1929-10-23 — Page 2

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MOTOR NOTES.

"FICTION AND FACT.

[FROM A LONDON CORLESPONDENT.]

This time of year in the motor world might well be named the

Rumour Season," for the period just before the Olympia. Show is always enlivened with "official" details of the wonderful new model that So and So" is producing and that hardly annual, the $100 car, 'sually these particulars turn out eventually to be far removed from the actual facts.

4

This year, however, the details of the new Singer Light Six, selling at prices ranging from £240 to £275 were kept 80 keeret as to have caused something of a sensation when divulged at the annual meet- ing the other week. Incidentally, this chairman of this prosperous. concern was able to present once again a very satisfactory report to the shareholders, in the course of which it was made clear that the company's oversens trade is showing a steady increase.

The new Singer model, which is supplementary to the existing types, has a side-valve engine of 1,702 .. It is said to be capable

60 m... Before being put into production the car was subjected to the most strenuous road tests, the first one produced having now covered over 100,000 miles. At £240 this car re presents the cheapest British "Six" vet produced, and affords a strik ing challenge to foreign competi-

torr.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1929.

MOTOR NOTES.

chassis, the Sunbeam Co. buvo brought out a new chassis for single-deck buses of 32-seata cupa- city for town work or for 20-seater coaches for long-distance services. As in the previous medel, forward driving position is employed. The the 6-cylinder engine has all auxiliary components arranged on the near side in the interests of accessibility including magneto," carburettor, älter, dynama, starter inotor and water pump.

All the brakes are of the two- shoe expanding pattern, those at the rear, comprising side-by-side shoes working in stepped drums, while single pair of shoes are applied within the front wheel drums. The pedal foot brake is assisted by Dewandre servo mechanism.

Examples of Versatility. The versatility of the modern

practice that by this means, the REGAL SPEED KINGS. animal arrives at its destination in lar fitter condition than by other

Dennis

AT 83 M.P.H.

ways while, of course, there is also WHEN THE PRINCE DROVE a great saving in time. Bros. have evolved a fine range of these vehicles with accommodation for from to 6 horses, together with and space for saddles, gems

One type is known, na | fodder, etc. a Horse-and-hound van; this is mounted in a 21-ton chassis and will accommodate horses or 2 couples

of hounds.

Over 100,000 Miles in 11 Months. - The London taxicab, which on the average does about 30,000 miles a year, has usually been regarded as one of the hardest-worked rond vehicles, but there are undoubtedly many commercial travellers who regularly exceed 50,000 miles per ahium in the course of their work

What must surely be a record

The Prince of Wales and his youngest brother, Prince George, have both got new cars.

They are of the same type, and were built by one of the best known of the British manufacturers who specialises in high-speed sports Prince George has always used this make of car, and recently lent his brother, his old model.

ents,

The Prine was so pleased with its performance that he ordered a ear for his own use when Prince George bought his new one.

Both

cars are low-huilt black fabio saloons, whose locks belie their power, A story is told of how the Prince, as anxious

MOTORS OR,

CAMELS?

CHANGES IN DESERT

TRAVEL.

Much as the automobile has sup- planted the horse in civilized life, so the modern motor is now making A bid for supremacy along the desert trails of Arabia, where since time, immemorial the camel has reigned as the only means of trans portation.

Three Days of Hardship,

What followed on the three day trip is a story of hardship fully understood only by those who have actually experienced desert travel Scorching heat and dry sand, thirst; tantalizing mirages; the constant fear of attack; the power- ful Studebaker cagerly pressing for ward but slowed down by the soft Bandy roadbed,

"The first night's camp

was

CARS IN SHANGHAI.

is t

INCREASING NUMBER.

',

Continuing "increase of motor rebicles in the International Sottle. ment at Shanghai is shown by the quarterly returns. Reports from the Municipal Gazette show that imported cars are increasing.

A popular American automobile leads with a total of 617 as at September 30. Next in line comes an English car with 437, The next. four give evidenco at American popularity, a small English car is next, followed by two more Ameri can vehicles, with a French pro- duct tenth with 166 to its credit. Two American machines follow, with an English make twellth.

At the end of the last two quar- ters the numbers of motor vehicles International Settlement

pitched in a valley surrounded by low hills after a heart-breakingia the journey of 100 miles. As a precautotalled :- tion against attack, camp fires were forbidden.

"At dawn the journey was re- surved.

The route became more

diffent-high and dunes one after the other, necessitating long de tours. By noon, Arfaja, as oasis 40 miles from Jowi was reached. Here

plenished.

Cars. Trucks. Cycles, June 30

1,960 4,879

700 1,401 Sept. 30 3,083

*39 Adding to these totals the respec- the Freach Concession, which are, tive number of motor vehicles in

5,380, 998, and 118, there are 8,477 motor-cars, 2,302 trucks and 'buses, and 857 motor-cycles in Shanghai.

according to make, licensed in the been tabulated. Freach Concession, has not as yet

commercial motor vehicle is truly milenge, however, stands to the as any new owner to see what American missionary of Nyack, New the radiator and gas tank were re- The classification of motor-cars

credit of a 32-senter Commer single she can do," took the wheel late astounding; in fact, it is difficult to did use to which it has not beer decker bus, owned by Barton Transat night on a run back from Mai put. Perhaps one of the most un port. Ltd., which is stated to have denhead. The speedometer touched aual vehicles has been supplied by covered no less than 105,000 miles 83 miles per hour before the Royal Thorynerelts, in the form of a van in 11 months! Further, up to driver was satisfied that the engine furnished with altar and reredgs06,000 miles it cost. nothing for re- lived up to its reputation. for missionary work on behalf of pairs. It would be interesting to a well-known Society. This was, of know whether this astonishing fer. course, duly consecrated before it formance, which represents a daily was put into service. Another fine

average mileage over the period of The cheapes: British Straight:

more than 300, has been equalled. production, this time on a 6-cylinder Eight is, of course, the Hillman, which for 1930 embodies a number cross-country Thornycroft chassis, is a Flatavan caravan capable of of detail improvements affecting sleeping people in addition to the haust and inlet manifolds, for in-driver. Incidentally, a number of -wheel chassis of this type have stance, gave increased power" and

been engaged in a survey expedi- silence: the chassis frame has been re-designed to give greater strength tion into the Kalahari Desert, or- ganised by the Rhodesian Govern- and the brakes have been further

ment and the Bechuanaland Pro- improved. A feature of great in.

tectorate. terest to the owner-driver is the fitting of Silentblor rubber shackles

performance and comfort. New ex

to

all springs, thus eliminating twelve grensers.

Пx

At a recent lanch given by the Hillman Co., Colonel Cole announ- eed that arrangements had been made whereby Capt. J. S. Irving, famous the designer of Sir Henry Segrave's "Golden Arrow," becomes technical chief of the Hillman-Humber-Commer combine. He also stated that, on the previous day. Roote. Ltd. who are respon sible for the world export of these ears, had received an order from Singapore for 146 Hillmana. Beth Fourteens and Straight-Eights. de- livery to be completed in two

months.

اوم

Additions to the King's Garage. Two new Daimler ears have re- cently been completed to the order of Mesars. Stratton-Instone, Ltd., for the King and the Royal House. hold, respectively. The bodywork of both has been built by Hooper

כזב

What is probably the first motor bathroom has just been built to the order of the Nawab Bhopal on a Morria-Commercial chassis. The Nawab is a keen sportsman and spends a considerable amount of time big game shooting in a jungle, where his travelling bathroom wil be of the greatest comfort. He has also purchased a specially built wherler of the saree amake for his shooting expeditions,

Ensuring Long Llis, While on the subject of long life! packed into a short space of time, it is interesting to observe the methods adopted by Joseph Lucas, Ltd., at their research laboratories at Birmingham. In one of the prin- cipal tests that electrical starters have to undergo, the starter has to turn over a large flywheel coupled to a typical car engine, so that a similar load must be overcome as in actunt service. In addition, how-i ever, & variable braking device on "the flywheel shaft enables the load

to be increased in acverity.

The starter makes several starts a minute and this is carried on con- tinuously hour after hour, day after day, giving the equivalent of years of hard actual service within a few

The bathroom possesses a "porce-daye. lain-lined bath, wash basia, divan and dressing table. By means of a cleverly designed apparatus con- trolled by a thermostat, the waste heat from the, engine is employed to ensure EL constant supply of het

water.

The Vocalina Gramophone Co have acquired an Albion 30/45 h.p. 3-ton van equipped with a complete electric recording outfit. In order to obtain records of any out-of-the way event. the van, car be run out to a convenient position and a short-

land line extension carried to the site, the actual recording work being carried out inside the hody, To ensure necuracy of working the vehicle is raised on four screw jacks, the floor thus being set dead level.

Ch, the well-known conch-build- ers of St James's Straet. His Majesty's car is a Hooper Brough ham mounted

& Double-six chassis. It is designed to carry two persons only in addition to the driver and groom. The painting is carried out in a combination of races, meets, shows and such like rellalose and coach-painting, the the motor horse-box is becoming farmer being used, for the bonnet,

essential. It has been found in wings and valance.

The second ear is a Hooper en- closed limousine seating six, includ. ing the driver. It is intended to replace the present Household car, 20 h.p. Daimler-Hooper, which has been in constant service for the. past six years.

Needless to add, both the cars are glazed throughout with Triplex Safety glass, like all the Royal cars, His Majesty having been one of the first to give practical proof of his belief in this aid of safety.

London and the Provincos. The six-wheeler for passenger service has been given a tremen dous fillip by the decision on the London General Omnibus Co. to place 270 of these vehicles in ser- vice within the next few months.

筵

Bus and Couch coinments on the fact that the ordinary city bus traveller now wants almost the com- fort of the long-distance coach and that, combined with high speeds," Euggests marked changes in the de- sign and equipment of double- deckers in the immediate future.

The interior of the new LG.O.C. G-wheeler certainly resembles modern touring coach and repre- sinta a considerable advance upon the existing types of bus both in comfort and efficiency. The: engine used is the new A.E.C.Renown" 00 h.p. 6-cylinder type, which is more powerful than those driving the present "General" busca, and is capable of starting and stopping" more quickly.

The transport system in use in Wolverhampton is particularly in- teresting as it boasts the largest bus undertaking in the world so far as route milenge is concerned. The first trolley bus route was started six years ago since when the policy of conversion has been pursued until at last the only remaining tram track has been pulled up and trolley busca substituted. The Corporation has just taken delivery of five Guy double-deck covered-top trolley buses, bringing the total of

this type up to 29:

Another Sunbeam Model.

By the way, following closely upon the production of a six-wheeled bus

For the conveyance of horses to

C

of the body, but is not more than three or four inches high, so that the occupants cannot be overlooked frem behind.

It is Prince George, however, who Owns the speed model. He is well known among the entourage of the Court as a first-class driver und a lover of speed, and only the fastest possible car will satisfy him. Beneath the huge black bonnet of his British model is a straight eight engine of the most up-to-date Bri- tish design, with twin carburettors, It will tick over slowly with some thing of the regular precision of s steam engine, and at a touch of the

inta

will roar accelerator thousands of revolutions to the mitute, giving a maximum speed of over 100 miles an hour.

A Keen Motorist. On his first run in the car Prince George covered 70 miles in an hour

and

"The latest of these desert jaunts by automobile, which may eventually relegate the grunting: growling camel to a back seat, was made by Dr. John R. Turnbull, an

York, in a Studebaker Big Six.' says H. S. Welch, President of The Studebaker Pierce-Arrow Export Corporation. "The journey, des- cribed by Dr. Turnbull in a letter to the Studebaker factory, traversed the hazardous route between Ammon and Jowf across the Arabian desert and supplied thrills "aplenty.

A Pioneer Journey.

"The natural danger of desert travel is not the only reason why this trip has never been attempted by automobile before, according to the missionary. Roving tribes of desert bandits whose business is the blood-thirsty looting of caravans, make the route perilous, he says.

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the going improved, but not for "For the succeeding few miles

long. At frequent intervals, strips of closely growing sange brush were encountered which played havoc sand continued and impeded pro- with the tires. The great dunes of grean and nightfall found the ex- pedition still twenty miles from its destination. Again the dangers of a desert camp had to be faced, with members of the party keeping lockout throughout the night against a surprise raid.

TIFF IN A MOTOR-CAR.

FRENCH HUSBAND FINED FOR

DANGEROUS DRIVING.

"A Frenchman, who quarrelled with his wife while driving her in. "The third day found the travel-

a motor-car, wre fined £5 and or lera among weird, rocky, hills, adered to pay £5 58. costs at West. relief from the monotonous sand, London Police Court for driving in but for from difficult to negotiate,

a manner dangerous to the public. "The Studebaker which carried After hours of climbing Jowf finally the plucky missionary and his party appeared on the horizon and soon was obtained only after labourious the Studebaker rolled into the wind. negotiations. Its owner at firsting streets of the oasis. flatly refused to consider the pro- position because of the danger of the route.

Arrangements were made with extreme caution so that the details of the trip would not leak out. Dr. Turnbull's driver secretly secured supplies and a couple of attendants and the trip got under way,

half, und he has put up Beveral better averages on subae quent runs. Rarely does Prince George les himself be driven. He drove himself even on the short journey from Buckingham Palace to the Foreign Office, which he made

The black gravel plaina o daily until his recent indisposition.

As a very keen motorist, there- Tranajordania soon gave way to hot fore, he took a personal interest in desert sanda. The none of the big the design of the new car, and paid Studebaker was pointed toward several visits to the factory while Jaw and soon all traces of civilisa it was in the course of construction were left behind. tion.

Ensuring Privacy.

The interior is upholstered in When the Prince is using the cars low and comfortable. The front dark leather, and the driving scat for private journeys in London a

wings are of eyele type, and in or yellow blind is usually drawn 'over the window, making complete the der to reduce air resistance a large protection from prying eyes when aluminium step under the single wide door on each side replaces the the car is held up in trafic.

ordinary running board.

All the Prince's previous cars have been of a type designed for smoothness and quiet running, rather than for extreme speeds, and in town he has found the noise of the sports engine rather exces

sive.

"But," as he is said to have re- marked to a friend, she makes up. for it in the country when it's n question of saving time!"

It goes on and on

These models of the Austin 7

are ready for immediate delivery

Tourer... $1,425 Coupe $1,690 $1,690

Saloon

holstery give a distinctive touch of colour to the Prince of Wales' all- British model. The power unit is of only four cylinders, in spite of the high speeds which can be ch tained. A special feature of the car is the back window, which exe tends across almost the whole width (Continued on preceding cylumn)-

Vivid scarlet wheels and up-

and on

Have you ever watched water gliding smoothly and effortlessly beneath a bridge, never checking, never stopping but going on and on? That is how an Austin travels. There is no hesitation, no faltering, as it eats up mile after mile of the road. You can find " по better companion for long, strenuous journeys. For its reliability and lasting quali ties have helped to make the reputation of British motor engineering throughout the world. The Austin is built to give satisfaction not for a year, or two years, but for as long as you demand its services. For the man of moderate means the Austin 7 models are an investment which cannot be beaten. It will be worth your while to see one before deciding on your next

car.

Austin

Seven

ALEX ROSS & CO. (CHINA), LTD.

Prince's Building.

Service Stations & Showrooms :

Hong Kong

in. Chater. Road.

Kowloon Salisbury Road,

"In recognition of his daring ex- ploits into the Arabian hinterlind, Dr. Turnbull has been made a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society of London."

Nottingham magistrate: Have you anything to say? Man: Not if

it will cost me more.

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Bas

He was Marcel Rouf aged twenty-eight, a French citizen, and a managing director, of Devon- shire Street, W., and ho brought up on a warrant. He fail. ed to appear on the summens, “after two warnings.

Mr. J. A. Morley, for Rouff, said that Rouff was not acquainted with the regulations in England, and in France this kind of offence was dealt with in the absence of the. defendant.

The fact was that at the time his wife was with him in the car, Mr. Cairns, Thames magistrate, and unfortunately he was quarrel- to a witness: When you sny that ling with her. He did not notice you have never been in this court the constable's signal in before you make' me jealous of you., quence of that..

The 6-Cylinder

New

12 Horse Power

.

ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY CAR

must draw your attention ! !

SMOOTH RUNNING, EASE OF CONTROL, GREAT POWER RESERVE, AND RAPID ACCELERATION ARE THE OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE C-CYLINDER 12 HORSE POWER MODELS. PERFECTLY SPRUNG, THEY HOLD THE ROAD FIRMLY AT ALL SPEEDS.

THE IMPROVED DESIGN AND CAREFUL MANUFACTURE OF THESE MODELS GIVE THEM A DEGREE OF RELIABILITY AND EFFICIENCY THAT IS UNSUR- PASSED.

THE WIDE RANGE OF MAGNIFICENT DESIGNS AVAILABLE COVERS ALL NEEDS.

HONG KONG DELIVERED PRICĖS : ROADSTER

TOURER

FABRIC SALOON

£289

£289

£319

Complete with Triplex Glass, Spare wheel, Tyre and Tube and One Extra Hand Horn

THE HONG KONG HOTEL GARAGE

Tel. Central 4759′′

Queen's Road Central.

conse-