AUTOCAR ROAD TESTS
The Wolseley Landaulet
Essentially the six-cylinder 21-80 h.p: long-wheelbase Wolse- ley landaulet is a luxury vehicle. which exactly meets the require". nents of those car users who need the easiest and most com-' Iortable form of ..transit, either for town work or for touring. and who place 15 their Arst considerations In making a choice such features as extreme spaciousness within the body, ease of entry and exit. comfort and dignity for social occasions, a clear view outwards from all seats, and privacy the rear compartment when de- sired.
These considerations are pre- cisely and exactly met by the Wolseley model under review, which has the additional ad- vantages of being a five or a seven-seater, a car divided into two separate compartments, or espable of being used as a large. saloon by dropping the glass partition at will; a closed car, or a partially open one, when the rear section of the roof is drop- ped; and. lastly, a vehicle mast adequately equipped, excellently. finished, and, withal, tempting in price.
As a car to ride, In, this Wolse- ley has a double character. It can be regarded from a" front- seat point of view-that is to say. its extreme ease of bandling and Its flexible, büt spirited, perfor- mance may be noted; or, conver- sely, it may be examined for its virtues as a carriage from the serene aspect of its inviting rear seats,
Comfortable Seats Insensibly, the observer Ands himself attracted to the luxury of those rear seats, where he may rest at ease, close up the glass partition control the ventilation. and eliminate draughts with the aid of the glass louyres over the drop windows-the rear quarter lights open, too and compose himself to survey the passing countryside or indulge in easy conversation.
These, outlines of an atmosp- Sere imply a good deal; they explain indirectly that the 11d- ing of the rear compartment is steady and easy, that the car is exceptionally quiet, that the view outwards vis unusually good because the body sides are not unnecessarily high, and that
mechanism of
car
the
the is particularly unobtrusive and the work of the driver-with whom communication is estab- lished by a telephone-in, chang- ing gear and so forth unnotice- able.
A mood of indolent repose. Is engendered by the soft adequacy of the deep cushions, the gentle support of the folding centre.
the armrest, and
comfortable position given by the folding footrests. The latter, when out of use disappear into the thickness of the partition at the base of the two folding occasional chairs."
the presence of which is kely' unnoticed unless the
to
pass
chairs are set up for use: They
are cleverly arranged so as not to restrict the leg-room of the rear seats, and in themselves offer. an unusual degree of comfort and room. The doors of the car are exceedingly, wide, so it is easy to get in or out, and the height of the roof avoids interference with the entrant's head gear.
Now for the second phase of the character of the car—its per- formance from the point of view of the driver. The first thing to observe is that the front senta are comfortable, and not at all cramped, so that an owner may be tempted sometimes to drive and to use the car as a saloon. Then the steering is not at all heavy, and is quite définite, and the car is easy to handle, despite the size of it. It can be driven fast without effort, for it rides steadily and goes round cornere with confidence, the road hold being good.
2
The engine is well up to its work, and very little gear chang- ing is necessary, whilst the run- ning is smooth and quiet. In this no doubt the seven-bearing
stiff crankshaft, the
cylinder block, the torsional vibration damper, the rubber mounting of the power unit in a specially rigid double frame, and the duplex silencer arrangement all play im- portant parts.
N
Gear Changa
The gear change is not only ex- ceedingly easy to handle, but is quiet and shockless. Synchro- mesh is provided on third and top, a controlled, free wheel is fitted and also there is a vacu- um-operated clutch control. The outcome of the use of all these devices is 'to reduce gear chang- - ing to a matter of releasing the accelerator pedal, and pulling the gear lever into the desired notch. The clutch needs ro attention from the foot The free wheel and clutch control. can be cut out instantly if required, and the gear lever used, in the ordinary wdy?
71
The brakes are operated on the Lockheed hydraulic system, and they prove to be really powerful when the pedal pressure is up- plied with a will, but in: nomal driving no greut pressure is need- ed.
The hand brake, operated
by a centrally placed lever, will hold the car down a 1 in 4 gradi- ent. The car, by the way, made light of the Brooklands Test Hill. Certain items of the equipment need special mention; for exam- ple, there are two spare wheels in neat nietal covers at the sides of the bonnet
Self-cancelling
traffic indicators are fitted, there is a large special fog lamp, the head lamps are the large and 100 model. powerful Lucas P.
and tinted glass anti-glare visors are folded into the roof of the front compartment.
These are the leading points of a car which has a great many especial features, and which has
very fine appearance as well 2.4 а performance. entirely in keeping with its other character- istice.
SACHS
Outboard
Motor.
The small engine
of highest Power
Speed
Simplicity
Reliability
Economy
For free demonstration apply to
F. FELD & Co., Ltd.,
Pedder Building, HONG KONG.
..
...
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1934.
MOTOR JOTTINGS
HINTS AND TIPS
For The Owner- Driver
Lighting troubles can be traced more often than not to faulty wiring and loose connections. ́A ́ periodical overhaul of the wir- ing system, with particular re- ference to the various terminal nuts, will amply repay the time spent on the task
Draughts
An annoying draught is some- times experienced in the "region of the doors and the gear or brake lever. In the case of the älder Wolseley Hornet, for in- be dificulty can stance, this cured by using "weather, welting" preferably of double thickness, which should be tacked to the frame uprights, thus rendering the door a more perfect fit, while the same material often can be used over the brake-lever orifice. to the is secured The welting floorboards
the lever, around sufficient room, of course being allowed at the top for the lever to move freely. -
47
Seat Angle
Some seats, even although they' are perfectly comfortable for a short journey, tend to grow hard after a hundred miles: It may that a slight alteration to the rake of the cushion will be all the adjustments that is required to render them comfortable for an indefinite period.
This may be very easily effect- ed by packing the cushion at the forward end with a wooden block Bruly secured in position and having a metal lip to stop the cushion slipping.
Sticking Valves—a Care. Dimcult starting and loss of po-" wer may be traced to a sticking valve, a trouble which, in the majority of cases, is easily cured. the To accertain if this be trouble, the following procedure should be adopted. Remove the cover plates of the valve chest and turn the engine over by the starting handle, when, it will be possible to observe the valves opening and closing a sticking valve will be easily traced by the fact that a wide clearance will be noticed between the tappet and the stem of the ending. valve.
To cure the trouble, the spark ing plug of the cylinder in ques-
be removed tlon, should
and a Or small quantity of kerosene penetrating oil injected through the orifice and the valve forced a screwdriver. An- down with other method is to press a screw- driver between the coils of the tension. spring to increase the These remarks apply, of course, to the popular side-valve type of engine.
Corroded Terminals
It is frequently found that bat- tery terminals tend to become corroded, due to the "creeping" action of the acid, and a simple way to prevent such a happen- ing is to squirt a little heavy' ofl over the terminala. A point should be made of periodically inspecting the terminal nuts to ensure that they are not work ing loose.
Cleaning &ium.ulum
It has been found that alumi nium" parts can with advantage be cleaned with, a mixture of six teaspoonfuls of metal polish, two teaspoonfuls of eucalyptus, and a teaspoonful of whiting. This mixture must be shaken before It is used; It will not scratch the surface of the body if it comes In contact with the paintwork.
Bolling the Plugs
It has been found that badly car- bonised sparking plugs are satis- factorily cleaned by boiling them in a strong solution of caustic sods. The solution should con- aist of one ounce of soda to ten ounces of water, and the plugs. should be boiled for about five minutes, care being taken to wash them anally with cold water and to dry thêm as far as possible by bringing them into contact with warm air for some minutes
GENCE Clean Hand
Most notorists like to have clean bands, but after an
house with
noon in the motor the grease gun it is often very difficult to remove the dirt and grime. Many people commence cleansing operations by soaking their hands in hot water, but this is not the correct way to set about the matter, as hot water opens the paces of the skin and the grease then penetrates and becomes very hard to remove. If the hands are first washed in. cold water to remove the worst of the dirt and then, with hot water. the result will be much more satisfactory.
A Tapping Test
A Wineglass on finger-bowl sings if it is dipped with the Anger when empty. but refuses to sing if anything is touching It: Similarly, a brake drum. will ring if tapped with a metal tool when the brake shoes are clear in their "o" position, but emits a dull sound if tapped when a shoe is rubbing. It is usually not... necessary to spin a wheel in order to test for freedom of the.. shoes in the off position-a tap from a spanner will settle the point at once.
LIGHTING BY THE
CLOCK
The idea of having an automa- tic switch capable of being set to turn on the "side and, rear lights at a predetermined momentTM is not a new one, but for such busy men, 'as doctors, who find it necessary to park their cars for indeterminate periods, a de- vice on these lines would prove a boon.
It is significant that a medical man, Dr. Cyril A. Paulusz, should have developed an automatic switch operated by a dash clock which is ·normal. In every way save that an alarm" setting is incorporated. Instead, however, of a bell, the gear is incorporated with a relay consisting of an electro-magnet and an armature connected with a special switch in the lighting system. As soon as the "alarm operates the ar- mature and the switch, the mag- net is electrified, and the arma- ture will remain in the "on". position until the lights are switched off again,
In practice, a small thumb switch on the dashboard decides whether the system shall be in .. operation or whether the light- ing switch shall operate in the normal manner. With the 75- tem in action a thumb screw is used to move the alarm hand. which is turned to the time for lighting up, the main lamp swit- ch turned to aide," and in due course, the lights"will go on and " stay on until the main switch is moved again. The system is pat- ented, and Dr. Paulusz' address is 11. Palmyra Square, Warring-
ton.
FOOLISH QUESTION
A small boy was dining with his parents at a restaurant. Never hav- ing eaten any shelfish, he decided he would try some.
Beating the Car Thief At least one way of making reasonably certain that your car shall not be stolen when left unattended in the street is to secure the gear lever in the re- verse position--the method can only be applied to cars having a gate change. The" "modus operandi" is to drill two quarter-.. Having taken his order, the wait- inch diameter holes through the
ress inquired, "How do you like quadrant in such a position.ai
your oysters, sonny?" to prevent the gear lever from
The boy looked at her in amaze- being shifted after a long staplement. "Why. I haven't had "any padlock has been placed across the gate
A Yale lock type 2563, is suit- able for the purpose, and of the two keys, supplied with the lock; one can be secreted within the Interior of the car, while the other can be carried by the owner, so that one key is for- gotten or mislaid, the owner is not "locked out.”
Nuts and Spanneri
A golden rule for mechanics is always Tap a fixed spanner, but not an adjustable one with a hammer." "Never, however, should the blows become more, than taps. Many people, when able to undo'a nut place a plece of piping over, the free end of the spanner. thus leagthening the leverage available.
un-
This is not altogether advis- able, for too often does it result in the head of the bolt being twisted off. This is why small spanners are shorter than the bigger ones. A small bolt must on no account' receive the same amount of force that would be spplied to a larger bolt.
Missing Screw Remedy After easing a stuck rocker- arm while on the road. it has been known for the screw hold- ing the end of the spring to Jump out and become lost. In such an event a makeshift that will carry one to the nearest gar- age can be elected on the fol- towing lines.
After making sure that the rocker arm end of the spring is held by the remaining screw. fasten the other end to the pillar with a piece of fine wire. It will. probably be found that the spring, now earths the entire block, in which "case. It will be necessary to insert carefully a plece of paper or adhesive tape for insulation purposes.
Plasticine
There are many useful "odd- ments which find their way per..." manently into the tool kit, and of these a stick of Plasticine is cometimes most useful. It can be used. in emergencies for plug- ging a leak in the radiator, the fuel tank or pipe. It may even be sufficient temporarily to mend the leak with Plasticine alone, but a strip of rag bound round wil strengthen the repatr Again Plasticine may be used to secure a small piece of mechan- ism which is working loose in short, there is scarcely, any limit to its fitility
yet, so how can I tell?".
THE MILLE MIGLIA
Great Italian Race
Once, in the year practically the whole of Italy concentrates flercely upon motor racing, every village cafe occupying itself vig- orensly with arguments concern- ing the chances of the various drivers; and be it known that there is no
severe critic than the village expert, nor any-. one who seems to have a greater, more personal knowledge of the men and cars he champions. That Italy, must win is almost an arti- cle of faith.
Mote
All this excitement is about the Mille Miglia, the thousand-mile race which starts from. Brescia and which, like the great road races of old," goes on the ordin- ary highways. In this case right away down to Rome, then back to Brescia by the east coast route. The roads can barely be called clear, but dire things would be- " fall anybody who got in the way of the racing cars, and though local people can and do join in with touring cars the better to see the fun, they do so at their own risk and petil, while immense crowds give vocal warning of a dimculty before a competitor
Improved Route
This year the route has been greatly improved and modifed, especially on the famous twisty Futa Pass," and on the section from Blens to Rome while, on the northward run, the winding roads that used to be unpleasant in the dark have been replaced by a modern autostrada, and Ven- ice is included.
Interest concentrates about the long at of Alfa-Romeos, In which Italy's best' drivers are ex- pressing their sense of personal rivalry. Varzi, Tadini, Nuvolari, Trassi, Consotti, Barbleri, Gherst, Rosa, Taruff, all the men who have made their names in race. after race are taking part, with occasional foreigners such as Chiron, and, away down in the 1,100 cc. section, the British team of Magnettes "under" Lord Howe, with Penn Hughes and, E R. Hall at the wheels, while a lone private Aston Martin is
*་
running in the 1,500 c.c. class.: The rules permit two drivers for each car, though both must be in the car all the time, but the greater number of the more ex- perlenced men have siranged to: drive throughout the race single- handed, having as companion a mechanic.
Since 1928, when the race start ed, the speed has been risin steadily. This year the race" practically dominated by Alfa- Romeo, the entry sheet being punctuated only by an occasional Maserati. The utility cars o last year are not engaged thi time. In the 1,100 cc. cla Taorum's Maserati is expected be very fast, but it is practics the only serious competitor the Magnettes, nearly all th other cars being Flats of almd touring type though fast enoug in their way.
A Great Race
It is a great race made all th greater because most of the repa work has to be carried out by the crew of the car in circums "stances of gret dimculty, but a far as possible the chief firm. concerned have now thorough!" organised a comprehensive sy tem of repair depots, which a remarkably efficient.
In 1929 Minola had his trot axle and aprings completely changed, the car refuelled. Its shock absorbers tightened, wheels changed, and the crew given res freshment in a matter of seven-
teen minutes, and to clean up the machine, charge four wheels. tighten shock absorbers, refuel, and get something to eat has alf be compressed into a matter of two or three minutes as far as most of the drivers are concern- ed. All through the race the Italian telephone system works at full pressure, giving constant news of the competitors, for in almost every town of any note the progress of the race is watch- ed intently by large and interest- ed crowds who want to know no only the leaders on time, but al- so how the minor duels are pro gressing.
TRUST A THORNYCROFT WITH YOUR TRANSPORT
DEAL DIRECT
THORNYCROFT
SIX-CYLINDERED
COACHES & OMNIBUSES
MOTOR
DIESEL
VEHICLES
OR PETROL
Pioneer Hanufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles
Full Range of Spares carried in Hong Kong and Shanghat,
4 or 6 Wheels
4 or 6 Cylinders
30 Cwt to 10 Ton Loads
20 to 70 Passengers
JOHN L THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED,
Pioneer Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon,
TEL. 56752.
TRUST A THORNYCROFT WITH Your Transport