1930-11-19 — Page 2

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Albien 'Buses for South Africa.

Far Revetal years a fleet of Albion 'busca has been operated by the Capo Electriu Tramways in the Cape Town district. The low mainten-

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1930.

MOTOR

Royal Orders for Daimler, ance and running costs of these Their Majesties the King and vehicles together with their out-Queen have honoured Stratton- listone, Ltd., official Distributors in standing reliability has resulted in Great Britain of Daimler Cars, with

order being placed with the instructions for five Double-Six Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd, of Daimler enrs, fitted with the now Glasgow by the Cape Electric Tram-Dainer Transmission System. The ways for a further six Albion huses coachwork will be carried out by for use in connection with their Messrs. Hooper & Co. tramway system at Port Elizabeth. Squeak Locator.

Professor A. M. Low, the eminent Pitish scientist, who has devoted as much time to motoring matters, suggests that if a series of varnish ed cardboard tubes, varying from two to 10 inches in length, and with 'n diameter of about ¡jin., are made, each will have a different natural period of resonance of the nir column when placed against the car. Each will appear to amplify some different note, and with a set of them it will be possible to locate and rectify some of the tiny rattles which become so annoying on a long journey.

A Coventry Trade Gathering.

LOOKING BACK ON 1930.

NOTES.

THE GROWING POPULARITY OF THE LIGHT CAR.

One of the most eventful years in motoring history, the season which is now closing is likely to be re- In communicating these com-

karded ae having conferred, a mands, their Majesties are gracions. ly pleased to stale, through the substantial benefit upon only one Crown Equerry, that the order is section of motorists-those who are placed so that it may stimulate lawyers, writes "Focus" in the British Industry, ་གས passing through difficult times, and primarily Light Car & Cyclecar. For 1930

Late Sir Henry Segrave's Record.

Rear Patrol Tanks,

| the only two peod hill-elinibe that we held these days, attracto big crowds and big entries both for the expert and amateur climbs. At Dublin and Ulster there was the greatest enthusiasm for the two big Whilst the baby car has boomed anual rend races, and on the sands at Southport the crowds have been at home during 1930 it has álw gone

arger than ever, whilst Brooklands from strength to strength overseas.

under its new guilding hand has France, Germany In

and tho

lost none of ita prestige or United States in particular it has enjoyed a vast and rapidly growing popularity.

It is noteworthy that the good market. Let us hope that the attendances which marked all the

to help unemployment during the has witnessed, the passing of the success of the products of these leading speed fixtures during the winter months.

Road Traffic Act which is generally.nations will create a baby car arge, season now closed were socured in amlightly, believed to be the most in the breasts of motorists the momentous thing of its kind that has ever happened,

There seems to have been some misconception as to the inter- national status of the record of 99.7 in.p.h. by "Miss England II." on Lake Windermere, on the run which ended on tragically for Sir Henry Segrave. Tho matter was taken up by the International Motor Yacht

Never before has Britain given such wide powers to a Minister, and never, in my memory, has the law in times of peace previously Union and it is definitely confirmed attempted to interfere more dras- that this record has been officially

world over and that the British pioneers will get the lion's sharo of the business.

spite of almost every event being hold in very bad weather, As look back upon Dublin, Ulater, the Amateur Shelsley climb, the 500- mile race and many other 1030 fix- tures my recollection is chiefly of torrents of rain, indies of mud, and herds of soaked, suffering humanity!

Abroad the season's racing has | been auccessful. The Le Mans 24-

Motor car dealers from all over recognized by all countries, inti tiently with John Citizen's ae Thore is no denying that a big hour race attracted a large entry

the world recently visited Coventry

this figure is bettered, therefore, i tivities.

to inspect the full range of 1931 Singer models. British agents were,

Great Britain holds the world's re

of course, in the predominance, but

Maybe, however, when 1931 dawns, cord on water. The two Rolls-force when we got familiar with the R. type engines which were fitted,

In the realm of design, 1030 has witnessed some very useful improve ments. I am very pleased, for example, to see the Riley and the Swift with годг petrol tanks. tank is a boon and a blessing, and there is also no denying that there are a great many people who do not like to have their tank under the scuttle where it is always in chance of fire in the event of an accident is distinctly alarming to the nervous.

that such lar distant parts of the were found to be in a perfect con- operation of the new Act and whenhed to drum and where the people aw a 23-year-old driver win

and provided a spectacular, win for British cars, whilst in America the famous 600-mile race, longer con- fined to 1,500 cc, attracted a large 1f heterogeneous field. Over,170,000

the row at an average speed of 100.44 m.p.h. Unhappily the race was marred by an accident which It is rather odd that this ten-involved six cars in a collision, although, fortunately, no one was badly injured.

world as Poland, Cairo, Madens and dition when taken down on return-after a few more years have pass- New Zealand were represented to the works at Derby, despite the o-we have settled down under its showed the intense interest of Over-crash and their long immersion.

influence, we shall find ourselves in soas traders. Thg, visitors were un-Rubber Traffic Dome. Aminous in their praise for the new

some ways better off than we have cars. That the Singer company has As an experiment, the Kew Coun been in the past whilst groaning not announced new models without oil in Melbourne has replaced a being able to supply them proved by the fact that Mr. W. rigid metal traffin, dome with one under rules and regulations nearly a reform for which I have been composed of rubber. The new 30 years old. Certainly in fire trafle divice consists of a metal frame flush with the surface of the years time the idea of it being at present to road, into which are clamped four illegal-as it is separate pieces of red rubber, each travel at more than 20 m.p.h. inboard, where they are inaccessible, half an inch thick and at right

Was

Bullock, the Managing Director, stated that steady deliveries of all the new types would be available the following week. And that the company, having produced an at tractive range of new cars does not propose to sit down and let them sell themselves is shown by Mr. Bullock' further semarks:-" realise more and more as time goes on that we cannot afford to wants one moment in patting ourselves on the back; we must have all our efforts to seeing how we can keep nce with the competition which we are up against.

The WISE

:

deney away from seattle tanks should have come at a time when pleading for many years shows signs of wide adoption. I refer to electric wiring systems which are not concentrated behind the facia- in dangerous promixity to the tank and a thorough nuisance from the time when the car is built until it finally reaches the scrap heap.

It is undeniable, I think, that as much of the electric wiring as russible should be completed on a chassis before it goes to the bodybuilders. Finger-tip control, Endeniably the passing of the featured for 1931 on several leading models, provides for this and makes Road Trafic Act has been the out-n really useful contribution towards 'standing development of the season,

angles with each other. The rubber car will seem too ridiculous to stands four inches above the road be credible. Maybe by then there surface, and on contact with the, will be a great many features of wheel of a vehicle the rubber simply the new Act which will scom almost lies flat on the grout, immediately returning to its upright position. It as absurd. is said that although the rubber is so flexible that the weight of a cyclist is sufficient to dépress it, it suffered us darage when tested under a 10-ton steun roller.

SOCONY

GASOUNE

BIRD

picks

SOCONY GASOLINE

The Cost of Motoring.

|

Have traffic conditions changed for better or for worse during 1930? Personally, I think that the only change there has been that is worth recording is the very notable in- erense in the number and speed of long-distance motor canches.

Wanted-More "Pep."

The ever-growing popularity E this form of travel seems to mo to ive recaped the native of our small. car manufacturers. They might ombat the irritation caused to wa

One has been pleased to note tha 1030 has witnessed the adoption of automatic trafo control in dozens

principle,

of my districta to, the benefit of everyone. At the same time it should be noted, however, that the various Jocal authorities have shown themselves to be extremely slow in adopting the Minister of Transport's recommendations of avor a year ago in connection with making cross-roade inherently safe Let me say here, although, per-¡by designing them on the circus haps, the remark hardly belongs to this article, that the bulk of light vara are getting too slow and too stodgy in acceleration for present day traffic conditions. Nobody likes to be perpetually passed on hills, and I have yet to meet the maned by a sharp increase in the num- who can find enjoyment in having ber of rand accidents-that the to mandavre for miles on end bus cross-ronds probien and the matter fore the road ahead provides an of slippery highways would be dealt fopportunity to overtake ingh by with during 1930. The progress inchs or lorry which is ini- [made, however, has been pitifully mediately in front of him.

small.

being held up sometimon for many miles behind these levitations ratio or an extra ratio in the gear by giving us a higher power-weight- the reliability of the electris equip-box. It. scoms, however, that only which is my reason for placing itment as well as bringing the light. Singer have taken note of the mat- ing controls within very easy rouch,

in front of the oue matter which

is essentially of the greatest interest

to every road user, namely, the cost of motoring.

of the driver. It rather surprises ter and acted accordingly.

me, by the way, at the manufac turers who have adopted finger-tip control are featuring the access. sibility of the awitches rather than During 1933 our regular out the added safety and reliability goings have been largely unchang-which go hand in hand with the

notion.

ed. The price of petrol remained unaltered until a few weeks ago,

The Labour of Maintenance.

when it became 2d. a gallon cheaper,

Another matter which it is plea lubricating oil prices seem per-sant to be able to record is that

at long last few of our manu manently stable, tyres have become facturers are feeling some respon a trifle cheaper in the case of some sibility in the watter of how the innkes, light car prices have drop-owners of their cars shall spend their spare time! In the past the nod appreciably, the petrol tax and feeling in the factories has been the horac power tax have been un- that motoriste leisure hours should altered, and the tendency in car be occupied entirely with a grearo running costs as the season closes gun and an oilean. The makers of seems to be downwards rather than the Riley Nine, in particular, have upwards in every respect except in definitely renounced this belief, and surance, which threatens to become on various other 1831 makes I find deater owing to the impending ar-

that some effort has been made to rival of compulsory third-party wards cutting down the labour of policies

maintenance.

Whilst general conditions, how- ever,, have been towards reduced

In body design, too, 1330 has been

running costs, motoristę, as a whole useful year. It has witnessed the have shown a tendency towards run- nach wider adoption of saloons ning cars which are not of the most with sliding, or folding beads-a economical kind. Thus, the six-rather peculiar thing considering cylinder engines which is essentially the very bad weather which has

marked the season. more extravagant than the four, has invaded the small car world in

Before leaving the matter

of

e-

the

most vigorous manner. Last year changes in design which have at this time we had only the curred during 1930, it is necessary Armstrong Siddeley and the Ile to remark upon the fact that the nault; in the spring the Wolseley new ears which have been intro- Hornet arrived, and a few weeks duced during this season do not ago we were satisfying our curiosity fall into recognized categories. concerning the long rumoured Maybe the decline of motoring sport amongst private owners of produc- Triumph.

Early in, the year there were tion cars is to some extent the cause manny who believed that Sir Herbert of this, at the fact remains that Austin would launch a little six of the new light cars which have before the last page of the history emerged during the season of 1930 was turned, and Singer, too, Wolasly Hornet has a capacity of were widely believed to have similar 4871 .c, the Triumph Scorpion of intentions. The Coventry concern 1,209 cc, the Swift Cadet of 847 has done something which, in my Cc., and the Singer Ton of 1,261 opinion, is cleverer then introduse. Not long ago every new model ing a baby six by coming, along which came out bordered either with a very useful model in the upon 1,300.c. or 1,100 cc.

have just remarked that sport otherwise almost empty £11-tax class and by standardizing four looms less large upon the horizon speed gearboxes on both this model of the average man who buys a pro- duction car then used to be the and the Junior, to

1 remarked a few lines back that case, This is capable of being there has been less demand during denied in the light of the large 1020 for very low running costs entries which were secured for such then has been the case in the past, events as the London-Exeter, the but perhaps that remark needs London-Land's End th. M.O.C qualifying. Whilst there has been High-speed trial and various other an undeniable advance in such ex- such events which have been hold travagances, as six-cylinder engines

year." there has also been a marked ten

Good. Entries, But dancy amongst owners of care of 12 hp. and thereabouts to forsake It must bo remembered, however, their carlier loves and to turn for that although in several gases, the fioancial solace to the ever numbers of entries have been either nbiquitous baby car Cars taxed well sustained or have shown a de- at £8 have done extremely well finite increase, they do not bear, the during 1830, giving excellent results | relation which one could wish to o their owners and reaping & not the substantial increase in the num inconsiderable larvest for their ber of care in its which the past =raiuhwutitemtitys dio tcpank་འག4477x

this

เส

introduction of a new make to blis | motoring sport has "JUNT class-the Swift Caddt, which pro- a not ansico:ssful sencon. Shelley, mises to fill a very useful niche. Walsh, which provides the site of

Our road builders and road authorities also have not shown themselves to be singularly clever in connection with non-skid aur- faces. One hoped at this time last year at the close of a senson mark-

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