MOTORING
SUPPLEMENT
OF
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
SATURDAY 15th OCTOBER, 1932.
Being The Official Organ of
THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION
FOR ALL
CLASSES
OF
MOTOR
Insurance
WRITE
For Our Prospectus
CHINA UNDERWRITERS,
LTD.
Head Office
Hongkong Bank Building, 4a, Des Voeux Road Central. Tel. 28121.
JOIN
THE
ASSOCIAT
HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE
ASSOCIATION.
A Few Advantages:-
10% Off Motor Car Insurance. Free Legal Advice. Reliable Drivers Supplied. Free Mechanical Advice. Reduced harbour transport
Charges.
Associate Membership of the R.A.C. and ́A. A. London.
B. D. EVANS Hon. Secretary.
C/o "Hongkong Tolograph."
NOTICE
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ADVERTISERS
All advertising inserted in this.
to
be
MOTOR SUPPLEMENT,
must be delivered not
later than 2 p.m. on the Wednesday of the week of publication.
HARD ON PLUGS.
Useful Hints.
By James F. Donahue
Present day high compression engines are hard on spark plugs. This, coupled with the fact that high speeds, promoted by fine highways, also shortens the life of plugs, makes it necessary that the motorist look after these tiny, but very important parts.
Under high speeds, compression und heat conditions, an oxide de- posit or conting forms on spark plug insulators and causeR the plugs to cut out. Slow driving in congested traffic causes carbon de- posits on insulators which tend to foul the plugs, and here, too, the pluga "cut out."
BRITISH EDICT.
LAST WEEK'S MOTOR CYCLE TRIAL.
Need for Careful Driving.
SUSPENSION OF
LICENCES RECOMMENDED. ·
Sir Herbert Samuel, the Home Secretary, has addressed, a circu- lar latter to magistrates through- out the country, directing atten- tion to the number of road ac- cidents, and calling for a stricter enforcement of the law in order that they may be reduced.
The letter ia. addressed to Justices' clerks, and asks that a return of accidents in 1931 should be brought to the notice of Justices.
The result of this is a les in the motor. Sometimes this 18 "It will be soon," the Home notleed, but often it isn't, especial-Secretary states, "that though ly in six and eight-cylinder there has been a small decrease in engines. The driver is merely the number of fatal accidents, as conscious of the fact that some compared with 1930, no fewer than thing is wrong and that his car 6,691 persons were killed in Great is not doing its best.
Britain, or rather more than 18 a day; and that the number of ac- cidents involving non-fatal in- juries increased by over 24,000.
*
With this unseen inw comes trouble in locating it. Plugs that cut out cause a reduction in speed
With the new spark plug testing device shown above, n falling plug can be detected with little trouble.
pro-
and gasoline mileage. The blem is to find the falling plug The old way to locate this trouble was to short each plug on the cylinder block with a screwdriver But now a new way has been developed by Hector Rabezzana, noted spark plug engineer.
He has developed a tasting de vice which quickly unables Ber- vice men to plek out a plug that misses on speed or hard pulls, but which fires perfectly at idling speed.
The new device acts something on the principle of the "short ing" of a plug on the cylinder hend with the screwdriver, Those who have used the old system know that the shorting of a plug working properly will slow down the idling engine. A falling plug will not retard the action of the engine. This is explained in the following report of the how device:
bar
"After all due allowance been made for the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, and the more complete reporting of road accidents, these figures are most disquieting.
Enforcing the Law, "Various proposals," Sir Hor- bert Samuel.continues, "have been advanced which, it is suggested, would contribute to a reduction of accidents, including amendments of the law to create new offences or to Impose additional penalties. "On the other hand, the opinion has been freely expressed in au- thoritative quarters that the pro- visions of the existing law, if it is effectively enforced, are 12 themselves sufficent; and em- phasis has been laid on the suspen- sion of driving licences in certain casse as a specially apppropriate and effective method of dealing with offenders, and of bringing home to drivers generally the need for improvement in the standard of care and consideration for other road users,
"The Secretary of State feels sure that it cannot fall to be a matter of deep concern to all who traffic and the administration of are responsible for the control of the law to secure, by any means within their power, an improve- ment in the very serious position disclosed by the Return of Accid- ents for 1931.
"He has caused copies of the Return to be forwarded to all Chief Officers of Police in England and Wales, and has thought it right that the matter should also be brought to the attention of the Justices."
The Toll of the Road.
The above pictures give a good Impression of the rough atrotch of the route. The top picture shows E. W. Tupe on a "B.5.A. 3.94cc. Contre-P.A.P, da Silva on a similar mount, and lower-E. Franks on an "Ariel.". It was not surprising that a number of competitors failed to negotiate the climb.
NON-STOP MOTORISTS.
The return referred to in the Business competition has made a fleet of cars all of the same inake. latter was presented to Parliamotorist of the present-day com- As a rule, salesmen receive ment last May.
mercial traveller. These sales- definite allowance for running ex- mon-drivers cover in the course of penses.
accrue
HONGKONG MOTOR ACCESSORY CO.
Bank of Canton Building.
First floor
Telephone 20577.
in the heart of the City offer all motorists a large
Assortment of Motorcar Accessories & Replacement parts of
the best quality & well known mako
K.L.G. SPARK PLUGS.
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Inspection cordially invited.
KOWLOON BRANCHES:----
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4723: THE NUMBER OF OUR CAR,
to
Some
It la doubtful if there is any characteristics which scom one who has not felt the fascina-mark its social position. tion of numbers. They are such are desperately lacking in the queer, freakish creatures, and yet things that make for style. Others so useful and so wise. It is said again possess them and carry there- that man can do anything with |selves well on overy occasion.
be them. They are reputed to For example, 0 and 1 are the infallibly trua, and yet as they same any way you take them. appear in statistics they are re-They can stand on their heads or garded as incorrigible liars. It is their feet if they like, and while perhaps this quixotic nature that no doubt that is an accomplish- lends them their charm. We ment, yet it is not dignified. The don't like them, and yet somehow figure 8 again can stand on its We love them.
head and be understood, but t
To the modern mind life is all cuta a somewhat grotesque numbers. There is no escaping appearance, in that it is top those curly little figures which, heavy, though for the time being When 6 though in themselves abtractions, its real top is at its foot. are yet the basis of our pleasure, does a similar acrobatic turn it our commerce, and our banking, scores, since it adds 3 to its value. They are useful to the school boy That, however, is hardly worthy in counting his marbles and the any member of a troupe whose one astronomer in estimating his light aim is to speak the truth at all
Lo years;
the housewife in times. When 0 is lured on by û to" assembling the ingredients for a play the same trick instend of girdle scone, and the Chancellor of galning 3 it loses 3 and so comes the Exchequer in compiling his off badly. Budget: for Sarnzen in reducing
his round to 68, and for Kaye Don
In putting his speed over 100.
4
*
These are all devoid of dignity. A registration plate composed of The impish creatures have even them is devoid of meaning. · Six, crept into religion and cast a spell eight, and nine lack the note of on well nigh the whole of man-distinction and are indeed ple-
It shows that the number of fatal accidenta in Great Britain a year probably a greater distance Many firms provide their menkind. The figure 3 has a peculiar belan. They have only one merit during 1931 decreased by 575 com- than any other class of motorist. with a new car every year rather ly hallowed history in Christian for motor car registration. In an pared with 1930, the totals being 25,000 is quite an ordinary than pay the repair bills that thought, while from very ancient accident, a man who had been in 0,499 and 7,074 for the two years. mileage for a salesman who is begin to
after twelve times 7 has been regarded as some awkward position might sacred. Some of the numbers-swear in the law courts that the The number of persone killed working a wide area. Driving 18 months' hard running. By this decrease from 7,806 In only the preliminary to his actual means they also lessen the risk of
but who can tell how it happened number of a certain car was 6998 "Ignition systems and engine shoved
business, and he must resist the serious delays which breakdowns are reckoned lucky, and others when in reality it was 8689. Compression vary on different cars 1930, to 6,061 in 1981.
not unlucky. I fear they do The number of non-fatal accid-temptation to cruise along under might cause. Salesmen are
not
The number. 5 is almost สน and have an important bearing on apark plug performance. Because ents, however, rose by 24,859, from easy sail.
always so enthusiastic about their realise that, otherwise they would
to stand of Its head it looks liko az of this any plug test should 149,719 to 174,578 and the number
Beldom has he a companion to new models as may be imagined: behave better than they do at generis. Should it even venture always be made with the actual of persons Injured rose by 24,224, brighten the journey; samples to "run in the engine they will Epsom and Dublin..
mighty question mark that has bo- swaying in the rear of the saloon need to crawl for 600 miles or so, ignition system and compression from 177,895 to 202,119.
come fuddled in the attempt, and ars his usual passengers,
and crawling menns working of the engine in which the plugs |———
But what has all this to do with not. Imowing which way to faco, There are salesmen who cover longer hours. are to be used.
the title of this short article? finally decides on the wrong way. the whole of the British Isles. more readily follow the carbon or
Some travellers are lucky if they Not much it will be said, and yet So there romain 2, 3, 4, and 7, "Compression acts as resistance oxide coating on the insulator.
calling on each; customer once in
others it was the number of the car that and when properly formed they to the flow of sparking current.
overy three, six,ior twelve months. get home oncos month;
have all graceful lines. They are This resistance causea somo. of "The battery, ignition coil and To these mon the Scottish lochs can manage their journeys so that started the trail.
aristroorata
·the Before the now car arrived there the
among the current to loak away and ignition wires also play an im are as familiar as the mountains they spond overy week-end with
had been speculation as to what numerals. They look as if they follow the easier path of carbon portant part in spark plug of Wales; the Lake district is their families,
Many of them will be heading its number would be. The car were well educated and would or oxide coating on the insula-lfo and performance. A wonk merely a day's work before pro for home this holiday time. How Itself was such a picture of grace never disgrace their position. tor, instead of jumping the firing battery, or coll, worn breaker coeding to Blackpool; glorious
and beauty and comfort that it They have dignity and beauty. point gap. This results in an points, or a slight leakage from Devon is but a terminus reminding will they spond their tima?
Their families will doubtless be was hoped it would have the good Not one of them will ever im Intermittent spark, or no spark at ignition eables will cause weak them that they must start their
looking forward to a nice run in fortune to bear a registration personate another number, as G all.
spark energy resulting in spark tour all over ngain,më dy
The car is usually the property the car. Commercial travellers plate in every way in keeping and B so easily can, nor will they "The size of the plug gap will plug failure."
of the traveller's firm, though he are good sports, and many of them with its dignity. Perhaps it will give way to acrobatic turns, but also make a difference in the on- This emphasizes the necessity of himself may have chosen the will take to the road again. Abo said that figures have no digni-over stand eroet upon their feit
them will bo A ty and know no style. But they Berides 3 and 7 as stated are. orgy used by a spark. If the gap having plugs tested regularly and particular model. In the case of a holiday for Is too wide, or its sparking points replaced if not functioning pro-very large concern the representa- busman's holiday.
·¡Continued on-Page-8.)- tive may be provided with one of a)
Philip Grey. are badly pitted, the spark will orly.
do. Each has its own subtle