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THE NEW MORRIS CARS Ten-Six and Cowley-Six
SYNCHRO-MESH GEARBOX FOR
ALL MODELS
immense THE NEW SIXES
This week at the factory at Cowley I have seen the new range of Morris ears for 1934, writes a Home expert. Numerous Improvements, have been adopted for all models and two entirely new types are being introduced. These latter consist of a six-cylinder version of both the Ten-Four and the Cowley. to be known respec- vely, as the Ten-Six and Cowley- Six, Like all continued models from the cheapest Minor to the largest of the range the 25 h.p. six-cylinder-the new cars will Have a four-speed synchro-mesh scarbox.
Similarly,
every Morris car for 1934, irrespective of price, will have real leather upholstery, unless, in the case of special bodywork, the
cloth specifies
up- rchaser
£110 Not
the holstery.
even
two-seated Minor will be upholster ed in imitation leather.
All the 1934 models, too, will have bodywork of definitely and obvious better quality, inore com- pletely equipped and more roomy and comfortable than hitherto, while a new sloping radiator enhances the improved appearance of the new range of bodies.
the
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY OCTOBER 31, 1933.
SPARKS
FROM THE PLUGS
Resembling the Ten-Four in Al most every respect apart the
new. Ten-Stx has .side gine, the
a tax rating of 12; valves and
is 1378 c c. cubic capacity which compares with 1292 c.c. in the case of the Ten-Four. additional power thus indated gives the car a maximum spaert cf upwards of 65 m.p.h, and a better performance in general, for un has larger
A MOTORING HINT
Changing Gear On
Steep Hills
MOTOR
CYCLING NOTES
Developments In Transmission
clutch spring change or by a free-
wheel, which renders the use of the clutch unnecessary for anything. except starting from rest.
It has been suggested recently that the combination of fluid fly- wheel and epicyclic gear box, so successful in the car world, might be applied to the motor cycle. The The application of the free-wheel idea is no doubt prompted by the would seem more likely than any- fact that this combition is a thing else, if actor cycle transmis- feature of three different makes of sion is going to follow car lines. Bus Previded brakes are adequate, and cars produced under B.S.A. pices. If such a form of transmis- the means for reverting to fixed sion were developed it would no drive are reliable, then the free- doubt be on the B.S.A. machineewheel does offer definite attractions. that it would appear.
"Change early on hills" is maxim, that may well be impress ed upon the more or less inex
who driver
dislikes perienced changing gear while climbing a The steeper the hill the more likely is it that he is reluc- tant to use the gear lever, fearing The to "miss the "change" and bring
It is very doubtful, however, the car to a standstill. Actually, however, an early change down, whether this very clever system viz., long before the engine begins could be made cheaply and simply to labour, is much easier to make enough for motor cycle application. than a belated one. The driver Moreover, do motor cyclists want need not then hurry the proce- simple control by menps that entail
The third alternative is the syn- car having certain amount of complication? dure, owing to the more momentum-and it is hastyThe ability to pre-select a gear is chro-mesh gear-box in which d changes that are noisy and bad curtainly desirable, but this can be clutches, about to be engaged, are secured in a measure by a dog-first brought to the same speeds by. changes as a rule."
and longer engine added but slightly to the weight of the car, theradiator being farther forward in a chassis of the same wheelbase.
A good plan is to note on a level
Space for the longer and more powerful six-cylinder engine is also made available on the new Cowley-road Six by the radiator being slightly The engine in farther forward. this case (215 tax) is 1938 c.c. as against the 1550 c.c. of the new Cowley-Four;"
Among additions that have been made to the range of standardised bodywork are a two-seater for the Ten Four, a traveller's saloon for Ten-Four and Ten-Six (the rear seat is instantly removable to give room for "samples"), and a special coupe for the Tens, Cowleys, Ox- ford. Ists, and 25 h.p. models. All saloons will be available with either a fixed or a sliding roof, the price chassis being lower for the fixed-roof type.
Or NEW PRICES
VARIETY OF IMPROVEMENTS.
A
Prices in nearly all cases show a smali increase, but without question the value is better than ever owing to the increase being smaller than the additional manu- facturing..costs of the many im- provements.
the lowest speed on each gear-except the bottom gear- at which the car will accelerate. quickly and with ease. This may be 25 mph on top gear, for in- stance; if so, that is the speed at which the
gear next lower should be engaged on a hill which the car obviously cannot climb on top."
In the case of really steep hills, - relatively earlier changé.still however single-gure gradients into bottom gear is desirable. It is almost the maximum speed at which the engine (without actu- ally "racing") will drive the car on a level road, gear on that
that
12 speed to be Assume
then change down into m.p.h.; bottom gear on a steep hill as soon as the car speed drops to 12
Оп
The second gear. m.p.h. change will probably not be com- pleted and the engine pulling again until 4 m.p.h.. have been lost; but 8 m.p.h.-12 minus 4-is not too low a speed to enable the engine to pick up again and climb the hill-without-hesitation. If however, the change is not com- menced until the speed has drop ped to 8 mp.h, the car may, and probably will, be almost at (£4 10s); with sliding roof. £175 standstill before the gear change has been completed and the ac- full (25 10s),
celerator depressed to the In that case the chances are that
to a standstill...
and stronger new fr.me of the cross-braced cluciform type. eliminiating, body distortion and giving a lower floor level, is to be used for all cars from the Ten-Four upward; draught and fume excluders of a special type for the gear lever and pedal slots will be universal, as will an Interior visor to prevent dazzle from the sun or oncoming headlights, a battery master switch, and a new type of brake lever more convenient to operate.
Minor Two-seater, £110-(£5) From the Ten-Four upwards an- two-door saloon, £127 105, or with four- will be sliding roof, £130 (5); tomatic ignition control
£150 ned; every model will have Lock-door sliding roof saloon,
108
leed hydraulic brakes and electri- calty operated direction indicators (flush-fitted in the door pillars in electric rear tank,
most cases), Petrolift for carburetor feed, and hydraulic shock absorbers.
to -in-f
Typical of the new prices are the following, with the increases in parentheses in the case
inued models:-
(£5).
Ter-Four-Saloon,
£169
of con-
£184: with
a
AMERICAN MOTOR "COPS".
English Methods Preferred
A correspondent who is visiting us from America writes to me in admiration of our legal system.
His enthusiasm is due to the
There is a saag, however-the liability of the engine to stall, on cars with free-wheels just lo Automatic electric starting is usual overcome this difficulty, so that bere again, there is a real difficulty to be overcome.
the ordinary movement of the gear lever. And with our "present gear- boxes so easy to handle even that seems an unnecessary refinement.
EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX Another reminder that we cannot rest upon car laurels is provided by the European Grand Prix event, The
British supremacy of the machine, abroad as well as at home, has been so well established that we are rather inclined to take victory for granted, but all good sportsmen will congratulate the Swedish riders on the Husqvarna win.
The race was run in Sweden be- fact that anyone summoned in this cause it provided last year's winner out of fuel, country for a motoring offence can when Simpson ran write a pollte letter to the magis- This year Woods had to retire, trate and pay his fine; whereas in Blunt was injured, and the Swedes the USA. the delinquent must first and third places in the appear in court in person. No
senior class, second being an F,N, rider. It was
well a good race. lawyer can take his place.
won, and it will put the British entrants and particularly the Nor ton concern on their mettle next year.
If he fails to answer when his case is called, a bench warrant is and he is issued automatically, fairly certain to spend the night in gaol.
A DOLLAR A MILE
My correspondent relates that he was run in for not having his rear light it on Long Island. He was summoned, and the following week had a two-hour trip to at- tend the magistrates' court in Suffolk County.
He was ordered to be there at nine. His case was not called till three. He was let off with a warn - ing, but the day's absence from
Cowley-Four-Saloon, £195 (£15 the engine will labour and come his office plus travelling expenses
"
(un-
Ten-Bix-Saloon, sliding roof, E189 10s. Improvements relating dividual models are as follows: 10s); with eliding roof, £199 10s
ENGINE SPEED AND POWER Minor-Pneumatic upholstery for 14 10s)." alt.body types. Ten-Four-Wider Cowley-Six-Saloon; £215; with
In climbing a hill of any kind it should be remembered that a sepra, resilient engine mounting. i sliding rooi, £220.
Oxford Saloon, £285 (£20), Cowley-Four-ew aide valve en-
petrol engine develops more pow
within gine of
1530 e.c. (12 tax as Isis-Baloon, £370 (£20).
er the faster it runs, ...25 F.P.-Saloon, £395 hitherto). Oxford-Free-wheel and
reason. Conversely, the slower it Bendix automatic clutch control, changed).
One 1933 model does not appear runs the less power it develops. Jarger seats with new type fold- ing arm-rest at the rear and ain the 1934 programmeviz., the Hence, if the road speed on any Six; its place is taken gear is allowed to fall of beyond special arm-rest between driver | Major
a certain point, the engine simply and front passenger, metal spare by the new Cowley-Six:
Supplementing the standard cannot develop sufficient power wheel cover, and various detail refinements such as a folding Ten-Four and Ten-Six, a sports to cope with the load, not even B change down has been foot-rest, folding table, and con- chassis has been prepared in each after ccaled
ash trays for the rear case: it will be fitted with a four-made.
seated open body, the price being "Change down early" may be passengers.
and £230 for the Isis-and 25 h.p.-Free-wheel and £215
for expressed "Keep up the revs."; in automatic clutch control, still bet-cylinder and six-cylinder cars res-other words again, do not allow ter upholstery and interior fittings pectively; they will have remote the engine speed to fall off so Bifex headlamps, and new twin gear control, low seating, twin- much as to prevent it from de- rear and reversing lights, two fcg carburettor engine, special induc-veloping practically full after the lamps on the 25 h.p. and one on tion system, and other
change down. “ the Isis, spare wheel with metal conducive to a high-efficiency per-
formance. casing (two spares on 25 h.p.).
DOUBLE WHITE LINES
Needed Where Traffic Is Heavy
features
found to be of great assistance in preventing traffic congestion where
There are many long hills that could be climbed easily on second speed if drivers would but change down early out of third; as it is,
cost him over fifty dollars.
-America has fierce, motor ma-
gistrates as well as fierce proce- dure.
The most famous was the late Magistrate House, who reign- ed in the days when" the speed limit in New York was 25 miles an hour.. House had his own tariff of punishment. "How fast
were
you going?" he asked. I
you pleaded guilty to 45 miles, the judgment came straight away: 45 dollars or 45 days." The rate was fixed at a dollar or a day for every mile per hour.
1,000 MILES IN 24 HOURS
..
Youthful Ambition
I met a young enthusiast who told me that it was his ambition to cover 1,000 miles in twenty-four hours on. his MG Midget writes the Scribe in the "Auto Car." I told him I did not think it could
fall to maintain the necessary
the driver in each case defers be done, not that the car would making that change until it is average, but that I did not think
and then has to change down again and climb the anyone could stick it-in so small a car for the time and at the rest of the hill-a mile-long gra-speed which would have to be dient perhaps in bottom gear. maintained.
heavy lorries "crawl, up a hill on imperative," # low gear.
"
It must be admitted that the I don't think anything is gained advice given above in regard to by such runs, but they are in- changing down on hills cannot be teresting. To accomplish them followed "unless the individual one has only to do for twenty- driver has acquired the "art" of four hours what many of us do changing by the double-deelutch for two or three. With two drivers. method A driver's education is it should be comparatively easy, certainly not complete until he without any hair-raising record- has done so, not even if he is the breaking, provided the car is gult owner of a car with a free-wheel able. .I have no wish to restart or a synchro-mesh gear-box, for the Land's End-John o Groats the easy-changing characteristics record, and I am not mentioning of these features do not apply in the figure at which it still un- wheel locked in traffic; for exam- a Scottish paper that a Mr. Cecil or in changing down into Taylor, of Dundee, has recently
gear with a
synchro-driven a Lagonda from Land's End
SLOPÁ CUTTING IN. Safety is induced by double white lines because the drivers of the faster vehicles are not, tempted to "cut in to the same extent, nor do so many situations arles It is high time, in my opinion, in which cutting-in is presented that the plan of marking wide as an alternative to waiting for an roads with the double white lines oncoming slow vehicle to pass by. adopted by some highway au-Moreover, the plan induces the car or less driver travelling at a low speed to thorities should be more universal" where trafic is heavy, keep to his near side unless or wishes to pass 8 still writes a Home expert. I have in until he mind particularly the main roads slower-moving vehicle. leading into or around large towns Personally, I fear, that the mid- and cities, for it is becoming in- dle-of-the-road type of driver, who all circumstances; with a free-officially, stands, but I see from creasingly evident that the width seems to increase in number and of such roads is positively wasted. | percentage every year, will never be plę, Two white lines, or three where convinced of the error of his ways bottom the road is exceptionally wide,of his selfishness, for one thing, mesh. would go far towards making such and of the danger of his tactics to roads carry the traffic on them in other vehicles, for another until greater safety and yet with in- all wide roads have traffic lanes" in the form of double or triple creased. speed,"
Double white lines on a road white lines. As things are, such imply that the central space is re- roads are often incapable of carry. We can travel teen miles per served for vehicles overtaking and ing more trame than a road 20 hour with ease, and if the trailer passing those in front, the slower feet wide, and not infrequently is not attached. I can ride from ones keeping to the left "inside" they are more dangerous than a twenty to twenty-two miles per the lines. These markings should narrow road, because of the way hour, but, of course, not through be not merely, at corners, but con- in which the "man ahead" is towns, where scorching is a great, tinuous in such places as those prone to wander to the right just mistake, mentioned they are especially as he is about to be overtakeri and "The "Auto
1899. desirable on hills, and have been passed.
LONG AGO
الحمد
to John o' Greats, which is 940 miles, in twenty-two hours. This works out at 43:33 m.p.. average. It was a new car, too,
It is one thing to put up a good average and another to set out to
do it: people who start out to break records, even their own, may be. inclined to take risks they do not normally take in making a fast run
Brooklands is the plate to st tempt records, but I is not avail car December 2nd able for twenty-on
stretch, SIN
FIRST MOTORING very few will appreciate" exactly
NOVELIST
A Tribute to the Late
how much work that entalled. Anthony Armstrong tells me that he was nine months on his book. *Taxi," and that his research British work took him to the
Museum for weeks on end and also
Mrs. A. M. Williamson of the book, which shows how
There
one
£31 out that he made exactly chancy is the business of book writing for public instruction and The Williamsona The motoring movement lost its entertainment. first novelist by the death of Mrs. made a big fortune out of their the Editor of the Autocar. have rewarded its writer a little A. M. Williamson recently, writes motoring novels. Taxi" ought to are thousands of us who better than £31, because it is the will remember" her books, for all only book of its kind and bear of her passing under such public libraries, for the taxi driver me, and who greatly regretted to would expect to find it in all the circumstances. Although is an exclusive type and the author tragic
Williamson motoring novels is well-known all over the world, were supposed to have been writ ten jointly with her husband, I
Small boy (to the curate at Sun- have always "understood that Mr. Williamson's activities were mainly day school outing)"Please, sir, in the gathering together and Miss Smith says will you go to her collating of the historical matter; at once, she's mug short."
the
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