I
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MOTORING SUPPL
HUDSON ESSEX PRODUCTION SYSTEM.
Jarael Klein.]
As the completed chassis is hoisted up from the floor below, its body arrives ready to ba bolted to it. This is one of the operations in the synchronized assembly of Hudson and EasOK. cars in Detroit.
Moment's Delay Costly..
FAST DRIVING.
Not Good for Cars
AFFECTS WEAR.
Since most of us like to drive faster than what is considered the healthiest point for the motor and in fact the car às a whole; we should not expect the economy and length of life from our cars that might be advertised for it or that other slower and more considerato drivers got out of it. G
But there are other ways, too, in which we may drive a car speedily to its destruction, One of these, perhaps the most important, le our ways of driving in trafen?
In some of the larger cities of the country, trafßo signals, on the Important boulevards are timed so that one can drive down its entire longth at a normal speed without stopping once. The rate of speed varies from 15 miles an hour to 80.
If a motorist drives at the speed set by the signal system--and he can, quickly tell what that in-ho will have no occasion to shift gears and his steady rate will mean the minimum of gasoline usage as well as the least possible strain on the moving parts of the car. This is the most economical method of driving through trafic.
Yet there are some drivers who. ara impatient. They must speed up to get ahead of the steady driver in front. So they stop and start
they apply the "brakes and shift gears all of which is costly not only to the motorist but to the car itself.
One of the fundamental facts in of 176 colour combinations in 225) where the body has just arrived for again, they slow up and sped up. the achievement of mass production different types of care can be or- It In the automotive industry has been' dered and completed on thres uniformity of product. There days' notice. Heretofore, only the have been several models with ears could afford to fill an order
The remarkable feature of this varying colour combinations, to be for a special colour or type, and co-ordinated operation is that the pure, but these have boon con- this could be done at extra ex- body plant la five miles distant, up more gasoline than one driven A car driven in low gear uses fined to a minimum and each stylo pense and additional waiting on while the starting point of an- has been sent through manuftic- the part of the customer.
other line may be only on the floor in intermediato. And one driven taro in a group which would make Now for the first time in auto-overhead. Yet all are so timed in second uses more fuel than one Its mass production possible. motive manufacture, the Hudson that their completed parta come driven in high. The reason is This system is still being folMotor Companys makes this ser- together just at the right moment. that the lower the gear, the fastor lowed in nearly all automobile jvice available at no added expense Were there, to be a moment's the motor, and the faster the -plants of the country. The exter loss of time. A car of Any delay in any
coption is that of the Hudson-Es typo among the many offered by throw the entire, plant out of kil- by it.
one line, it would motor, the more fuel is used up Bex plant where a radical depart the company is not produced-as tor. The system can't afford de- "It is therefore advisable, if a ure from this system has been in has been the case heretofore-un- lay or mistake of any kind. So it driver has to shift gears, to go, troduced.
til an order has been received for has eliminated the human element through first and second
+
Hero automobiles are put through production as they are or dored, whatever the colour combi nation, whatever the style, in whatever order they may come. Yet the system of mass production which enables this manufacturer to completo 1900 automobiles in ona day, and all in a single plant, Jan't disturbed a whit.
gebra
it. Thus there is no loss in pro- in its assembly work to the utquickly in order to get into high. ducing models that" might later most.
First gear requires m rely a push prave poor sellers.
For example, overy car, overy of the car, second gear is meant for Parts Appear on Dol
operation, every part to numbered, its neceleration to the lowest point. When the factory receives thej All a workman has to do is match at which third gear can take it up. order it is sont to the planning de number to number. Each morning The sooner the driver gets into partment where it is numbered as cach department gets its orders for high the better it is for the motor it comes fu, no matter what typo parts, numbered correspond with and for the pocketbook," of car it may be, and where the the other parts of each automobile
next day it starta on its way to timed by the planning department There are drivers who, speed up Every 16 seconds a completed completion. Each of the 24 that these distributed numbers will the motor to a faster rate than Hudson or an Essex rolls off one routes this car's parta take are finally come together into ono whole is necessary to shift gears. That of the four assembly lines here, started off so that when it comes automobile.. ready to be shipped or driven to final assembly every part will A lacquer sprayer may be en-aimculty in getting the gears to means not only a waste of fuel but away. First may come a black Es-roach the chassis designed for It rely colour blind, although he mesh,. A little experience should Box coupe with tan moulding and at the exact time. It is needed. may have 25 "guns" at his right enable drivers to tell exactly what tandstriped wheels. Nevt may come There is no waiting for an al- hand from which to spray various speed of the motor is necessary to e Hudson sedan with green fon-lotted part. There is no accumu- colours of lacquer on a fender or bring the geara to mesh in first, ders and wheels, then an Essex lation of parts that might have other part passing him. All be second or high, without putting with a right-hand drive for ex roached their destination too soon. sees is a number on that part undue strain on the angine." port, and next another Essex of At the exact moment when the lo picks the "gun" with that entirely different style and colour. chassis of a certain type car number, sprays it with that colour nomically and most effectually is The best way to shift gears eco- All Lines Synchronized, reaches the wheel assembly point, and his job is done. There Yet the system of assembly in the wheels assembled especially for be no mistake so long as he reads throttle gradually na the left foot can to press the right foot down on the this factory has been so planned that job slide down their chutes his numbers correctly. that the entire process göcs for- and on to the four hubs, ward without a moment's waste. At the time when the chassis All of the 24 different points at reacles the front fender assembly which various parts of the cars point, there are the two front fen- are started on their way to com- ders ordered for that particu pletion are so co-ordinated and lar job arriving down the contin- Limed that there is no break in the ously moving elevator for at entire system,
tachment. And just when the As a result of a mathematically chassis is ready for the body, it precise system, therefore, any one is hoisted up a floor to the point
THE
MOTOR UNION
INSURANCE Co 1?
Incorporated in England
(Under the auspices of the Automobile Association) PROMPT AND LIBERAL CLAIM SETTLEMENTS.
LOCAL AGENTS,
THE UNION TRADING Co., Ltd.
York Building
Phone C.-587.
RIDE A MONET · AND GOYON FITTED WITH M.A.G. ENGINE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS FAMOUS ENGINE
THE MOST DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS ̈RICE IN FRANCE ·
The Hill Climb De La Turbie
1750.c. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th All on M. & G.
260 0,0, 1st on M. & G.
850 c.c. 1st on M, & G. M.A.G. engine
508 6.c. 1st on M.A.G. engine
750 8.c. 1st on M.A.Gengine
SIDECARS.
350 0.c. 1st on M & G. MAG. engine
6000.c. 1st on M.A.G. ongine
ASK FOR EASY PAYMENT PLAH-
THE FRENCH MOTOR CYCLE Co..
48, Waihan Road, KOWLOON,
Quick Stock Turnover.
7
is released from the clutch pedal. Thus the motor is cased Into con- trol of the car and the dead weight tions go through the entire plant state of inertia. Second should be That's how the various opera- behind is essor to get out of its Everything moves at a set pace and applied the same way, while high all work is done on the go. This gear doesn't require so much caro movement is timed so that a work-in meshing. neither undue haste nor leisure. There is a speed at which the man can complete each job in There is no confusion.
motor uses up the minimum of: This system has enabled the fuel. This isn't the lowest poa- Hudson-Essex company to keep ible speed at which it can be kept very little stock on hand, running the idling apood. At for it extends back to the idling speed the motor does not various companies that supply use all the gasoline injected into Home of the parts for these it and therefore chokes up if Idled ears. Freight cara are continually too long.
unloading parts that will be in pro-j
duction a day or so later, while Therefore, while waiting for a other cars and bonta are taking on signal to change, or for some other completed automobiles for shipment. reason,, it is best to run the motor So regular has been this move slightly faster than idling, so that ment that this factory has been able, all the fuel sent into it will bot to make 20 complete turn overs of burned. The idling rato can be stock in a year, a remarkable re-speeded up mechanically so that cord in any business. No other the driver needn't remember this single plant in the country, it is every time he stops.
ci
I said, turns out so many cars in a But whatever is done while day or produces "so much automo-waiting with the motor running, bile" to the square foot of plant short spurts should not be resorted spaco.
to. Many drivers do this, while Yet overything goes along in an standing still, with a consequent orderly, pre-arranged männor, loss of much fuel.-
HOW MUCH WILL AN AXLE TWIST?
"Guneral "Motors "Itämearah Laboratorios, are equipped with seating machines for determining the physical properties of steel, bronze, rübə bor fabric and all the materials used in a motor cur. This machine Leased in' dutérmining the strength of axies and propeller shafik,"
SATURDAY, JUNE
1929,
Suiting the Tyre to the Service-
Choose your tyre equipment according to your particular service needs. There is a suitable commerical vehicle tyre for every requirement in the
DUNLOP
RANGE
Solids, Pneumatics, Cushions and each built to an ideal of per- fection that ensures the best possible service under any conditions.
DUNLOP
tyres that carry commercs
MADE IN
ENGLAND
DUNLOP RUBBER Co. (China), Ltd.
Pedder Building.
UNMA
Tel. C. 4554.
hatched in appearANCE
AND PERFORMANCE
BROCKWAY
TRUCKS
THE BEST LIGHT TRUCK TRANSPORTATION
OBTAINABLE.
shall be pleased to
you
vehicles.
of the excellance of inco
THE ASIATIC AMERICAN CO.
SHOWROOM
OFFICE
11, Queen's Road." Tel, C. 575; 48, Stanley Street. Tel. 0. 244.