MOTORING
SUPPLEMENT
OP
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
SATURDAY, 7th. November, 1925.
(Bong the Oficial Organ of the Hungkting Automobile Association),
་་
'NEEDS NO PUSH ".
Roads and Londs,
overlooked, especially by these
CURRENT
COMMENT
No often pointed out, a fire most be reached in ite incipient stage and this will not be possible in the Peak district until some type of
Home Touring Boom..
mer
THE PACKARD “EIGHT".
(By Captain Ashton in The Tatler,
Most transatlantic cars that, gain a tyre-hold on the British fancy do so by force of boosting. I have no quarrel with such a system, but it serves incidentally
THE PLAIN MAN AND HIS · CAR.'
IV. THE POWER UNIT. (Continued).
to throw into relief the condition The Magneto.
An
even
By P. W F. Mills.)
way that the points. are cormally
When
We wonder if the department concerned ever makes representa tion or suggestions to the Traffic
of one in particular that has uc-The magneto is an electrical in contact. The nther end of the Department on the matter of the small machine is provided. Three quired its hold in a far more mo- generator of a special typo design- rocker carries a roller or fibre excessively heavy loads which of these excellent little outfits dest way. The Packard, like gooded to cause an induced current of block which, as the mechanism rotates, meots the faces of two are frequently carried by contruc- could be purchased for one fifth of
said
pushand at Olympia in circuit which includes the stationary cams fixed in the in- tors' lorries. Possibly the P.W.D. the price of a large machine, and wine, needs no bush almost very high voltage (or "tension" lorries do not strictly observe the if operated in conjunction with will engage that you will always points" of the sparking plugs. side of the ring which protects
the Peak Police Force, efficient find it & centre of much admira- The instant at which the high- the whole mechanism. loading limits themselves, al- though it is difficult to imagine protection would be obtained at tion. The Packard Six has in the tension current crassos the plug the rocker arm mounts these cams past received from me praise as points is controlled by the move the platinum points are forced
apart and the circuit is broken. such an important matter being quite a moderate cost.
high and as voluntary as has ever ment of the crankshaft.
The way in which electric cur: The contact breaker mechanism been given to any car. I know of who have to bear adverse criticsim By the last mail we received no reason why I should modify rent is generated when conduc-must be "timed" in such a way which is usually forthcoming
will that the breaks occur only when more core" cut lince of force when our roads appear worn out figures from the Automobile As-these views.
motor superlative affair, however, is to not be described here. To under-an induced high-tension "current sociation showing that or otherwise unserviceable. We raise the question in a genuine touring in Gront Britain this your hand in the form of the Packard stand fully the theoretical side of is actually required for ignition has increased by nearly 50 por Eight, a very wonderful affair in-current generation by means of purposes, and clearly it is neces spirit of enquiry, which is prompted by an observation made cent, over last. During the Sum-doud, bang up to date and includ-dynamo machines it is necessary sary to provide some means, of
months of 1924, 143,000
ing a very fine four-wheel braking to read the descriptions of electro-ensuring that the high-tenson the other day by a gentleman
itineraries were issued by the who has had great experience in
fault that I have not personally electrical text books and at re-the cylinder about to fire. This the use of motor transport for A A. Turning Department, Forystem. It is entirely my own magneto phenomena given in current passes only to the plus of
the same period this year the
But I see duced length in some of the stand-later requirment is met by the heavy material. The remark was
output was 203,000 itineraries, sampled its merits.
numerous oxamples about on the ard car manuals. But it is easy, provision of a DISTRIBUTOR, made that a moter lorry which with an aggregate mileage of road, and in many cases I. re-having taken certain facts for which is a rotating carbon brush passed us on Stubbs Road. was
cognize their owners as men of granted, to acquire a working fed with current from thehigh-ton- travelling at a decidedly reckless nearly 76,000,000.
automobilistic discretion. I there-knowledge of the functioning of sion current "collector" brushand fore cheerfully accept the fact as such a simple instrument as the driven by gearing from the arina lorry had an inseription upon it in regard to the prices boing as much out of the ordinary. In my of a magnoto is an alternating pressos against copper segmonts)
undeniable that this is a car vary magneto. The generating portion ture shaft. The distributor brush opinion, if it runs better than the current generator single phase) let into the distributor cover which rand tons", but oured for several of the leading Packard Six it must be a marvel, of the simplest type. The portion usually made of vulcanite or informant assured 115 that it
automobiles. First, there are the for the latter was and is a car of the instrument in which is in similar material), and those scg- actually carried from five to six excellent little cars of British for which I entertain the very duced the current required for ments have attached outside the tons of material large blocks of manufacture such as Morris Ox-highest respect and admiration. igniting the mixture in the cylin- coverterminalsfrom which run the granite for retaining wall conford, Marris Cowley, Singer, No sweeter vehicle
ever left ders is a simple induction coil with high-tension cables to the spark- struction. Such loads are not Austin, etc. Three types which
non-automatic contact breakering plugs. The terminals are fre uncommon, but we have no re- may safely he said to represent
The contact breaker and distribuquentlynumbered 1-4forroference. collection of any prosecution for the very best in British manufac-
tor units are mechanical devices! The relationship of armature exceeding the authorised load.
arid which have bo-
introduced to meet the special spoed to crankshaft spood and The matter is an important one
immensely popular in
requirements of car ignition. The distributor brush spaed to arma- from every point of view, and Hongkong. Second in popularity
instrument is ontirely self con-ture speed will be clear after con- should receive attention.
is the surprising value offered by
tained and extraordinarily com-sidoration of the following facts Weigh-bridges.
American manufacturers in low
Moreover, providing that governing the relationship. The two priced but highly officient touring be effectively handled, a weight cars, which we might call the find journals and journalists do-it is of recent manufacture and of primary winding receives
tion of the armaturo. Its possible Of these, the Essexploring the fact that the majority reputable make it is extremely current impulses for every rovelu- family car.
A low voltage or "primary" output is, therefore, two sparks
speed, and that furthermore, the Inexpensive Cars. load carried was far too heavy.
The prospective car purchaser
As a matter of fact, this particular of to-day certainly is fortunate
Before the loading question can
venient central point. We believe
should be made for weighing
licensing purposes at present, the
weight has to be taken from
A False Alarm-
kare, come
America.
BRITISH CAR SERVICE IN CANADA.
It is not at all uncommon to pact.
noto,
bridge must be installed at a con- Six takes a lot of beating, and the of British cars are unable to com./efficient and reliable. we are right in stating that such in regard to their suita-
recent announcement of yet a/Poto with certain American procurrent is generated by the rota- per revolution of the armature: B necessary machine does not it a particularly attractive pro- bility for use overseas. The case exist in Hongkong, but there can position. $2,326 for a six-cylinder would be more correctly present-manent magnets of an armature shaft all four cylinders fire, and be no doubt but what provisionenach such us the Essex really is fed if the initial price only was wound nearest the core with com-four sparks are required in that taker as a basis for comparison. paratively thick wire. The "high-time, i.e. two sparks are required current is induced in a in one revolution. The armature vehicles and their loads. For satisfying value.
When the question of reliability tension and long service is considered, winding, of fine wire, also on the shaft must accordingly run at the high-grade British car is farinature and outside the primary crankshaft speed. The distributor catalogues or other documentary "SILENCE IS GOLDEN." beyond any comparison with its winding through which einanate brush passes current to all four "lines of force" from the current cylinders in buch of its revolu evidence which the makers may
lower-priced rival.
This is strikingly borne out in passing in the primary winding tionss, and one revolution thus provide: This systom may be alright where only the weight of al Efforts have been made in a letter recently received by theThis outside winding of fine wire meets the requirements of two "secondary," revolutions...of the crankshaft. passenger car is concerned, but it Great Britain to silence racing Export Department of the Sun-is known as the
winding. At the correct instant The distributor, therefore, runs connot solve the problem of how motor cycles, and to encourage beam Motor Car Co., Ltd., from a to arrive at the loaded weight of development in this direction The Canadian motorist, who imported the current in the primary wind-ät half crankshaft (also armature) commercial vehicles. Surely the Motor Cycle has offered a cup to a Sunbeam car in March. 1911. ing is "broken" .e. the primary speed. As the distributor is driven fines which could justly be in the leading racing club. It is After ten years' continuous ser- circuit is opened) by means of a off the armature shaft a two-to- mechanical device called the one reduction is incorporated in flicted on people who disregard considered that the production of vice the first replacement parts the loading limit would defray a silent racing motur cycle will have just been ordered, and the CONTACT BREAKER Situated the drive.
There are two controls attach- the cost of the purchase of a ultimately result in silent touring absolute reliability of the engine in a cover at one end of the mag-
As the primary currenting to the magneto. They are weigh-bridge.
machines becoming standardised. and chassis will be best appreciat-breaks and the lines of force close the timing control lever and the
ed by noting exactly what new parts are required. They con- in upon the winding from which cut-out switch. The former is priso two now hubs and hub caps, they originated they have to pass often loosely referred to as the through the secondary winding,"spark lever", and is arranged one clutch leather, and a genera-and they are therefore cut by to run over a quadrant located on tor belt.
This is not only further proof this winding. This cutting of tlle the steering wheel or the steering lines of force induces a current wheel column. Rods connect it of Sunbeam reliability, but exom- plifies once more the truth of the' in the secondary winding, and to an arm on the contact breakor owing to the comparatively great cover, which is arranged to rotate axiom that "Quality is remem-
number of "turns" in this wind-through a small are of a circle, bored long after price is forgotten."
ing this induced current is of very this movemont altering the posi- much higher voltago. Its pressure tion of the fixed coms relativetothe MOST NEEDED TOOLS. is sufficient to bridge by a spark armature and causing the sparks the gap which is formed in the to occur earlier or later in the secondary circuit by the sparking cylinders relative to the positions What are the 12 most necess- plug points. This spark ignites of crankshaft and pistons. This ary spares and tools to be carried, the explosive mixture in the cylin- movement of the contact breaker der. No return lead is required cover is known as "advance and in every automobile?
The question was asked of its from the plugs to the magneto in rotard of the spark.", or "ignition readers by a French publication. order to complete the secondary advance and retard". The cut- The vote was for the following circuit. The spark junips from out switch may be located at any equipment, in the order named: the electrode of tho plug to the point of the car convenient to the Spare wheel, combination body, which is screwed into the driver, and its effect is to close a pliers, jack, tyro tool, monkey cylinder, and the current returns circuit connecting the primary wratch, tyre pumb, scrow driver, to "earth" through the cylinder winding'und "earth". In other words closing the switch contacts spare spark plug, hammer, in-casting. sulating tape, magneto wrench, The contact broaker mechanisin (or "switching off") curtha the annealed wire.
is simple in construction. The primary winding through con- curront is led to two platinum noctions in the contact breaker pioces known as "points", and it and no current is, gonorated in is at these points that the primary the magnoto. For obvious ro current is broken. One of theasons placing a contact switch in points is fixed, but the other is the high tension circuit would bo screwed into one arm of a rooker dangerous and unsatisfactory. controlled by a spring in such a [ Continued, on. Page_5.).
Shortly following a recent com- ment in those notes оп
the absence of fire-fighting equipment! on the Peak (excepting, and with due deference to the useless hose boxes on wheels) one of the heavy motor fire machines was noticed in the vicinity of the Peak Hotel. One or two optimistic ronidents jumped to the conclusion' that at last investigations were being made with a view to installing adequate equipment for the pro. toction of their homes in case of fire. If rumour has it correctly howover, the mission of the fire brigade officials on the particular occasion was to ensure that the appliances were in order, and/or sufficient, at the Governor's Poak residence. Presumably then, the Government is fully aware of the presont unsatisfactory state of affaire existing.
A Comparison in Cost.
BE SURE THE ROAD IS CLEAR BEFORE STARTING FROM THE CURB.
One of the modern heavy fire-
fighting machines costs approxi-
matoly £2,500: against £170 for
"Reggie, what is, tho matter
an up-to-date fire motor-cycle with the car?"
2,000,000 TRUCKS There are now about 2,150,000 and sidecar appliance, the latter "I don't know, doar, Thero is trucks in the United Staton. And being practically the only solution certainly something rattling " about 373000 now trucks are to Peak fire service. As we have Melbourne Punch, Australia, placed into service manually.
The 1926 Harley-Davidson Stream-line Twin, Featuring 16 limportant Improvements.
Arrived per S.S.
Empress of Asia"
Will you be the lucky one to have the first 1926 out on the road? -Come and let me demonstrate this wonderful machine with all the latest improvements.
Kindly book your order now at the Gascon Motor Co., No. 2, Kwong Wah Road, Kowloon (opposite The Steam Laundry) as only a limited number have arrived.
ALWAYS IN STOCK
Latest Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Com- binations and Spare-Parts.
Telephone K. 1242.
Repairs on all makes of Motorcycles. THE GASCON MOTOR COMPANY.
GARGOYLE
Mobiloil
Make the chart your guide
Is it not strange that a man will spend hundreds of hard-earned dollars for a motorcar and then ruin it by using poor quality lubricating oil? Yet so many do it there must be a reason.
They do not believe that one oil is better than another; and think all the education il work this Company has done and is doing, a dodge to get. their money.
Many years ago, we set out to educate the oil-consuming public and the progress to date has. ben remarkable, Tae fact that we are the largest strictly lubricating oil company in ex- istence speaks volumes for the Company's Correct Lubrication Policy. To say that we have been successful is putting it mildly.
Quality and Service are the two words we have in mind when producing Gargoyle Mobiloil.
■
The use of the Correct Grade of Gargoyle Mobiloil, as specified in the Chart of Recommen- dation, will insure your motorcar against an early trip to the scrap heap give you more mileage to the gallon of benzine, and horse power. to your engine and eliminate expenditure for, repairs due to the use of poor quality oil.
Ask your dealer for Gargoyle Mobiloil and Make the Chart your Guide when selecting the Correct Grade.
VACUUM OIL CO.