1928-04-11 — Page 10

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MOTORING NOTES

MOTORING AFLOT" IN

BRITAIN,

PLEASANT ALTERNATIVE TO ROADS.

It is probable that the enormous increase in road traffic last year, especially at week-ends, assisted in popularising what has been called "Motoring Afloat," for to the average road user there is a great deal of strain involved in driving on roads that are often very co gested. On the other hand, the waterways of Britain afford freedom from most of the discon- forts and dangers of the highway and have, in addition, a charm of their own with possibilities of sport and health-giving relaxation.

The manufacturer too, is doing his share nobly and it is possible to obtain to-day a highly efficient boat at a very moderate cost. Actually, the range of prices a almost a varied as the craft them-

selves and the question of initial expense is very largely governed by the individual taste of the pur chaser, for there are boats to it the means of the man in the street and at the other cad of the scale, boats which are the last word in luxury.

What The Manufacturers Are Doing.

The trend of design in marine motors points to a greater simpli fication in external appearance with cleaner lines and fewer outsida fetimes. Is the Ailsa Craig age of engines for 1938, for instance, special attention has been paid to the production of waterpoof units. Two examples of this tendency are the little 4-cylinder 7-12 hp. "Silent-Seven," with its sparking plugs and ignition leads enclosed under a cover than can be instantly removed by undoing a single hand nut and the firm's very latest model, the new 40-60.h.p. 4-cylinder engine in which the flywheel, too, enclosed and the magreto thoroughly protected from flying spray and heavy sens

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(CONTD)

FOR THOSE ON HOME LEAVE.

A RE-PURCHASE MOTOR SCHEME.

en leave Shaw & Kilburn, Ltd.,

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11th, 1928.

THE ROMANCE OF HEAVY ACCIDENT TO A PRINCESS. injuries she received. Her husband.

HAULAGE.

LOADS OF 100 TONS.

Who amongst us, says The Conz- mercial Motur, has not observed with amazement and sometimes, with a feeling almost akin to awe, For the benefit of those going home some huge, and often exceedingly have an excellent scheme whereby heavy, article being transported by vinitors can determine within nor-read; such loads, for instance, as row limits the actual cost of owning boilers, electric transformers and a car while on leave. At the time, built-up girders, and has not won- of purchase a fixed price is guaran-dered how even human ingenuity seed at which the car will be bought has been able to overcome the many back at the end of a stated period. difficulties which must of necessity Thus, anxiety as to the main outlay occur in the handling of such cum is eliminated Further, by fr bersome articles. Some may be so quent inspection of the vehicle at tall as to render necessary the the service department in Wardour avoidance of all except the highest Street, London, running expenses bridges, others may be of a length are kept down to the lowest level, which would appear to render the for the car is always in tune. negotiation of corners alone a mat for a re-purchase scheme is borne

That there is a very real demand ter of the utmost difficulty.

Consider the transference of a out by the experience of Rootes, 98-It girder from railway trucks Ltd., who are the largest distribute road

trucks, its

transport tors and exporters of cars in Bri- through the streets of London and tain. Many hundreds of care have its unloading on to the site of one been supplied to home-coming of London's latest buildings. À metorists for pericds ranging from feat like this was carried out only one month to over a year and busi- a few weeks ago, and with remark ness has come from almost every able smoothness. country in the world.

Rootes, by the way, have supplied Hillman car to Sir Percy Lorkine, the British Minister at Athens. Greece is not famed for good roads but the Hillman has an enviable reputation for thorough reliability, under the worst possible conditions.

Single loads of 100 tons or more may have to be dealt with, yet these are handled expeditiously and, generally, with anfety.

It says much for the strength of our modern roads that they are able to stand up to such lends with out excessive damage; in fact, in most instances, with no damage at all. This, however, is partly due to the care taken in the design of of the principal British manufac suitable conveyances by which the turers of marine motors reveal the load is spread over a large number total Thornycroft output for the of wheels and distributed as event Past year as about 18,300 h.ply as possible over a big area of which is nearly 50 per cent. in the road surface. This not only exocss of the next largest total out prevents the crushing of such sur- face, but avoids damage to the road put of other makes published. An increasingly large proportion of foundations. these engines are for overseas, par

7-9 ticularly the "Handybilly

model.

This is one of the fields of activity in which the steam-propelled

machine proves its real value and its wonderful reserve of power. Use is, of course, made of petrol for the tractors, but mainly

Commencing with this smallest wait the works at Reading are now producing a range of types up to the 12-cylinder 373 b.h.p. type con-haulage of loads which, whilst structed expressly for high speed being great in comparison with Recently published statistics giv-coastal motor boats such as these what may be termed usual practice, ing the annual outputs during 1997 recently built by Thornycrofts for do not approach such weights na

(Continued on next Golumn).

the Dutch Navy.

that mentioned.

£1,350 DAMAGES FOR INJURIES.

FRACTURED SKULL.

Nathalie Timroth Princess Trou. Bottom Houte, King's Langley betskoy, Russian, of Backshill sued for damages in the Ring's Beach Division, before Mr. Justice Talbot and a common jury, for in- juries received by being knocked down by a motor-car as the junction of Denman street and Shaftesbury- Avenue, W., on May 20th, 1028.

The defendants were Mr. Jack Robens, an actor, of Navarino mansions, Dalston, N., the driver of the car, and Thorp, Son and Company, of Upper St. Martin's lane, London, the owners, who denied liability. The company were later dismissed from the action.] Rebens alleged further that the princess contributed to the accident by crossing the road in front of

the car.

Miss Dorothy Williams, living with the princess, who was with her at the time of the accident, and was knocked down and injuried,

claimed damages.

£1,250 and Miss Williams £100, and The jury awarded the princess judgment was entered in their favour, with costs.

Exiled.

Mr. Fox Andrews for Princess Troubetskoy and Miss Williams, said that the princess was terribly injured, receiving a fracture of the kull, from which she would never fully recover. She was forced to leave Russia during the troublous days there, and had been living in England for several years, earning her livelihood by secretarial and journalistic work.

He contended that Thorp, Bon and Company were guilty of negligence because they failed to exercise care in letting out the car to Mr. Robéns, who was an incom- petent and unskilled driver.

Princess Troubetskoy, in evidence, stated that she had no recollection of the accident on account of the

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was in Dumikin's army, but she had not heard of him since. 1019.

She added that during the war she was on active service with the Kumainn and British Armies. From 1019 she was secretary of the Rus

an Relief Fund under the British Red Cross Society, and held this position for three and a half years. Sho was later employed in con- nection with the "Encyclopædia Britannien.

"No Case."

Mr. Samuel for Thorp, Son and Company, submitted that there was no caso against his clients, who had been made defendants an the ground that they were negligent in letting out a car to an incompetent driver.

Mr. Justies. Talbot upheld the objection and dismissed the com pany from the action with costs, re- marking that the plaintiffs had produced no authority which went any way near such a proposition.

This contention against the con- pany was a novelty and an ex periment, He was afraid that if the experiment were successful it must sucered before some more exalted, tribunaly and his own opinion was that that tribunal must be the Legislatura,

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was

evidence of incompetence as

He thought that there was no suggested, as distinguished fron ordinary negligence on the part of the hirer.

AO

Mr. D. Cairns, for Mr. Robens, submitted that there WAS evidence of neglect on his part, and that the women were a contributing cause of the sccident,

.:

TELLING FIGURES.

The experiences of actual owners of ears are always interesting and instructive. British car

Bre, of course, renowned for longevity and reliability, but, even so, a recent letter received by Armstrong Sid delay Motors, Ltd., appears worthy of reproduction:-

"You will be interested to know that the old car, which I had for six years, ran 200,000 miles and never once let us down. I think it must be near a record."

Best Lita

BATTERY

Scientifically Constructed for Long, Efficient Service PREST-O-LITE storage batteries are the result

THE

of years of constant study and research. Every battery is made the very best trained engineers can make it.

-A Prest-O-Lite battery in your car iɛn guarantee of long satisfactory service and freedom from all battery troubles.

We have a 'size for every automobile

THE HONG KONG HOTEL GARAGE

.25, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTBAL (THE HONG KONG & SHANGHAI Hortir, Lrn.)

OLDEST SERVICE TO MOTORISTS

In the industry where efficiency is a by-word, heavy hauling vehicles tyred with Goodyear Heavy Duty Cushions

realm of

are

meeting and surpassing the highest standards.

You're months ahead

with the

modern Whippet

and its 1928 Features

LARGE four-wheel brakes... low centre of gravity unequalled fuel economy balloon tyres and snubbers... silent timing chain... force-feed olling cystem

casy steering...easy parking...powerful engine... quality construction.....handsome appearance.

Touring .H.K. $1,550. Coach....H.K. $1,850. Roadster... K. 81,720. Sedan...H.K. $1,950.

Coupe

...H.K. $1,850. Cabriolet Coupe H.K. $1,750,

GOOD YEAR

·DISTRIBUTORS:

ALEX. ROSS & Co. (China), Ltd.

PRINCE'S BUILDING, HONG KONG.

Large-Weel Brakes-Whippet

is the first light car to introduce

This walety feature.

- Chubbers--Pull-size balloon.

tyres and Gabriel Saubbera for greater comfort.

These are a few of the many features with which the Whippet established its supremacy in the field of light-car values. Other manufacturers are now making an effort to follow the Whippet's two-year lead in modera design. And yet no other light car offers you ALL the fine car features of the Whippet-time-tested by 500,000,000 miles of owner driving. The 1928 Whippet developed to

full perfection anticipated in the

inal basic design is speedy, powerful, active, smart-looking, roomy, easy rid ing and amazingly economical. Visit our display rooms and let a detailed comparison and trial drive convince you of Whipper's unsurpassed quality.

Service:

Silent Timing

| Chain-For quiet

'DURO" MOTOR CO. LTD.

KOWLOON.

Economy ww. Whippet hoida. U.S.Á. Coast-to- .. Const economy

*** INCOTUS

Greater Leg Room- Whippet affords 51⁄2 inches more leg rooms "than light" care of ordis. nary design.

GILMAN & CO. LTD.

HONG KONG BANK BUILDING.

WILLYS-OVERLAND FINE MOTOR CARS

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