 6-cylinder types developing company may be quite inordinate
firm footing in some foreign mar- for or vehicle driver can be ex-
Test runs ware made with a 6- add to the laurels which metapho cellent location of the various con- often, nothing under 20 h.p, was ties of local authorities in matters engine and on the largest 13-ton rically, not to any literally, altrols. The steering appealed to me
.suitable...
of this kind. Fortunately, a stan ready adorn the brows of its manu
as delightfully as light, it is ne They have scored curate to a hair's breadth direc maflet is encouraging. In 1991 signal in Wigan as it will in Wis-formances evoked favourable com- The increase in sales in the home dard machine will give the same Thornycroft six-wheeler having the 6-cylinder engine, and both per- facturers. first-class success, writes James T. tionally--I was, in fact, Bore and during some months of 1832 bech or in Winchester which is ments. There are a number of spe- Skinner.
take both hands from the steering the monthly returns showed a de more than can be said for the hand The new model has the merit of wheel at 50 mp.h. without tecline in the numbers of cars regis signals, supposed to be based on cial features in the design of these. Thornycroft oil engines which is tain date of headlamps whose sign to that which has made the and there was not the slightest that is, in the number of new cars given by the point duty police in, have always taken a leading part To forbid the use after a cer- being based on similar chassis de least sign of frent wheel deviation tered for the first time-a decline, the Minister of Transport's codes only to be expected" of a firm who ne of the most tremor of road shock transmitted sold. Yet the latest returns, un to say, Landen, Birmingham and in motor vehicle developments, and "Little Nine sought-after cars of the present ses back through the steering column and including October, which is be Manchester
The turning cirle was 33. feet. fore the affect of the Olympia show It is also to be hoped that the Top an efficient gas producer for were the only British firm to deve son. The latter model has been tri-,
The cornering and road-holding began to be felt, show that sales system Adbuted will be up-to-date, motor vehicle engines, which in ed and proved, and the company is embodying all the experience of the car were also particularly of new cars in 1932 totalled 123,640,It is now possible to rely on 1999 won the French Government atmassed from that vehicle in this good, partly because of the lowness compared with 118,670 for the cor
combination of time switch and me Trials, but this proved to be too newest production, with the differ of the frame and partly because of responding. ten months of 1831. An chanical apparatus which makes it many years ahead of its time, evan ence, however, that the chassis the excellence of the springing sys- analysis of the sales further indi untecessary for the traffic on one for overseas transport where petrol wheelbase has been increased to ac; tem, which later unquestionably cates the existing trend to the pur road to wait for a prescribed num fuel is almost universally obtain- comedate an entirely new six- provides a new thrill in riding chase of light cars. Of the total ber of seconds if the crossroad hapable, although sometimes at high
comfort. Thus the car can be push- increase of 0,970 over 1931, the 10- pens to be free from traffic. In costs. cylinder engine.
ed around bends at speed with that h.p. cars account for 2,264; 8-h.p other words, a mechanical switch; These new Thornycroft engines rockstead" feeling generally look for 980; 12-h.p. for 803, and -hp actuated by a vehicle approaching for heavy oil fuel should have great ed for only on models of the 20 or for 544, or, together, 10-h.p. and the crossroad, can, when desired, interest for overseas users of heavy 30 h.p. order.
under account for 4,381 of the to override the time switch-ran excel motor vehicles, coupled with the ex- tal. The same: tendency is also leat idea when the system is appli cellent reputation Thornycroft pro- shown by the advertisements for ed to potentially dangerous cross ductions already enjoy throughout second-hand cars. High-power cars, ings which have not a steady traf the Empire, and in other undeve carrying a heavy tax, are to be ob fie flow. "The Autocar."
loped countries where road trans tained. at extraordinarily lowt
port is indispensable." figures; it is in fact possible to buy i a big car from three to ten years old quite sound and good and with years of life still in it for
beam was not either permanently directed downwards or capable of being dipped, or dipped and turned to the left.
To make it an offence not to
another vehicle. dip on meeting shwer of side,
lighthe instance of the R.A.C. certain amendments were made, the most important of which was to permit lamps of the "flat-topped"
On the road one's immediate im
Continent in the possibilities of not rise. more than 3ft. 6in. above fascinating case of handling. With
BRITISH CARS AT AMSTERDAM SHOW
HUMBER-HILLHMAN CARS
TO THE FORE
ground' level.
an
"Commercial vehicles will also be
MOTOR FUMES
VALUE OF HEAVY OIL ENGINE
chester.
ones.
RUBBER WINGS FOR CARS
RAILWAY MOTOR ENGINE
FOR LONDON SCOTTISH ROUTE
Public Works Authorities Prefer
ing express trains over the same route.
British vehicles. Indeed, at the re-
The regulations proposed cent British Exhibition at Copen- hagen one of the most important eighteen months period of grace sections, attracting numbers of in- and were to have come into force terested and prospective purchason Oct. 2 (the beginning of winter
EXPERIMENTS IN BRITAIN ers, was the section devoted to the time) last year. They did not, and it was understood that anti-dazzle United Kingdom Motor Industry.
was "dead." Now it is very much
A rubber factory in England is As conditions gradually. improve
experimenting, with rubber wings, alive. there is room for little doubt that
A fiaper entitled "Fumes from but they are going to be somewhat
The new source of power consists the industry will secure an even
motor vehicles, with particular re-expensive. For many years on a tenth of its orignal cost of £2,0001
of an oil-burning internal-combus- larger share of the export market,
tion engine which makes the elec and the United Kingdom "Motor these may be mentioned the Hum-ference to those fitted with heavy breakable wings have been urged to 3,000 or so. Ownership for
tricity for powerful motors. The Industry looks forward with con- ber-Hillman Group, whose Distri- oil engines," by Mr. A. T. Wil- because, being so vulnerable, most three or four years of a car of this
facts so far ascertained about the fidence to being able to play an inbutors have appointed network ford, chief chemist to the London minor accidents involve expensive type, of the very best of British General Omnibus Company, was replacements for wings (anys "The manufacture, is well worth consi
new methods are of an astonishing creasingly important part in the of Dealers throughout the country read at a meeting of the North Motor.")
dering by those motorists who take
The development of the internal | character, and developments of the future in the development of Em- The Hillman. Minx has already western section of the Institute of
The experimental work is being into account purchase price as well combustion engine led to an enor highest importance in connection pire resources.
aroused an extraordinary amount
mous increase in road transport, with motor trains are pending. of interest by virtue of its big-car Fuel at the Engineers Club, Man carried out by the Silvertown Co., as running and upkeep costs.
So far they find the disadvantages
and this in turn reacted unfavour- Alter 25,000 miles of experimental performance and also of the fact
The factor which had made the out-weigh the advantages. Each In metal aving can be pressed out ably on the railways. At the pre-running the costs are said to ba that ite suspension is so eminently suited to the varying road surfaces. question of motor fumes of such type of auctorcar would require in one minute. In rubber, includ sent time British railways are suf- amazingly low, Oil fuel consump real importance at the present four separate moulds, These moulds ing the "necessary "curing" pro fering severely from both the pre- tion 3.13 miles a gallon; the cost There will be no fewer than time, said the author of the paper, are expensive, and the work could cess, it takes 20 minutes, so that vailing trade depression and road of the fuel is only £3 78. & ton; four Minx Saloons (including an was the enormous increase in the only be carried out at a rubber the plant would havo to be in competition. Now another turn of the cost of the fuel per mile is .63 Aero model) on the Stand at the number of vehicles and the conse factory, where they have special creased at least 30 times to enable events promises a new era in which, of a penny; the cost of lubricating Exhibition, while the Wizard will quent congestion of traffic, parti-facilities for treating rubber. In rubber production to rival that of motors will come to the rescue of oil is only 13 of a penny & mile. be represented by one of the new
cularly in large cities. Atmosphe. order to obtain the high finish com- metal. The cost of such a plant the railways in their financia) em- This contrasts with from fourpence 7-Seater Saloons. The Humbers on ric pollution due to motor fumes parable with the metal wing, the for each set of wings to a single barrassment. It is stated that a to sixpence a mile, according to the view will be a handsome Pullman was a fact, and trades of carbon, surface of each mould would have motorcar manufacturer's specifica giant Diesel-electric motor engine type of load, for coal costs for a Landaulette and an attractive hydro-enrbon vapours, and carbon to be chromium plated; this adds tion would be in the neighbourhood is being built to haul a train on steam locomotive. It is estimated The British car hins recently made Snipe Saloon (this model has monoxide were a constituent of the still more to the first cost of the £30,000 Further, it has been the London-Scottish route, and that that hauling a train with 150 pas- big strides in popularity on the proved a distinct favourite in thịn
found that a rubber wing of the it will be in service shortly. Fer, rengers, the new type of engine Continent and in no country bas market), while a range of demon- atmosphere of towns, though-hap moulds.
Another diffulty that would be correct strength would prove to bether, plans are being completed for could be run at a cost of about marked than in Holland. Unusual these will have left hand drive, as likely to have any ill-effect oui encountered is the difference in the very much heavier than a metal the building of an even more power one-third of that for the train this growing attention been more stration cars will be available. All pily to an extent far below that
strect users or inhabitants: Burnt, time element of the two processes. I wing of similar size.
··ful motor-electric engine for haul-"drawn by a steam engine. interest, therefore, centred around will also the majority of cars on or, more the Motor Show held in Amsterdam the Stand, it having long been the burnt, lubricating oil was, in the accurately, partially from January 27 to February 5. policy of the Humber-Hillman Says Home correspondent. "It Companies to supply left hand author's opinen, the most common is freely predicted that the more steering at option.
cause of fumes from motor vehi cles, particularly petrol-driven popular makes of British light car
If the oil were completely will be the centre of attraction and already some of the most promin
would be both invisible and odour resulting products ert British manufacturers have
less, and in view of the fact that done considerable business. Amongst
the compression ignition engine (Continued on next Column)
was more capable of effecting the tombustion of such an oil than was the spark ignition engine, it was certain to prove the, lesser offender of the two types in respect of fumes arising from this cause.
Eeal Advantage...... In the opinion of many authori- ties, continued Mr. Wilford, there was no fume problem with the com pression ignition engine as they knew it. Buch a conclusion cer- tainly seemed justified in the Lon don area, and doubtless elsewhere. It must be concerned that certain designs of engines were more prone to give rise to the trouble than others, and with increasing application of the heayy oil unit the less satisfactory ones were like ly to be eliminated by a process of natural selection. There is no doubt, concluded the speaker, "that apart from its advantages over the petrol engine in respect of decreased fuel costs, reduced fire rink, and greater flexibility, a com- pression ignition engine of suitable. design is the more capable of com- pletely burning its fuel. and is not so liable to produce noxious – ex- haust products. The "future" ex pansion of this class of engine as prime mover" for road transport vehicles should, therefore, cause to anxiety whatever as to its possible effects on atmospheric pollution.
represented at the Show and the barned the Commer modela exhibited will in clude an 8-cwt and 16-ewt Van and "Centaur" ton goods and pas tenger chassis."
MICHELIN
FOR
RELIABILITY & ECONOMY
MICHELIN
Distributors:
GOEKE & CO. CHINA BUILDING, 4TH FLOOR
Depo
urbons (22221,SA
IAT GARAGE:
HILLMAN TOPS TASMANIAN REGISTRATIONS
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