1929-04-17 — Page 3

Page

BUYING A SECOND- HAND CAR.

THE STETHOSCOPE TEST TO DETECT FAULTS.

Let there be no prejudices agains: the buying of a second-hand car To be sure, it can be an adventur-

** ENGINELESS CARS.'

STUDENTS" NOVEL RACE.

THE

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS.

AN WEDNESDAY,

MOTOR NOTES.

NEW FORD PLANT

AT YOKOHAMA.

The opening of the new Ford Plant at Yokohama marks 3 ingenuity produced some very re-tremendously progressive step in markable models."

motor car manufacturing in the Far East. Mr. Henry Ford's cons idence in Japan and in Far

PERUOIA (U.P.).-The second an- nualmotor-race" for "automo bhes without engines was run by the students of Perugia University on bome-mado cars made of wood and cardboard, and consisting chiefly of four wheels and a primi tive steering apparatas. The stud “our business, and one highly specu-world-renowned makes, and their ents isbeiled the automobiles after lative in other than a Onancial way, but if rightly gone about it can bring motoring and car ownership down to a level really economical It is the cheapest introduction to motoring to the new-comer, who to-day is the "man with limited means, and it affords the experi enced small-car man an opportu- nity of acquiring a car of high class, of a quality that will endure for a generation, at a price within his reach..

The course provided the motive power owing to its steep decline, and was from the central square to

Eastern business is thus given the railroad station" a distance of concrete expression. The increased purchase of motorcars in Japan bout a quarter of a mile.

There were 16 entries. The win and the building of roads in China, Manchuria and Korea, will un- ning car covered the distance at

doubtedly result in the purchase of the rate of nearly 23 miles an hour. Two competitors were disqualified an increased number of motor-care so that Mr. Ford is justified in for buinping into each other. The driver of the winning car was pre-backing his judgment by being the sented with a trophy, consisting of first to put his money into a fac tory in Japan and an assembling plant in Shanghai. a chocolate cup decorated with an

THE "

QUESTION MARK'S"

TYRES.

There are snags in the way, and because of this the second-hand car, ass's head. business has not the sweetest of re putations, but none the less it is possible to acquire a real sound machine ut a bargain figure and to get years of satisfactory work out of it. The two chicf, reasons

The new world record for sus why used cars come on to the market support this proposition. tained flight for both heavier-than- One reason is financial stringency, air and lighter-than-air craft, made by the world-famous and down this avenue, in the main,recently come the quality cars, the possession Question Mark of the United States Army Air Corps, was pos of which is a real joy.

The other reason is that the sible only because every part of original owner is following that the 'plane's equipment was selected for its unquestionable ability to well worn track which leads a motorist to get rid of his car in withstand unusual strain. order to buy one of higher power and with more refinements

Not Worn Out,

The plane was equipped with Goodyear tyres, made by the Good year Tyre and Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio, U.S.A. The tyres As machines the cars thus offered had proved their ability to perform are far from being wern out. They perfectly in take-off and landing will bear external signs of usage,, tests.

라

they will be out of date in respect. The plane. required good tyre of small detail matters; but as equipment to make a rather hazard. vehicles they are still roadworthy ous landing after its record-break- and good. There are qualificationsing endurance flight-because one in these statements, and these will of the three engines was dead, a be dealt with But first le second was missing fire and only rid ourselves of the prejudice one could be really depended upon against used cars, and further let to bring the plane te earth in us remember that now is the time what is termed by aeronautic men to be looking for one, for present a forced landing. ly, as daylight grows longer, prices will begin to rise.

to

The chief qualification bearing upon the condition of a used car engine revolutions. This is not the best test. If the robustness and the is the personality of its late owner. The more you can learn about him responsiveness of the engine are

the be learned,

Wy to as a motorist, the more you will

about it is to see how krow about the car be wishes to go dispose of, or, by process of part slowly it will climb the bill on top exchange for a new car, hus already, gear, if at all. If it does wel on disposed of. If he was a good a hill, if it displays sturdiness, it driver and took care of his car, wil be all right on levels and on the thes, taking into account also the undulating surfaces.

may date of manufacture, you arrive at a fair estimate of its road- worthiness.

and

Not

Dew

The Ford Motor Company of Japan, Ltd., is just entering a new period of expansion. The model cars and trucks have won the approval of the Japanese public, and while heretofore they have only been available in very limited coincident with the quantities, opening of the new plant they will be able materially to increase operations.

permanency and reducing deprecia- tion to a minimum.

Besides the main plant, there is a fire-proof building for housing the pyroxylin paints and for oil storage, specially constructed, so as to be safe from fire or explosion.

One of the transportation features is a loading dock with steel frame, covered by a roof and with sides enclosed with steel sash. This is for rail shipments. Various tanks for motor oil, fuel oil, and gasoline are sank underground and coal and ashes are handled below the ground surface. The building is equipped with septic tanks and outside the main plant stands a sprinkler tank of steel construe gallons. tion, having a capacity of 50,000

Provision in the building plans has been made for the possible con- struction at some future date of another plant unit in the south end of the building site.

On the north side of the build- ing, a railway siding has been built and a canal to the sea bounds the site on the west and the bay on the. south. Incoming shipments at pre- sent are transported up the canal in lighters and landed in the bend- ed warehouse by a crane which runs along the dock. Among the In the United States the Ford mechanical installations are the has regained first place after har boiler rooms which include all ac- ing been out of the market forcessory equipment and furnish months, and it is expected that insteam for benting and manufactur

The equipment in" the very near future it will also ing purposes.

cludes smokeless. automatic stokers regain supremacy in Japan.

Twenty years ago the site where and all coal and ashes are handled now stands the modern Y.,700,000 by a conveyor system. Ford plant at Koyasu, Yokohama, A considerable area along Bay. Koyasu beach near Higashi Kana gawa was at that time reclaimed by hydraulic filling operations to & maximum depth of 18 feet.

Extensions,

Two years ago the Ford Motor Company of Japan, Etd., feeling the need for expansion of its fac tory operations in Japan, parehas ed unoccupied ground amounting to more than 8,000 tsubo a site for a new plant. The area pur- chased was a part of the reclaim- ed land near the town of Koyasu, on the edge of Yokohama Harbour and facing the Yokohama-Tokyo highway.

The contract for handling the complete designs, construction and mechanical equipment for the new plant was placed with the H.K. Ferguson Company,"

Concrete piles of the MacArthur type were sunk to this hord stratum as supports for the building. The piles were capped off with reinfore ed concrete caps including rigid tie beams in all four directions between the pile cape.

...

The plant is, heated by steam, the offices being warmed by steam radiatora and the rest of the plant. by the unit or blast heater system. A special transformer, house has been provided for the transformers which handle the electric current supplied for lighting and power purposes.

The plant is protected from fre by a complete sprinkler system with sprinklers installed above and below the office ceilags. The system is of the dual type and can be operated from the water tank or from the city water pressure.

of

While the qunke-devastated Kei- bin district was still fighting an uphill battle toward reconstruction the Ford Motor Company Japan. Ltd. came into being and immediately thereafter introduced the first automobile assembly plant to the Orient, Officials of the Ford Motor Company at Detroit had been studying the economic situa tion in the Far East for time when they decided in the Sum mer of 1924 ta tako definite action,

long

By February, 1995, the Ford Motor Company of Japan, was fully or ganized with a paid-up capital of Y.4,000,000, according to the Japan Advertiser.

But

Finding quarters for the new institution was the first problem which the company had to meet, and at that time it was a problem of no mean proportions since the great earthquake was a matter of history by only 18 months. matters were arranged with the co operation of the Yokohama Dock Company the first. assembly plant was installed in temporary struc- tures of galvanized iron at Midori- cho 4, Yokohams, in the month of March, 1925.

Construction operations began in September, 1927, with an investiga tion of the building site. Founda A Stethoscope Examination. There must be tests for wear of tion borings to a depth of. 80 feet were made on four representative pistons, gears and back axle.

points of the site to determine the An alternative method is to learn, always can these be detected when

general character of the ground at if possible, how many times, and on the road. A good way is to

that depth. Wood and concrete test for what reasons, the car has been make for yourself an improvised piles were sunk and soil bearing tests were made. at and just below in for repairs. Here the methods stethoscope. Cut a piece of wood pursued by some makers are strik about eighteen inches long, and the surface of the ground. The re ingly useful. These makers produes to an inch in thickness. An old sults of these tests thowed the loca

have broomstick will serve very wel..tion of a possible base for the high-grade machines, their own depots up and down the Start the engine, put one end of the foundations at a depth of 18 feet. "country

stethoscope to each cylinder in To one or other of these depots turn, your ear at the other. Get the wise owner turns whenever his someone to operate the accelerator car needs seeing to, and every time pedal, and listen closely to each it enters the doors the date of its cylinder ds the engine is raced up visit, the reason for it, everything and dropped down. The more you that is done to it is booked down. hear, the worse the condition of the

The design for the piles was made Here in black and white is the engine.

Test the clutch the same way hy car's, history, and a usefni one to

in Japan by the Ferguson en- know when you contemplate ac- placing the stethoscope on

chatch cover. Then the gearbox,gineers, but the plan for the super quiring it

structure were drawn up in the rear axle. Open H.K. Ferguson main office in inga The site was less than a If the manufacturing industry as and lastly the

geariox and examine Cleveland, the general layout being a whole could so organise ita ar- up the rangements, could keep such a re- the teeth. Then turn to the wheels designed in co-operation with the cord, then there would be a brisker Jack up each wheel and try for play Ford Company main office in De- troit to include all factors develop- business in excond-band cars. Lack on the axle. Get some one to drive ing this, it is still worth while the car at quickly varying speeds ed in motor-car assembly by the

Ford Company, knowing, if the information can be along the road whilst you watch obtained, that the car was lately the the wheels for wobble. property of Mr. Se-and-so, and get ting to know something of his re putation as a driver.

You will, of course,

the

try the

brakes; don't forget to note how much of the adjustment has been taken up. If the adjustment is up At least it should be possible to almost to the full, new brake linings learn from whom he bought it, and will soon be needed. The steering as after-sales service is now a wheel should be tried for any play, established thing with all firms of and application of the grease gun repute, and as most men turn in at one or two points should tell cars for attention to the firm from you, by the colour of the old grease whom they bought it, they should squeezed out, whether this essential he willing to supply the things they have done to it.

Appearances Often Deceptivo. On these lines there is some need for organisation among the dis- tributors; it will help them con- siderably is disposing of cars they have taken in part exchange for

new ones.

The entire site of the new plant accupied 2,500 tsubo, 1,100 tsubo of which was represented by the build- third the size of that occupied by the new plant and the area under "roof about one-fourth-The-factory. was small but, it was decidedly im portant because it marked de finite step in the history of the automobile industry in Japan.

The parking regulations and the

Two Sections: The building may be divided essentially into two parts, the ware- tousing section and the assembly TROUBLES OF GARAGING. - section, the latter including an office section. The new plant is a steel frame structure of the saw tooth type with reinforced concrete law of obstruction compel many walls The building is designed to motorists to leave their cars in a afford ample head room and light public garage when they go out in the evening., Cars in such garages and a minimum of maintenance. semi-fireproof Steel sash of various do not always receive the treatment types selected to meet different they deserve, and it is as well for. requirements is included in the motorists to know their legal rights supposing their property is damag- construction as well as a large ed. The following rules of law- quantity of mechanically operated continuous top hung sash 03 the discussed in detail in an informs north face of the saw teeth in the tive article in The Light. Car and

Cyclecar-apply equally genuine garage and to private parking grounds such as are fre- quently used by motorists.

The new plant is classified as list of all business has been well attended to or only intermittently.

A Turn at the Wheel.

A good turn at the wheel will tell you not only something of the car's behaviour, but how you and the machine are going to merge iden- tities, which is an important roof.

matter.

The floors in the assembly section are, in general, concrete monolith cally finished, while the warehouse floors are of wood block for heavy Special types of flooring service. have been used in the office section such as linoleum, rubber tile and

terrazo.

to

a

Information of this kind is not

All these things take time, but it in itself sufficient, but it is valuable is worth all the trouble you take.

In default of a special agreement as a basis on which to start your They also demand some knowledge

between the motorist and the garage own investigations. First comes the of cars, and this knowledge is not appearance of the car. You know, yet general. For those who have

owner, if an accident occurs to the or should know by this time, the neither time, nor knowledge and

can while in the garage the garage owner will be liable for the damage year of manufacture; in this light who seek entry to motoring, by

The washrooms in the factory or loss unless be can show that appearance is some clue to the means of a second-hand ear there

have been elevated to mezzanine neither be nor his servants were usage the car has received... Tyres is another and quite a good way; do not tell much; they may be the it is to buy a used car from a re-height to conserve floor space. Few guilty of any negligence causing or

interior partitions will be found in contributing towards the accident. original set, or they may be the putable firm of dealers who make a

If, however, there is a notice second or third set,

practice of overhauling machines the new plant and most of those are More particularly, and more intaken in part exchange and offer of the movable type, some being of plainly exhibited in the garage be liable for any loss or damage, portant, is to detect as well as you ing them as sound and roadworthy heavy wire mesh and others of steel stating that the proprietor will not may the wear and tear of the work under a short guarantee. This is Aash.

however caused, or if he states this ing parts of the machinery and the a practice which is growing, and power of the engine. In this latter to the novice it opens a reasonably

verbally, to the motorist before the surance company will have to bear connection you will need a road safe way to ownership. Such firms

car is left, the motorist or his in- test, and in the course of that test are ready to tell all they know

The building is covered by a three the loss should the car be damaged you will put the car at a hill you about the car, its previous owner.

It makes little difference whether know well. When making this par, ship, date of manufacture, and the inch wood plank roof of dressed or stolen.

like, and their assurance that the and matched lumber fastened to ticular trial don't fall into the overhaul has brought the car up to wood nailers on steal purlins, a charge is made for garaging the take that even trade representatives mechanical soundness can be accept This wood deck is covered with as car or not. Unless an agreement mike

ed. You miss much of the fun of boston plate for fire-proofing, in of the above kind is entered into a garage owner. will be liable to a The accepted tiring is to see what trying out things for yourself, but salation board to prevent heat and hills & car can climb on top gear, lacking the zecessary knowledge it a heavy built up water proof motorist for damage to, or loss of, and usually this means putting it is better, safer and, more economical roofing surface. All surfaces pro- his car unless he can show that be at the gradicat at a good rate of te bank on the reputation of the jecting above the general roof level and his servants have been reason-

are covered with copper, insuring ably careful (Continued, on nezt Oolumn), firma

The office section, which is in the south east corner of the building, includes show rooms, private offices, general offices and a garage

APRIL 17, 1929.

.."

GARAGE FOR THE VATICAN.

CARS OF MANY COLOURS.

3

*** USELESS "*" SPEED LIMITS. COMMITTEE CONSIDER THEM DANGEROUS.

"In some cases,'

It is an interesting fact that host ‚well-known' lawn. tennis players Roxe (U.P.)-A new garage cap. have an extremely gay taste" in Speed limits generally" serve no able of holding a dozen automobiles motor-cars Thus we find Miss useful purpose,' state the London is being built in the Vatican City Betty Nuthall with a gay cerise and Home Counties Advisory Com in the so-called "Orto Vaticano ant beige coloured vehicle.mittee, in a report to the Minister behind the courtyard of the Boive Fraulein Cilly Ausaem with the of Transport. dere. With the creation of the now neatest white coupe imaginable they say, traffic conditions in Bontificial State, the Vatican Court with black wheels, and Senorita de themselves enforce a limitation of will require an increased number Alvarez in her well-known sky-blue speed on any reasonable driver, and unreasonable drivers can be of automobiles and five new cars Bugatti.

dealt with under the existing are already on order. The previous automobile complement of the

general legislation. Apostolic Paluces was "five cars.

The new garage will contain a work and repairing shop, and will be fitted out with all the modern appliances, and conveniences used in the most up-to-date garages.

M

12 H.P.

Mile. Sumang Lenglen's first car was a bright yellow one, and Miss Elizabeth Ryun, when she was last in the south, sported a vivid scarlet car, in which she drove herself both up and down from Calais to the Cote d'Azur.

Lord Cholmondeley, too, favours bright yellow for some of his cars.

Now

"Speed limits may in themselves be dangerous, e.g. a limit of 10 miles per hour may tend to become the minimum speed irrespective of

traffic conditions within the streets affected.

Speed Himits have proved in practice difficult to enforce."

is the time

to buy your Car.

Austin

CARS

are famous throughout the

world for Speed, Comfort, Economy and Reliability.

ALEX. ROSS & CO.

(CHINA), LTD.

PRINCE'S BUILDING.

TEL. C. 27.

Wilye: Knight ex- cylinder trucks are avalible in from L-coa to 2-toa

pacities

KOWLOON GARAGE & SHOWROOM.

TEL. K. 1496.

Superior Delivery Service

Assured by

WILLYS KNIGHT ENGINED Trucks

Successful operators appreciate that Willys-Knight trucks most effectively combine the speed, stamina, economy and reliability demanded by modern commercial transportation. Powered by the patented double-sleeve-valve six-cylinder. engine, Willys-Knight trucks are distinguished by lively pick- up, sustained speed, ample power for the roughest going and remarkable freedom from carbon troubles and repairs. Other important advantages of Willys-Knight trucks in, clude four-wheel brakes, heavy duty truck-type clutch and transmission, Hotchkiss drive, extra deep, low-hung frame, strong metal spoke wheels, balloon tyres, chrome vanadium steel springs.

Agente

LTD.

Messrs. GILMAN & CO.,

4A, DES VŒUX BOAD CENTRAL

TEL. C. 290.

LONG

Garage & Service Station

DURO MOTOR CO., LTD. 132, NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.'. TEL. K. 226,

ECONOMICAL

LIFE