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WHAT IS THE PERFECT
CAR?
Combining Best Features Of
The Various "Products
Sometimes we feel that the perfect car could best be created by giving a broadminded and denationalized engineer dictatorial power to select and employ the best features of chassis produced in all countries. Despite the mo- dern tendency towards standard- ization, there remain wide diffèr- ences between the cars produced in England, on the Continent and in the Waited States, each type displaying its particular virtues and. shortcomings. “
British Product Excels
Broadly speaking, the British product excels in point of power small engine. output from the
It is probably for this very ·zen- son that most British cars do not run so quietly as their American competitors. However, in econo- my of operation, general appear- ance and finish, the British auto- mobile can be classed as superior to most of the cars produced else- where, while a notable feature of many of the new cars is the attention that has been paid to quietening the engine and trans- " mission.
In coachwork, there is restraint in. Ilne" and dignity of appearance, as well as greater attention to upholstery and interlor anish. There is little to be learnica tu- day from even the renowned French coachbuilders, which was not the case a few years ago."
The Continental Designer Continental chassis. are notable for road-holding and a capacity for withstanding knockabout con- ditions of service, The Continental designer is also to be congratulat- ed upon a most progressive"spirit; in the development of independ- ent springing. for example, he has led the world. On the other hand, he does not concern him- self unduly with the refinements. necessary to ensure smooth and quie: running.
The modern American car is the production engineer's master- piece; the silence and perfor- mance now achieved in low-priced models is nothing short of aston- ishing. That low taxation has permitted the development of big engines only accounts in part for these results, as American
have engineers
been equally active in reducing car weight to a minimum. On the other hand, road-holding is not usually a strong feature. We remember a singularly frank advertisement in an American magazine which stated that "no one has yet dared to drive the new-up to its maxi- mum speed" a phrase contain- ing a deeper truth than the copy- writer Intended.
The moral of these generalities is that no car maker can afford to disregard the virtues of com- petitive productions. As a result, the commendable practice of buy- ing and testing the other fellow's product is extending..
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1934.
MOTOR JOTTINGS
THE MOTOR SHOW
Opened By The Duke Of Kent
(Special Air Mail Service)
London, Oct. 14. The Duke of Kent (Prince" George) opened the Motor Show at Olympia, London, yesterday.
In thanking Sir Herbert Austin and members" of the committee for their congratulations on his approaching marriage, the Dake" Baid
Princess he hoped that Marina would be able to come with him on his next visit to the show "She would be much, interested in all there is to see here," he added.
Q "Aš a motorist myself,” he con- .tinued. "I can appreciate that the quality of your products has been even further improved upon düring the inst twelve months, and I am
that the glad to see use of various devices to increase safety on the road has been the keynote of your designers and production engineers. This is so not only in the case of motor- cars but of motor-boats, caravans, and the many other sides of your great industry..
Work For 100,000 Men "The motor industry in the past twelve months has been able to expand its trade, both at home and abroad. to such an extent that it has been possible to take off the unemployment register and replace on the pay-roll some 100,000 men. This is most satis- factory, and has been made poss- ible by the foresight, initiative, and determination of the leaders
DRIVER'S NERVE HERE'S ANOTHER of the motor industry, who may
Final Lap Of The Race
A haze of heat hung in a shim- mering curtain over the white ribbon of roda. A wedge of dust. rising In the distance, heralded. the leaders racing for the bend into the straight. The high- pitched drone of a thousand angry bees—and the crowg ilring- the road suddenly grew tease, eyes straining, watching the bend. Flashing round the corner came a tiny green car followed closely by three red machines. "Here' they comel-No. 4 leading!" A murmur of suppressed excitement #ippled through the crowd. The crone gave way to a deep-throat- ed roar as the cars hurtled by, heads turning as they went.
As No. 4. streaked past, the crowd caught a momentary im- pression of the set face under the white helmet, the driver crouched low over the wheel. One lap to go! That fellow was putting up a "show." The heart of the crowd went out to this caring man, whose brain must surely be packed in leg. so perfect was his Judgment, Driving with relent- 'less doggedness, cotnering with an uncanny precision that was a joy to behold, they had watched him run through the field and creep up on the leaders into first plate after a terrific duel with the three Itallan aces who were even row.close on his tail.
To Lie Down and Sleep! The driver of No. 4 saw nothing but a long blur of faces; his eyes were glued to the road ahead,.. dropping every now and then for a quick glance at his instruments. For hours, it seemed like years, he had been in the cramped cock- pit with that tortuous road smak Ing Beneath him; The heat from the engine had swollen his feet so that he could hardly feel the pedals. His hands were sore and bleeding, Above all else, he want- ed to sleep, to shut his eyes, everi for a few seconds. Perhaps if he could sleep he could forget the thing that had hanging over his Head like a black cloud. Hour after hour, lap after lap, there had hammered in his brain the same, question: would he have the nerve?
Well, somehow he'd got to go through with ft.
Out of the corner of his eye the driver of No. 4 saw the nose of one of the red cars creepingʻup...
Past the pits,"from which frantic signals were being waved, and then a sharp right-hand bend Mechanically, his hand sid for ward to the gear lever; down into third, now brake, going too fast!
Believe It Or Don't
Old CUA Raymond says a friend of his was driving along the Boyl Mich the other day at the height. of the traffic and stopped for a red light. The car behind him. driven by a lovely lady, promptly gave him a good bump. At the next red light he stopped, and again he got a resounding bump. -Same car did it, same lovely lady. At the third red light it happen- ed again. Somewhat annoyed by this time, the man got out of his machine and "walked back to the offending car and gave the lady a dirty look. "What do you mean by continually bumping into my car?" he demanded. "Why are you stopping all the time?" re torted the lady, "What's the big ides anyhow?" "Damn it!" "sald he "can't you see those red lights?- I've got to stop for them, haven't 17" "Oh Lord!" said the lady, "If you stop for those silly things all the time you'll never get any where!"
A wild, slithering skid, a roar from the crowd, and he was round and streaking for the canal bridge.
A quick glance over his shoul- "der, only two red cars there Low.
Yes, he'd got to go through with it. With a grim smile he' thought of a 'beadline in the newspapers only a few days ago: "Daring driver breaks lap record in practice run." Daring- only they knew! Under the railway bridge and on up the tree-lined avenue. Keep well over to the right, surface was better there.
Last Effort!
.
Once again the driver of No. 4 felt the cold hand of fear clutch- ing at his heart; but his mouth was set in a hard, straight line,, his mind was made up. Hullo oll pressure dropping. Have to risk it, now-win or huit!
As if in a dream the driver of No. 4 saw the finish at the end of the straight; sensed one of the two cars roaring on his tail creep- ing level again. From a flat-out engine be coaxed those few extra
revs.
יי.
A chequered flag, people strugg- ling to alap him on the back, someone thrusting a glass into his hand. Wegrily pulling the gogg- les from his oll-grimed- face, the driver of No. 4 took little heed.
Even
"What's a joint father?".
well be proud of what has been done.
al
**This excellent display of the quality and value of the indivi dual products, as well; as the con- fidence in the outlook of all those connected with the industry, pro- vides sufficient reason to belleve. that the motor trade in general, will make even greater progress in the coming year than it did during this year. In declaring this exhibition
open 'I wish all
organisation
connected with its the success they deserve for their enterprise."
The Duke later made a tour of the show...
Good Business While the
Duke was walking · round, many thousands of pour.ds" worth of business was done at the show,、 An official said to a re- "I think we have more porter: overseas buyers here this year than ever. All the world seems This to be buying British cars. year, for example, we are having order for complete cars to be ex- ported to Australia in spite of the cost of import. In previous years British manufacturers have sent and the chassis to Austraila bodies have been put on there."
The Duke spent more than an hour and a half at the show, and" when he left he told Sir Herbert Austin: "It is a splendid show. I have been very much impressed by progress made by the British motor industry during the past year since my last visit to the show."
Big Attendance
The attendance at the Motor Show yesterday was 8,991, beating last year's figure, which was 3,014.
It was stated last night that sales both at home and abroad had already created a record. Ad- vantage was being taken of the taxation reduction, and a sub-a stantial increase in orders over last year's opening day was re- corded.
The new streamlined bodles have been a great attraction, and the Duke of Kent showed great - interest in some of the models. Overseas visitors have been pro- . minent and sales promise to be goods in this direction. Now that. the horse-power tax has been re- duced people seemed more in- terested the higher powered cars, although "bables" were still favourites with mary.
SIMPLIFYING STARTING
OF ENGINE
Solex Carburetter Feature
There have been many import- ant developments recently in con- nection with carburation, design- ed to improve-starting from cold and to give the driver the "min-" imum of trouble in keeping the engine running when once it has fired. One of the results is the single-knob starting, namely, the starter button, after the use of which the mixture strength is cared for by thermostatic con- trols governing the operation of the strangler, and, in some cases, the temperature of the in-going
air.
The latest Bolex development in. this connection is the Thermos- tarter carburetter which has re-. cently been introduced and will be itted to a number of 1935 cars. All provision for starting from cold, temporary attention whilst warming up, and final reversion to normal running on the straightforward carburation sys- tem, are carried out entirely by automatic means.
The new model comprises three
from the orifice at the end of the tube, but so soon as a predeter- mined
been temperature has reached. distortion of the strip! forces the valve into contact with the orifice and closes all means of communication.
This is arranged to work in conjunction with a diaphragm controlling a valve which governa the operation of the starter car- buretter. When the increase in temperature causes the valve to close the communicating tube ori- fice, engine suction operates on the diaphragm and puts the star- ter carburetter out of action.
· ROAD CROSSING STUDS DIFFICULT TO SEE
Complaint Of Motorists
The metal studs which are be- ing used in some parts of Lon-' Ja to replace the painted lines at erossing "lanes” are being sub-
essential parts: the main car-jected tó a great deal of criticism"
buretter, designed on the well- known' Solex principle, ensuring normal functioning of the engine when idling and under ordinary, running conditions; the starter, which is a carburetter in minia- ture giving immediate starting and running from cald; and, fin- ally, the special thermostat which governs automatically the opera- tion of the starter.
How It Works
The thermostat itself comprises a stainless metal box fixed to the.. exhaust pipe and containing a bimetal strip which reacts to variations in temperature; it coul trola the operations of a valve placed in front of an orice at the end of a tube communicating of a valve placed in front of an account, orifice at the end of a.tube com
municating with the starter car
buretter.
"It's an account where one per- son does the depositing and the other the withdrawing."
When starting from cold the thermostat holds the valve away
by motor-car drivers (writes", a correspondent)...
In some places the studs have sunk into the road so much that they are almost fush, and have “ ecome so covered with dirt that they cannot be seen except from short range.
1 made an examination of a number of these crossing places yesterday and found, that some had reached the stage when they were difficult to pick out even on a clear road. With the sun dow and against the driver the diff- culty of spotting these crossing places was still further increas ed.
The
studs are about a foot apart, and the employment of atuds much closer together might be considered or what seems more promising, the sides of the crossing lane" should be marked with two rows of stude close to- gether.
A MIRACLE OF COMFORT
The 1935 Balilla
The 1935 Balilla moter car lives up to the announcements made concerning it. The 38 miles to the gallon proves it to be an ex-. ceptionally economical car, a con- sideration which will endear it to the heart of every driver. It is a avé-passenger car with an aston- ishing amount of space for both driver and passengers, has four doors, which are fitted withour central billars latching on to "shafts set in the floor and roof. The elimination of pillara adds much valuable space and makes access and egress a very simple matter. Both front seats are ad- justable and summcient space is allowed for even the tallest man. The interior is well-finished and the latest aero-dynamic theories are incorporated, Better stability is given through the additional length, which me- terially adds to the appearance of the car.
throughout.
The Dash Board
The dash board is simplicity in design, all dials being concentrat- ed into one dial about six inches in diameter. It contains "petrol guage and indicator, clock and oil pressure indicator.
A buff corded material is used for furnishings and the seats are comfortable, being well-sprung and low slung. "All switches are within easy reach of the driver and driving is generally of the simplest imaginable.
Star Student
During a history class the ter cher asked, "What happened in 14837"
Luther was born." answered a student promptly.
"Correct! What happened in '14877"+
After a long pause, "Luther was four years old."
Should All Motorists Be Teetotallers?
Opinions have been expressed from the Bench on many oc- casions to the effect that one should refrain from having any- thing stronger than, let us say, tea or coffee when out with a car. It may be that there is something to be said for this course on the score of safety" in. certain contingencies. One is sure, at all events, of not coining under suspicion on purely olfac- tory grounds. The effect of such suspicion is too often that re- versing the very root principles of English justice, and shifting the onus of proof from the pro- secution to the defence. Just one whiskey-and-soda leaves its traces in the breath; an accident happens, and what might be à matter of mere note-taking by a constable becomes one of being.
under the influence."
One objects from the outset to the gratuitous, assumption that as between no drinks and one drink, or one and two drinks, there is a perilous, arbitrary
MAJESTIC LATE
(Special Alt Mall Service).
London, Oct. 13.
The Majestic arrived in New York this morning a day late.. after one of the worst crossings she has ever experienced for con- tinuous stormy weather,
Shortly after she had left Cher bourg last Thursday an enormous wave mounted over her port bow and dashed over the bridge high above the water line, smashing in six of the, windows-
Capt. Trant was severely hurt by broken glass flying around in jagged splinters. He sustained a deep scalp wound and a wrenched shoulder, and was incapacitated for the rest of the trip.
As soon as the ship docked to- day, he was removed in an" am- bulance to the French hospital where he is now resting easily. although.. certain complications involving infection may delay his convalescence and prevent his re- turning with the ship this Friday.
barder line, and that once this border line is passed å driver is *prima facie," to be put under proof of innocence, as it were." Too many charges, which-after- ́· wards prove to be groundless, are brought on this basis.
Taking things as they are rather than as they ought to be, It may be politic for a man- to
eschew intoxicants whilst journeying with his car. Ör course, any man whose faculties have become, temporarily de- ranged through over-indulgence is a danger to himself and to others if he has a drink on the road. Against that, however, "is the hard fact that for every one person whoTM“overdoes it" there. are a hundred on whom a stimu- lant will have a steadying influ- ence. sharpening up their reac tions and making them safer on the road than before. As mo- torists
we put up with quite a ∙lót, but that is no reason why. we should be expected to sign the pledge with our licence ap- plication.
THEOLOGICAL CHAIRS
(Special Air Mail Service)
Glasgow, Oct. 13. The Presbytery of Glasgow yes- terday inducted the Rey, John Mauchline, formerly of Daizler South Church. Motherwell. to the Chair of Old Testament Language, Literature, and Theology in Trinity College, and the Rev. J. G. Redell, formerly of Netherlee Church, Glasgow, to the Chair of" Apologetics and Systematic Theology in the same college.
The Chair of Old Testament. Language, Literature, and Theology was rendered vacart by the death of the Rev. Professor JE. MFad- yen, D.D. and the new appoint- merit to the Chair of Apologeties and Systematic, Theology follows upon the retirement of the Rev. Professor A, B. Macaulay, DD.
The induction took place in Glasgow
University Memorial Chapel, and was attended by members of the Presbytery and the Senates of the University and Trinity College.
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