1929-07-03 — Page 3

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1929.

MOTOR NOTĖS.

MOTOR COACH PROSPERITY IN 1929.

Whitsun is generally regarded as the period of the year when the

curtain is raised on the season's motor-coaching activities. That bes ing so, the 100 programmes p coach owners in all parts of the country are gradually expanding to

creatudo point in the mid-hai day season and will then tail off as the winter months approach.

The evolution of the motor coach, from the open type familiar in the days of the travel-by-road movement to the all-enclosed salon which is so popular to-day, has do much to override the seasons, says The Commercial Motor, and winter travek by road has received a mark

d filip as a result of the more general na of vehicles having fixed

r all-weather heads.

BUMPERS BEAR THE BRUNT.

Writing in The Light Car and Celecur, Focus" advocates the use of spring bumpers for cars, impers, he says, seem to be taking

BRITISH ENGINES AT A 50,000 MILE TEST.

SWISS SHOW."

Some motor car manufacturers have been known to produce curs direct from the "

drawing board," and to offer them to the public with the most casual of preliminary rond

The growing repularity of British aero, engites on the Continent is indicated by the number of import ant air-lines that are fitted with British equipment. The more pro- the, public is the best tester No. gressive British manufacturer is

also alive to the opportunities for expanding his European business in the air by participating in the prin- cipal nero shows on the Continent.

Thus Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd. were fully represented at the recent Swiss Aero Show at Geneva The time was well chosen, and as Geneva is an excellent centre the! event assumed a really international

appearance,

1

tests. In fact it has been said that

doubt it is; but it is also certain

that this method must inevitably re-act on the prestige of the manú facturer.

The introduction of the Hillman

Straight-Eight at the Mater Show last year came as so great a sur prise that one might well be ex cased for thinking that its tests had

been

of a cursory nature,

But int

point of fact, the Erst Straight-

TRAINING SHIP'S NEW AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT,

Any curriculum for training in syrianship which does not now in- clude some knowledge of auxiliary engines must fust be coming of solete those responsible cannot afford to ignore modern methods of on more slowly than 1 expected. | prapuision. It is, interesting to My fires pair was fitted about swepte, therefore, that following the years ago, and I soon decided that installation, not long ago, of an there must be few people who, Ailsa Craig engine in the motor having tried them, would care in launch of the training.shin Con- the future to go imperless. Bam-way, at Birkenhead, the Education of the Scarborough pers give the driver confidence what Coinmitter

Corporation have recently placed a ameuvring in a very restricted place, and they prevent a great dehernet for the instaliation in

Eight was made nearly a year be of the damage which is otherwise their training ship Maisie Graham done to wings in pablie garages, of two 20/24 h. 4-cylinder en

The Armstrong Siddeley engines fore and was subjected to a rigorous; gines, by the same makers, the Ailan whilst affording a convenient means

exhibited comprised the 150 h.h. Craig Motor Co., Ltd., of Chis- for palling and pushing the car

14-cylinder Jaguar, the 23h.p. road tes: af no less than 50,000 wick, London. As this ships is 74 about when it has to be moved.

long with a beam of 15 ft. and -cylinder Lynx, the 130-140 h.p. miles, in England and on the Con- a draft of 10 ft the engines will 5-cylinder Mongoose and the 80-83 tinent before the manufacturers

Sited with reduction gear, and h.p. 5-cylinder Genet. All these even decided to put it into reduc

When, therefore, it was ex- the fuel to be used will be pardfin.cngines are of the aircocled radial tion. The boys under training will, there an interesting point being hibited, it was no experimental fore, have the inestiminhte "advan- chat the cylinders, pistons and model, for each minor fault had tage of gaining experience in the many other parts of the three larger bern found and eradicated before handling of a modern marine engines are identical, the difference the Show model was made. motor and, furthermore, of one that power being obtained by varying When an altogether new model is is largely used in the lifeboats and the number of cylinders used. This exhibited at Olympia there must

is an important point because it necessarily be launches of British ships.

a lapar of some means that it is possible for any months before deliveries in numbers

requiring organisation

full and can be made. The manufacturers varied equipment for a number of of the Hillman Straight-Eight different purposes to specialise in have left no stone unturned in Armstrong Siddeley engines, and their efforts to expedite production, thus economise in the number of and that the first inrge batch should spare parts carried and the expert now have been delivered is a credit ence required for maintaining to their energy and organisation. these engines. Thus fighter aircraft might be engined by Jaguars, and training aircraft by Lynx or Mon goose.

The main bujin which I have Mach has been accomplished dürfound to the use of bumpers is that ing recent years in the design, con- they are very difficult things to keep struction and equipment of conches clean, their numeroas pooks and and bus tonsure fortalte jerannies haplonging mud and their travel and with the advent of nickel pinting being anything but ins-lotting chassis having flexible proof against rust. The type of engines, servo-assisted Four-wheel bumper which I shall specify in brakes, improved suspension and fare will be either tubular or dat larger-section pneumatic tyres it chromium plated and embodying a car certainly be said that she minimum number of clips, brackets passenger vehicle of to-day possesses and so forth. A bumper need net features making for, reliable and cessarily be proof against small

nishaps; the requirement is that shall bear the brunt instead of a fragile wing or radiator that is bard to restore to its original form.

economical running.

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

In connection with press reports on two dirt-track fatalities, otur Cycling says:-

Whilst we would be the first to express nur sincere regret n these accidents (and to offer our syn pathies to the bereaved by them. w feet Loured also to remark that the public should not allow its jadg ment to be swayed too grently by anything that was published on Sunday Di-track racing, in com on with other sports, is not entire ty free from danger, but that fact

THE NEW SLEEVE-VALVE

PRINCIPLE.

|

"

1.200 MILES IN THE DARK. A very strenuous test of a motor- eyele combined lighting and igni. tlon set was recently carried out in Britain under Auto Cycle Union observation. A standard Lucas Magdyno "set, fitted to a 3.48h.p. motor-ycle and sidecar, completed a run from Nottingham to Ladd's End, and thence to John O'Groats, a total distance of 1,1 miles, running only after dark.

should be admitted with no greater always seems to be some point and snowstorms. There were 90tinent where is has already been in capacity render it a keen " com-

compunction than is felt, in con-

nection with for example, horse racing or Rugby football. Only Inst week a young man of some social eminence lost his fe in n steeplechase acident, bur that tragedy is unlikely to produce any general outery against the sticks.' Actually, only one speedway rider was killed in this country while racing during the whale of the 1929 Season: that we have been Jose fortunate this year is purely a matter of luck.

The

Immediately on its introduction this new Hillman created the keen- est interest, This was due to a number of reasons; it was by far The range is completed by the the cheapest British Straight-Light;| 80-88 h.p. Genet which is specially it was also the cheapest straight- designed for light aircraft and by eight on the British ciarket regard- "From time to time many new Every mile of the total distance the Leopard, a 14-cylinder engine less of the country of origin; and power units for motor cars are was driven in the dark during eight of 700-750 h.p.. which has been it was a car which was at once dis- evolved, which claim to effect a

nights, and there was no daylight specially developed for carrying artive and comfortable. saving in consumption or give in-charging of the battery, which was

very heavy loads such as torpedoes Over and above these things, it creased power, yet the ordinary under full load of all lamps, head,

ar troops. This engine was not was obvious to the discerning petrol engine still seems to be the tail and sidecar, throughout each shown at the Exhibition, but, like torist that this new Hillman host practical type of power unit; night. however many improvements new, Almost Arctic weather conditions other Armstrong Siddeley produc- must inevitably be in great demand types of engines may claim, there" were encountered, with fog, sleet tons is well-known on the Cos overseas, as its price and engine

degrees of frost at times, and the service in Heinkel sea planes. The petitor with the foreigner. Grampians were crossed in a severe Jaguar engine, which can also be world export is, by the way, in the blizzard with 18 in. of snow in supplied with reduction gearing or hands of Rootes, Ltd.

with a supercharger, is a thoroughly The car is just over 2 litres in places. No trouble whatever was proved production which has creat capacity (3,600 cc.), and with its experienced, however, except for a

at 800 ed a wonderful record in the Ar- four-speed gear box, can attain 50 headlamp bulb breakage miles, and the rider says that the gogies of Imperial Airways by .p.h. in third and 70 in top. "Magdyno" gave a brilliant light setting up a standard of 200 hours acceleration is little short of won and constant spark throughout the between overhauls and entirely dis-derful, but at the same time is so pensing with the usual top over smooth as to be scarcely noticeable. journey of nearly 60 hours.

hauls. The Lynx, engines are used The evenly balanced eight-cylinder on two of the most important Swiss engine is vibrationless at all speeds Airlines, on a new French Airline, and the transmission, springing and 100 PER CENT. SUCCESS.

on the Dutch East Indies postal other

component parts are A six days' test af motor cycles service and in the fighting forces efficient that it is no exaggerr- was recently held in Italy, in which of a number of foreign governments. tien to describe its movement p

gilken." At the home price of all classes and nakes, of motor The Mongoose, which is a lower cycles participated. It is interest-powered edition, of the Lynx, is £485 for the Saloon types, including to note that the team of British coming into general use fer British Triplex glass. Dewandre brakes, hide upholstery: and made Ariel motor cycles was the training aircraft, while the Genet furniture only team in the 500 e.c. class to is attracting widespread interest on special fittings, it strikes an alto- complete the strenuous test, thus the Continent owing to the fact that grther new nete in British motor winning the team prize of that it recently won the East Prussians. class, also a special cup for one Flying Competition on a BFW-M hundred per cent, success awarded aeroplane, and was also used on the by the Italian Club to foreign motor Fecher machine which set up & excles.

world speed class record in Ger

wherein they are impracticable. Of course, all petrol engines are not built on quite the same lines. We have, for instance, the sleeve-valve engine, which has always been can- tinged by some manufacturers.

The trouble with the sleeve-valve engine was that it had one or two disadvantages which could not be overcome--that is, until now. Last year the Arrol-Johuston and Aster Engineering Company evolved a aleeve-valve engine which they claim In any event, dirt-track grilis. removes all the disadvantages; and bear no relation to motoregeling as their claims certainly seem to be borne out in practice. The new ennducted" by" the average maɛ or womma Road travel obviously has type of engine is as silent as 'any about it none of the risks of the sleeve-valve unit--which is saying speedway, whatever they may be something. The pull and accelera and to associate the two things is tion are remarkably good, and like manifestly, absurd. However much most sleeve-valve engines it requires we may deplore the unfortunate little inspection. Arrol-Aster cer- incidents that marred the speedwaytainly seem to have overcome a sport of last week-end, We st difficulty which has puzzled on realize at the same time that they gineering brains for many years. constitute positively no cause for It will be interesting to watch the

further growth of this design. serious alarm.

12 H.P.

Now

is the time

many..

Its

A NEW AND FASTER

CHASSIS.

£o-PASSENGER 'BUS AND

COACH BODIES.

by means of a fan and, of course, to buy your Car.

Austin

CARS

are famous throughout

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world for Speed, Comfort, Economy and Reliability.

ALEX. ROSS &

(CHINA), LTD.

PRINCE'S BUILDING.

TEL. 0. 27.

CO.

KOWLOON GARAGE & SHOWROOM.

TEL. K. 1486.

This

cularly marked, gear changing in traffic being seldom necessary.

ROMANCE! MYSTERY! DRAMA

THE

ISLE

OF

DREAMS

A delightful photoplay produced on the Con tinent and played by an all-German cast!

AT THE

QUEEN'S

- FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY

At 2.80, 5.10.7.15 & 9.20,

A POPULAR STAR'S GREATEST COMEDY HIT!

A rollicking story of love and polo I.

WILLIAM HAINES

IN

THE SMART SET

AT THE

WORLD

FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY

At 5.15 & 9.20 Only. 2.80&7.15-Chinese Picture, "The Mathematics of Fate Part 1”|

A NOVELTY COMEDY-SPECİAL !

A sumptuously produced comedy romance built around the quest of a group of artists who seek the modern, prototype of the Venus de Milo!

THE

AMERICAN VENUS

AT THE

with ESTHER RALSTON

STAR

INCREASE IN EXPORT TRADE.

FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY

At 5.30 & 9.20.

HOW FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS WORK.

Fire-extinguishers commonly work At the recent statutory meeting by smothering the flame at the rout liers), Ltd., held in London, Sir the temperature of the burning

He said

Technically Armstrong Siddeley engines possess may interesting FOR features, among which may be noted the patented method of securing aluminium cylinder head to the

A recent addition to the "Com- steel cylinder barrel which provides a perfect gas-tight joint with good mer range is the 5P type Chassis thermal contact, the extraordinarily for 20-seated Coaches, or Buses, simple, efficient and patented means which has been specially designed adopted for holding the cylinders throughout for speedy and econo- in the crankense, the special system meal service. Provision is made for bodies that will accommodate of assisting the distribution of 848 20 passengers without any discom the epicyclic reduction gearing and fort, and to this end wheelbase of the supercharging equipment. The 12 ft. 8 ins., with a body length reduction gearing provides the of 18 ft. 3.ins. is provided. smoothest possible running and. The engine of four cylinders, of Matchless Motor Cycles (Colrather than by actually reducing Allows the engine to develop more monobloc, 90 mm, x 140 mm, giv Alan Hutchings, the chairman, bed matter below the point of combus- power because it can be run faster, ing 33 h.p. at 1,500 r.p.m. and up

a very satisfactory state of affairs tion, states Professor A. M. Low to 49 h.p., ample power to ensure The propeller runs slower and so high average speeds being easily on which to discourse.

in The Motor. The commonest re- develops greater efficiency. type of gearing is available with maintained. Flexibility is part that the shareholders owned a busi-agent for supplying a heavy inert

ness which was regarded with ad-

gas or liquid to any fre is carbon- miration by the motorcycle world, tetrachloride, while other machines, with a position second

to none. relying more apon force and upon They had been in possession of the liquid fuel of carbon-dioxide, are business since August 31, 1028, se operated by mixing weak acid from that nearly half of the current year in glass container with an alkaline and passed, and the deliveries were solution. The whole mixture is considerably in excess of those for

carbon dioxide generated when the the same period last year, and the ally expelled as the result of the directors, were extremely satisfied acid meets the alkali. at the rate of progress which had

. It is, of course, the breakage of been made.

the glass acid container which There was a remarkable increase calls for that exciting moment in their export trade, and it was when can at last "srike no exaggeration to state that there

the brass knob. country in the world, (Penalty for improper use, 25.) was hardly civilised or uncivilised, where the

Matchless motor-cycle was not toresting, containing some

The powder types are rather in- inert known. Whilst their total de material in power form carried in liveries were 18 per cent. in excesa cartridge; this powder is shot out of last year and 64 per cent. in

in the direction of the fire by an excess of the previous year, in the ordinary beavily charged percussion

were 112 per export trade they cent. over last year and 151 per per cent. over the previous year.

the Jaguar and Lynx, and is being used on the new Jaguars which will shortly be operating on the London- India Airline. The supercharging equipment has been in service in the British Royal Air Force for several years and is recommended For engines required to give the best results at very high altitudes,

It will be seen, therefore, that the range of Armstrong Siddeley engines covers every field of flying and that by using these engines either singly, in pairs or

in triplicate, every possible type of aeroplane, for land or sea service, can be powered by Armstrong Siddeley.

A STITCH IN TIME→→

One day last week I escaped from a very difficult position in which a smash would have been inevitable,

of

The cogine and four-speed gear- box are entirely separate units, which is most important from a view maintenance point Naturally, the time required for any necessary adjustments thereto is greatly reduced, as compared with unit construction.

All the controls are light, and particular mention must be made of the Marics steering gear (special ly designed to suit this class of work), which ensures a lightness and smoothness of operation that is usually associated only with high-grade private cars.

"Four-wheel brakes are operated by Dewandre-vacuum servo mechan ism, and a hand brake on the trans- mission is provided..

lighting set with Ave lamps, an electric horn and speedometer,

1

cap.

הטקש

*

The chassis equipment includes 33 in. x 5 in. Dunlop pneumatic tyres (with twin tyres at the rear

As against the situation in the and pneumatic tyred spare wheel),

power tyre inflator, outrigger past, the factory was in the posi- Cardiff-Leicester-Cardiff reliability writes "Focus" in The Light Car brackets, and a 12-volt electriction to fulfil orders promptly, and trial, in which nine "Matchless and Cyclecar, had I not very care-

their sales manager was entering motor-cycles started, gaining 12 into forward, contracts with the awards, including the Manufao- fully adjusted my four-wheel brakes a few days previously. I was des-

knowledge that deliveries would be turer's Team Prize and two special cending a hill on a wet shiny road

punctually made, The directors trophies, while a model V-2 Racing at about 35 mph., and ahead of

were concentrating upon a system | "Matchless" had just achieved the me I saw a bus making abous 20

of improved credit facilities which, honour of being the first motor- m.p.h, with a row of stationary

it was hoped, would have the effect cycle of its class to exceed a speed- lorries on the off side of the road. It is pleasant after a scare of his of keeping the factory fully em of 100 m.p.b. in Australis.

He had every hope that when he As I was on the point of passing kind to be able to compliment one ployed during what might be re-

had the pleasure of addreening the the bus one of the lorries pulled out self, upon having gone to some garded as the slack season.

Their "Matchless motor-cycles shareholders at the general meeting from the line, entirely blocking my pains to ensure that the brakes work passage. My brakes, which a few properly instead of having to re continued to achieve the highcat the result of the first year's work- ags and cartininke ourself for having mashed unhonours-in-competitive eventinting-of the-company would imply e let me in at least for an uncon- a good car princnally through home and noroc coffreward their confidence and that trollable skid, grabbed the car as one's own fault. Moral, look to which he might refer to the recent the earnings would justify the pay- (Continued at foot of next column). your brakes.

(Continued at foot of next column). I ment of a substantial dividend.

thought it had run into a wall of cotton-wool.