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DOMINANCE OF THE
OIL ENGINE
Diesel with Horizontally Opposed Cylinders
The outstanding fact revealed at Olympia, was the development, alike in numbers and in technical efficiency, of the heavy-oil or compression-Ignition engine. This kind of progress does not catch the eye as do the big lorries and the huge double-decker buses,
but in interest and in what it indicates of the future it is the most significant thing about the show. It is not merely that more chassis makers are showing heavy-oll engines at this year's show than in 1931; actually the On oil-engined vehicles shown chassis-makers' stands out-num- ber the petrol types in rations of four to one up to seven to one, whilst on some stands oll-engined vehicles alone are staged. Indeed, except for the smaller types of road machines, the light run- abouts and delivery vans, there is scarcely a type which is all- petra. The change since 1931 is significant, British makers of
commercial vehicles were not in the market with the all engine Continental were as early as makers, but in efficiency and in technical progress the home fac- tories now lead. It is even claim- ed that in detalls of oil-engine manufacture Great Britain can produce work of higher precision Many than can the, Continent.
of the early troubles have been eliminated. Cylinder wear, once an acknowledged weakness, has disappeared with the introduction of the hydrogen-hardened barrel, and structural deformation, wear of bearings and other troubles are now virtually things of the past. The oll engine la established. It is making progress in other directions. With the new year transport operations will have to face much lighter taxes. A nine tonner with pneumatic to ten tyres, which now pays £48, will next year have to pay £170; it shod with solid tyres the respec-. tive, rates are £60 and £226 138. 4d. A. nine
ten tonner with
an oll engine and with pneuma- tic tyres is now taxed at £48, and next year will be taxed at £225; for solid-tyred machines of this weight the respective rates are £60 and £300, The tax is based on unladen weight, and -faced with this increase, makers, as the show reveals, have been working on the problem of giving the biggest possible pay-load capacity for the lightest possible weight and for the smallest ade- quate power unit. The show TE- veals a distinct tendency, there- fore, for a development towards smaller sizes both in power and weight, of the compression-igni- tion engine. The engine is now making its appearance in the 30cwb.and the two-ton classes of lorry: One firm is even, pro- ducing a Diesel engine with horizontally opposed cylinders of 7 h.p. with a cuble capacity of no more than 780c.c., as well as a 10 h.p.. of the same type of 1,000c.c.
"Lead" to Car Design
ler, a three and a half and a six tonner, each of which can be. converted into articulated "six- wheelers," a 15-ton articulated
speed eight-wheeler." with six
in constant mesh which can be fitted with a petrol or an all engine. And as some indication: of transport requirements over- seas, one firm produces an eight- wheel drive tractor for cross- country work which will take It is two eight-wheel trailers. designed for use in undeveloped countries and will draw a 15- ton load on 24 wheels,
A WEEK OF FLYING
Difficulties of Fog
11
OF
low clouds While stratus make flying !n mountainous country difficult, suitable wire- less installations throughout the country will minimise such diri- culty to s considerable extent." A more serious problem presents Itself, however, when condensa- tion in the form of fog is en- countered between
the stratus clouds and the ground, especially at those points where aft ter. minals are most desirable.
Fog is the great weather. phenomenon which, man so far has been unable to conquer. In fog-piercing lights the battle,
which make and instruments "blind flying" possible have been developed, but they have by no. means been perfected.
A
So far.
their installation has done little to make an attempt to land on aerodrome fog-enveloped
safe, particularly reasonably
the when the approaches to
are blocked with aerodrome high trees, chimney stalks, and overhead power lines.
Nobody has yet invented a way
of dissipating fog, and and meteorologists have been unable to devise thoroughly "practical ways of making ac-
curate forecasts concerning fogs... although by careful observations they have learned a great deal about their causes. When these are fully understood it may be possible to mitigate the fog evil to a considerable extent by re- moving or counter-acting them.
This is a remarkable develop- ment! The heavy-vehicle show is held in alternate years, and makers put the intervening period to such good use that the show has acquired a reputation for revealing more advance in motor engineering than does the ordin- ary car show, to which it has often given a lead in motoring practice. With the coming of such small oil engines it is an interesting speculation whether,
will once again the "heavies" give the car world a lead and help to introduce the oil engine.
to the motor-car.
Fire engines, motor-driven agricultural machines, vans of many types, all are seen at the show, but the two main sections are the commercial goods vahi- cles and the 'buses, The passen- ger vehicles, also faced with a big increase in tax, are meeting it in various ways. One way is to put the engine under the driver's seat, an arrangement that provides accommodation for three additional passengers. The fuld Ay-wheel in combination with the pre-selector gear is a refinement now much more frequently seen... The electric trolley vehicle is still putting up a big fight against the motor-bus and can claim that when the question is which of them should supersede, the tram- car the electric trolley takes at least an appreciable quantity of the current once required for the trams The rall-car is also shown, and the steam wagons are ap- pearing in smaller and lighter forms. The small tractor known the mechanical horse shows' improvement
But it is the "big fellows" of the show which indicate the weight and volume of trafic now. going by road. Just a few may mentioned; a 12-ton six-wh¢C-
Formation of For
As in the formation of clouds. fog is formed through moisture- laden air being cooled to a point where It must give up some of Its moisture by condensation.
At sea fogs are usually created by advection, as when the warm air över such body of water as the Gulf Stream drifts along until it comes over much colder water as for example the Labra- dor Current. Then the moist warm air is immediately cooled by the cold waters below, with the result that at its new and lower temperature it is carrying an excess of moisture which it must give up at once. This it does by condensation. The out- standing example of this process is to be found over the Banks of Newfoundland, where the proxi- mity of the Gulf Stream to the Labrador Current brings about the dense fogs which are such a handicap to North Atlantic ship- ping.
4
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JAN [ARY 16, 1934...
MOTOR
VAUXHALL IN AUSTRALIA.
JOTTINGS
This photgraph was taken on a tour sponsored by the Aus- tralia Motor Travel Assaciation and the New South Wales. The photograph gives an idea of the arduoda kind of country which Vanchall cars have to negotiate in Australastaa part of the world in which this make of car is becoming increasingly popu- lar, With the above photo the following Caption was 'received from the Camera man:-We leave the homestead of the Ranger and after travelling a short distance through pleasant pasture larid the car is driven across the first lapstone of the Wollondilly
River.""
RANDOM NOTES
A Car Every Three Minutes One hundred and fifty cars & day are allowed for in the Stand-" ard output programme for 1934 This means a 50 per cent. increase on previous production, and has necessitated the installation at the Canley works of a new over- head conveyor system 2,000 ft. long.
AJ'
Metropolitan Transport Supply
Co., Ltd., Decide: on Thornycrofts.
One of the most important con- tracts secured for some time is- that in hand for this well-known company, who have ordered forty 10/12-ton rigid six-wheelers in- corporating 100 h.p. 6-cylinder engine, Thornycroft overspeed gearbox and 13.50 low pressure, tyres. Insulated box van bodies will be fitted to all these chassis, one of which will be specially bullt by Thornycrofts for exhibi- tion purposes.
The total value of this order is in the nature of £60,000.
Good News..
The Directors of Rolls-Royce, Ltd, have declared an interim dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, for the six months ended June 30th, 1933.
This is the first occasion on which an interim dividend bas been declared by the company. The dividend for the past year was at the rate of a per cent. together with a bonus of 2 per cent.
High Praise,
If you look back at the record of the singer team during the past year you will see that they have done remarkably well, and one cannot help thinking that they could do equally well m this
type of competition (the Ulster TT), for everything they undertake seems to be successful *("Casque," in "The Auto-
car.")
120 M.P.H. ON BRITISH
*LIGHT CAR
At Montlhery Racing Track
A special Austin Seven develop- ed for high-speed record at- tempts, travelling at almost two milles a minute, recently set up distance of new records for from five to ten miles at hery Racing Track.
The driver was T. M. Jamieson, and the actual figures for these new records, slect to oficial infrmation," sez-five" thiles' at 119.38 mph ten. kilomérés at 119.39 mph; ten miles at 119.19 m.ph.
This riew Austin Seven Special, which is novable for its fine streamlining, is virtually a minia- ture Bluebird. and practically wo-miles-à-minute with a 747 c.c. side-valve engine," cerainly marks another great achievement for the British light car.
More recently. Mr. Jamlesori has broken the 50-kilometre Class H record at, 11342. m.p.h. The pre- vious record is exceeded by a margin of no less than 74 m.ph.
THAT STUBBORN ENGINE
Make a Good Job of Lubricat-
ing Road Spring
Fortunately I have never owned a car in which the en gine was of the mullah variety. but I have handled a few of that type. They were perfect pests, and by the time one had swung the starting handle for five minutes and popped in and out of the driving seat, becom- ing more hopeless each time, the foys of ownership had pret- ty 'well vanished. :
These troubles, however, are Hot frequent now, as cheap and nasty
magnetos ere: things of the past and their places have been taken by quite good coll- and battery systems that pro- vide a "fat" spark at very low engine speeds.
While fogs, which have form- ed over the sea in the manner described, may drift over the and on the seaboard as in the English Channel, fogs on land are generally caused by what is known '25; radiation. Soil and recks absorb heaf very rapidly, and give it up just as rapidly. ». Consequently after sunset the earth begins immediately to give. up the heat which it has absorb- ed during the day from the sun If the ground is moist, or if over the surface there are “sheets of Shallow, still water, considerablo evaporation takes place during the process of heat radiation. - If at the same time there. Is Little or no wind"to carry awaying it remain for about ten this evaporating moisture tha air immediately above the damp ground becomes saturated with water vapour. Gradually as this air cools down in sympathy-with the ground below it becomes over-saturated; and condensa- tion takes place in the form of A fogva E
In most districts a very gentle breeze la sumclent to carry away the moisture-laden air before it Fecomes saturated, and so no fog appears. Rates of radiation. available surface moisture, and wind velocities vary so much that it has been impossible so far to forecast accurately Just when fog will form and how long it will last when it does forin
When the car is wanted early on's morning when its really chilly, a liberal supply of really hot water will "work wonders, *FI ["up" the empty cooling system with it, and, after lett
minutes, drain it off and repeat the operation:
Well Worth While Most of the heat from the first filling will have been dis- sipated in heating the cylinder block and "head, as well as the radiator and other metal parts, and the second supply, will then be able to turn its attention. as it were, to the bearings and the oll itself,
I know that many owners will think this procedure a great bother, but we are writing of stubborn engines, and the trou ble involved in filing the cool ing system twice with hot water is nothing at all compared with see the only other alternative an
tremendous expenditure of phy- sical energy.
I also know that many read- ers will ask-What is the battery for? They will say that the engine on their car never fails to go off first shot, and so on," but I am not writing for such lucky people. As. I have said, I am" addressing the owners of.
the- mulish engines that defy electric starter unless coaxed in some way. dash pad ng
71
From the Driving Seat After giving the Eot water -time to pass on its heat, tam the engine several times by hand in order to shear the of film, and then get into the driving seat,
Close the strangler, push out clutch; and then switch on the starter for about five seconds. Now wait about another twenty seconds and then switch on the Ignition. "Still keeping out the clutch, use the starter and just tickle the accelerator pedal with your foot. If the engine does not fire cease operations" for about a minute, taking care to switch off the ignition.
Under no circumstances con- tinne to grind the engine round by the starter with the strangler fully closed, and if you have flooded the carburetter once do not do so again
The only result of continually flooding the carburetter and grinding the starter with the strangler fully closed will be to food the combustion chamber with wet petrol, to drench the plug points, and to make the job more dimcult than ever
should the plugs have become wet do not hesitate to remove and dry them:
EFFICIENCY IN BRAKES
Can Small Cars Equal Large
The point has been raised whe- ther small cars can be as BDCC- tively braked as large. The opin- ton has been expressed that many road mishaps are due to this cause, while an opposite view is that with reasonable efficiency in both cases the lighter car can be. stopped in the shorter distance.
Actually, of course, the weight of the car has no bearing on the subject. The stopping distance is all a matter of the design of the braking system, The lighter the vehicle the less the energy' to be absorbed by the brakes, but the brakes cannot absorb more energy than road adhesion allows. Road adhesion, on the other hand, depends on weight, so that in theory a light car and a motor 'bus on the same road; -should be able to pull up in the same distance from the same speed.
In practice, of course, suspen- sion has some effect and so does weight distribution and the divi- sion of braking effort between Actual front and rear wheels. test figures confirm the fact that weight has little to do with the matter. Thus recently published Agures for stopping distances from 30 m.p.h. give 2911, for a 32-110 h.p. Austro-Daimler, which may be taken as a heavy-weight. On the other hand a Singer Nine The best Sports only took 27ft. figure was a 23 litre Bugatti with only 23ft., the Frazer-Nash figure was 271, but one of the most expensive types of larger sports car gave the poorest result of all.
At all events, these "figures are in accordance with theory that weight in itself has nothing to do with stopping distance.
to the
Silent Motor Cycle" for the Police.
Appreciating the fact that al- eace is golden when it comes malefactors, apprehending
Coventry police Triumph- motor cycles Similar machines are also in use by Army despatch: riders and the police forces of several other provincial cities,
*
[J
NEW MORRIS CARS
Thirty-three Models
The new Morris cars, of which there are eight different types, and altogether thirty-three mod- els, make up perhaps the most interesting as well as the largest series yet turned out of famous Cowley works. The prices range between £110 for the cheapest, the 8-hp. Minor Four, to £395 for the 25-b.p. Six, and every chassis has special, new points.in.design. such as synchro-mesh'four-speed gear-boxes, cross-braced frames (of an unusual design), and, on the smaller cars, what is called "equipoise" power-unit rubber. suspensiom. Two entirely new models have "been added, ↑ the Morris Ten-Six and the Cowley gtr, as well as a sports model on both the Tea-Four and Tèn-Six Chassis. Judging from the photo- graphs in the excellently drawn- up catalogue, the coachwork, is considerably improved, not only in appearance-the new "window frames give a pleasant Hghtness to the general lines-but in ac- commodation. On the smaller cars, with short wheelbase, the engine is mounted forward; to give additional leg-zoom, as in the Wolseleys and others of last year and earlier.
Automatic De-Clutching
In the three largest cars, the 25-h.p., the 18-hp. "Tals," and the 3-tze 16-h.p. Oxford, the speci- fication includes a free-wheel and
·Bandix automstle clutch control. called the "single-pedal" .control. *This means that the clutch is automatically withdrawn as soon as the accelerator pedal is re- "leased; In other words, the car coasts as in the ordinary way with the clutch out, but not by human agency. Machinery de- presses the clutch pedal, or pro- duces that effect. In addition, there is a free-wheel, both gad- gets being controlled from the dash-board. The combination, it is claimed, renders the box crash- proof. The necessary movementa for setting the car, in "motion require the use of the right foot only, for acceleration and slow- ing down. Gears are engaged and changed by moving the gear- lever, without touching the clutch pedal. The drive can be locked immediately, it required.
BRITISH TAXIS "ABROAD- Holland is buying British taxis because they are cheaper to run than those of other countries.
For instance, an order, for twen- ty 9 h.p. saloon taxis was received by the Singer Co recently.
Taxis are very extensively used in Holland, and proprietors are finding that the excellent light more British engines are much economical than bigger engines which have in the past been used.
HEAVIER TRAFFIC
LARGER
THIRD PARTY CLAIMS!
WILL YOUR POCKET SUFFER ?
A.A.U
AP
ASIA LIFE BLDG. 14, QUEEN'S RD. C.
MOTOR CAR INSURANCR
| TRUST A THOrnycroft With Your TraNSPORT
DEAL DIRECT
THORNYCROFT
SIX-CYLINDERED
COACHES @ OMNIBUSES
MOTOR
VEHICLES
DIESEL OR PETROL
Pioneer Manufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles
Full Range of Spares carried in Hong Kong and Shanghất,
4 or 6 Wheels
4 or 6 Cylinders
30 Cwt. to 10 Ton Loads
20 to 70 Passengers
JOHN I THORNYGROIT & CO., LIMITED,
Pioneer Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon,
TRE. 56752.
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