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THE CHINA MAIL.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1930.

MOTORISTS THIS IS YOUR PAGES

the Demon of the Age

THIS

is the story of a conservative girl from a quiet neighbourhood, who worked in an office where every. body from the boss down addressed her respectfully. Virtue and her weekly pay envelope were her only rewards. Nobody was ever impelled to give her any but the most decorous glaner. She never betrayed even the faintest trace of the formidable ingredient that drove ten thousand Greeks' across a famous sea to wreck a famous city. Her clothes were as intriguing as a typewriter cover and seemed to serve the same purpose. The only "walking home" she ever had to do was for exercise.

Then the Demon of Age slipped into Sybil. She cut her hair. She polished her finger-nails. She let the breezes of modern inspiration play through her mind, and the ripples of the joy of life play through her body. Her coverings gave place to clothes, and, Lo! there were seen about her points of interest no man had ever seen before. Thirty men in that office that employed thirty men began to cheer for Sybil. Wherever Sybil went there went their glances also.

What happened to Sybil is exactly what has happened to Mobiloil. The old Mobiloil has given way to the New Mobiloil, and new points about its remarkable performance are daily being discovered by thousands of enthusiastic motorists. The New Mobiloil now enjoys a rising market. Dressed up in its new quality it is in tremendous demand.

Mobiloil

YOU CAN'T LEAVE HAULING TO CHANCE

Successful business men never stock rchandise on chance. They never price it without considera of cost. They never rely on chance patronage. Nor should they select their trucks by hit-or-miss methods.

Business men who own Dodge Trucks--there are many thou sands of them-have taken chance out of truck selection. "They have proved that Dodge Trucks possess the very quali

ties valued by experienced truck users. .. power for heavy pulling speed for time-saving hauling-dependability to serve unfailingly economy as consistent as it is thorough- good looks you will be proud of-comfort and ease of control for the driveri.

Consult with your Dodge Brothers dealer about the size and type of Dodge Truck that will best fit your needs. You can buy it complete with body ready for service at a price as moderate as its earning ability is high.

DODGE TRUCKS

CHRYSLER MOTORS PRODUCT-

SOUTH CHINA MOTOR CAR CO.

Tel. 25644.

33, Des Voeux Road Central.

Tel. 25644.

CAR'S ORIGIN.

Earlier Self-Propelled Vehicles.

One of the earliest evidences of

GRUELLING TESTS.

Natural "Proving Ground" Used.

motoring.

range

TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

New Signals in Singapore.

a stream of traffic and

TYRE BURST.

Were the Brakes Applied?

"The recent regrettable accident on the Great North Road in which Mr. H. D. Roome, an eminent lawyer and an

experienced and careful driver, received-Injuries from which he died subsequently, directs atten- than to the danger of a burst tyre," 32ys The Motor. "To judge by newspaper reports of the Inquest, the coroner appears to have dis- couraged the jury from enquiring into the technical causes of the accident. This seems unfortunate, as a lesson of value to all road users

ever, it is clear that a near-side rear tyre burst with a loud report, änd that thereafter the car swerved and overturned on to the

grass, both occupants being thrown out.

"The audden drag produced on one side of a car by a burst tyre always tends to set up a swervé, but in the case of a rear tyre this is usually csy to control if the driver has a firm gip on the wheel

It is a little surprising to find The value in bringing a new New traffic control signals are to that the idea of transportation in motor car to a peak of perfection be erected for the control of traffic self-propelled vehicles over ordin-

at Empress Place, the large area of tests, in front of the Victoria Theatre. ary roads is at least five centuries through, a wide range -:d, and that practical demonstra- really more strenuous than" motor"" They will take the form of two tions of automobiles have been ing conditions usually met, has light boards clamped to the Traction made for as much as 160 years. been provided in the new Willys Company's posts and will face in each direction. They will be placed man's attempt to overcome dis Eight recently introduced by high up so that they will be visible tance in self-propelled vehicles is Willys-Overland..

over the lines of cars and other found in pictorial records dating The tests made by the Willys- vehicles from either the High from about 1430.

Anderson Bridge ap- The idea and Overland technical staff with this Street or been suggested even carlier, but

proach. the practical form was lacking. straight eight before it was de-

The authorities have found that In all probability the picture re-clared ready for volume produc-it is the tendency generally to obey might well have been learnt. How- cords of that early date represent tion. covered

every phase of a light signal with far more promp- nothing more than diagrams of an

In the rugged moun- titude than is the case when only a idea by some ingenious individual and it la unlikely that he ever tains of Pennsylvania, West Vir-traffic constable is on duty. Further, constructed a vehicle to demon-ginia and Tennessee, its power de- at that particular junction, the atrate his plan. From time to time velopment was thoroughly tested. those who are

traffic constable cannot be seen by two or three cars others

advanced similar ideas The highest peaks of the Allegheny behind which were doomed to failure,

were mounted time visibility was not improved by the Three-Wheeled Carriage. It remained for Joseph Cugnot of and time again by the experimen- new position of the taxi rank.

Some considerable time has been France to invent in 1769 a three-tal cars and a careful check was! wheeled carriage which actually kept on performance. The Willyspent in devising a signal system and if the road be dry. There is

for this junction which could be moved a load in addition to its own Fights now in the hands of new operated with ease and which would weight. This carriage was driven drivers are showing the same efficiently deal with the various by two steam cylinders placed high standard of performance. routes into which the traffic diverges either side of the front wheel and These same mountains, with from that point. With the co- directly connected to it The their stepwinding grades also operation of the Traffic Branch and boiler was suspended in front of were used as the Willys-Overland the Municipal Electrical Department the driving wheel and in gulding proving grounds to test the top the new signals have been evolved the clumsy vehicle it was necessary speed of the Willys Eight under and from an explanation of them to move the weight of the cylinders the most severe pulling condi- given to the Singapore Free Press and the boiler, as well as the tione.

it would seem that the system will weight of the large wooden wheel. Straightaways in the mid-west work quite well once the different The boiler resembled a teakettle and south also were used in the "stop," "go," and "warning" signals and in its prominent position if development of this powerful have been mastered. made steering difficult. The first engine which develops 80 horse. Really, the signals are perfectly demonstration was not a complete] power and has a high gear persimple. They incorporate for the success. Mechanically the performance of more than 75 miles first time in this town, the amber formance was satisfactory, judged an hour with the ease and smooth-warning light which is to be found by the standards of the time; but, ness that most cars attain only at in traffic signals in England and due to the difficulty in steering or 60.

achievements.

Steam Coaches.

elsewhere.

always the danger, however, that even an experienced driver will instinctively and forcibly apply the brakes when started by the report. No evidence appears to have been given on this point, but if braking did follow the burst it would at once lock the wheel carrying the deflated tyre and would accentuate theory is supported by evidence could plainly be sees on the road; a given to the effect that skid marks

freely rolling wheel dees, not leave marks of this kind. The final over- turning was no doubt due to the swerving car hitting the

the swerve to a marked extent. This

verge.

gra99

"No evidence appears to have been given concerning the condition of the tyre which falled; it may have been old and worn, or, if new, may have been incorrectly fitted. not, of course, have affected, the Enquiries into these matters would

verdict, and it was presumably for this reason that they were not made. Nevertheless, they might have en- abled lessons to be learnt, which

against the possibility of accidents would have helped drivers to guard of this character."

possibly to the excitement of the These rigorous tests, which Both signal boards have the same hour, the inventor lost control and covered a period of many months arrangement and both are controlled crashed into a stone wall, upset during which time the test cars by one switch arrangement which, ting his cargo of human freight travelled many thousands of to use the words of the Traffic and giving them the fright of their miles, were not confined to the Superintendent, is practically "fool lives. For this little episode he rural sections: Various metro-proof." There are four signal was sent to the Bastille, thus be-politan cities also were used lights on cach: Red (stop), green coming the first person "sent up" These tests included handling in (go), a yellow arrow (Indicating for a motor traffic accident. How-heavy traffic, acceleration and de-that traffic may turn off), and the ever, his status soon changed from claration and operation of brakes amber warning light which must. that of a malefactor to benefactor, It was disclosed that the second because of the switching arrange for he was rescued and granted a gear performance of the car, 48ment, come on for a few seconds pension in recognition of his miles an hour, provided the drive before the red light is changed to

cr with a distinct advantage, es- the green or vice versa. pécially on receiving the green Thus, traffic proceeding over the Following Cugnot there were a "go" light at street Intersections.Bridge in the direction of High number, of men who attempted to The unusual activity and flexi Street will be unable to proceed attach steam engines to the wheels bility is definitely established in straight on into High Street if the of carriages, but no advances of the records of the tests.

The red light is showing but if the note were made for some time. In Willys Eight showed an accelera yellow arrow is on at the same time 1801 a young, British engineer, tion of five to 25 miles an hour (it points to the right) cars and Richard Trevethick produced a in 7.9 seconds and five to 50 miles other vehicles will be able to turn working model which succeeded in an hour in 19 seconds.

off into Connaught Drive. hauling seven or eight passengers The result of the careful en- The signal seen from the High up a rather steep hill faster than ringering of the Willys Eight Street approach will, of course, read a man could walk. Much attention power plant has brought to the the same. The red light will in-warning is particularly welcome in was focused upon him and he field of the medium priced eights, dicate that through trafic is closed might have been...famous as 1 new 'car that meets every but that rikishas, etc., will be able builder of steam coaches had he modern metering demand, whether to turn off to go over Cavanagh not been forced through bank-in city driving, straight stretches Bridge or to the Government Offices. rupter to go back to the mines as of paved highways, rugged moun an engineer. After Trevethick tain routes or cross country tour- came Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, ing.

whose steam coach made regular

trips between Cheltenham and Gloucester more than a hundred

years ago. His interesting carri- condensed, the vacuum in the ages were spectacular affairs with cylinder was held and the pressure their loads of gaily dressed men of the atmosphere drove the piston downward. It was during this and women trying to appear

at their ease when most of them downward stroke that the real were having inward qualms, fear work was performed; hence the ing that the journey might as like-name, air-pressure engine. Several ly end in purgatory, as elsewhere-formed a little useful work, but the men made, gas engines which per- Small wonder, they were nervous,

for the steam generator was direct one invented by Samuel Brown in ly underneath some of the passen- 1828 was the first to be used to gers and boiler explosions were move a carriage.

";

very frequent Gurney attained a French and German Experimenters. fair measure of success financially, The principles of the modern but the opposition of his own petrol motor was first specified in class-land owners, breeders and 1862 by. Beau de Rothas of France. users of horses-led him to aban- He described in detail the operat don the enterprise and no further ing principles of a four-cycle en attempt was made to popularise gino such as is now used in, prac this type of road vehicle for many tically every motor car. No atten- years to come. The novelty and tion or credit was given his inven glamour had disappeared and with tion and it remained for Dr. Otto, out doubt the costs of operation of Germany, to rediscover the prin were too high to encourage general ciple of de Rochaa, and make a usage. Furthermore, the develop practical applicatión, of it. The ment of. the steam autoraoblie was whole-history of the automobile arrested by the growing success of abounds with men, who were so far railways, pa

ahead of their contemporaries that Although most of the ancient their valuable Ideas were often re automobiles were driven by steam, fected. It is to France and Ger Home were operated by other many that we must look to find the sources of power. Even before the men who finally succeeded in get- steam engine had been invented by ting the world to recognise the Watt, men had been experimenting utility of the automobile. In these with fuel burned in a cylinder. countries experimenters were un Some had used gunpowder, others hampered by legislative restraints, turpentine, but the results and superior roads made the motor were unsatisfactory. Most of vehicle a more useful product than the early internal combustion in other countries. Then came the engines were what is call-Introduction and development of edy air-pressure enginear Gas the Dunlop pneumatic tyre which was exploded in a cylinder to made possible the ultimate growth drive the piston to the top and so of the great automobile industry.of at expel the air. As the burned gases: to-day,

Sometimes the traffic constable

FISK

lowers one half of his winga to allow traffic coming over the Bridge to proceed straight through and also turn off into Conenught Drive. To, produce the same result the signal would read: green light and arrow. A subsidiary switch would turn or the red light only on the signal facing High Street so that all traffic

from that direction would be held

up.

amber...

The innovation of the

view of the misapprehension which is often caused in parts of the town where a light system is already in vogue, by the sudden change from one indication to another,

FISK

The new Air-Flight Principle Tires are outstandingly more ad- vanced, more dependable in per- formance, more sensational în Riding Comfort than any tires you have ridden on.

THE RESULT OF ALL THE

ACCUMULATED KNOWLEDGE. OF A FIRM WITH 31 YEARS' EXPERIENCE.

Obtainable at all Garages upon requzat,

Sole Distributore:---

GILMAN & CO.

4A, Des Voeux Road C.

Tel. 28011.

Tel: 28011.

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