1933-01-10 — Page 3

HONG KONG DAILY

SPARKS FROM THE PLUGS

PSYCHO-ANALYSING THE DRIVER

'REACTION" tests descrIBED

RESEARCH WORK THAT MAKES FOR

SAFETY

cher."

I took part in a series of teste

Then we set to judging relativ for motorvar drivers on the top door of a high building in speeds. This was great fun, as Aldwych, W.C writes the Evening; well as being ingenious,

Two little red bricks travelled' Standari motoring correspondent.

These tests are part of the re-along a track when the demonstra- markable work which is being ear tor pressed a button. I had to ried on by the National Institut say when I thought one would pass. of Industrial Psychology at Ald- the other. wych House.

There are wizards at the Nation- al Institute of Industrial Pshcho-; logy who can read the innermost secrets of a man. I was handed over to one so that he might read mina

He sat me in a chair a few yards from a white screen. Close by me жете three discs entoured red, green and amber. -

Similar colours appeared on the screen, and I had to press down the disc which corresponded to the colour. The wizard checked the time in which I. recognised the right colour,

Reelsting Distraction. What my

"reaction time" was does not matter, but I am able to

1 state that a quick man will press the correct disc in 7 of a second, while a slow-witted man may take 1.2 seconds.

Judging "special relationship consisted of pressing a stud on the end of a wire to a stop a travel. ling post when I thought there was just room for a screen (deputising pass between for a motorear) to this post and another.

In the Countryside. After that they put, me in a car and told me to drive it through the countryside. The car was a dumm. my and the countryside was on a sort of cinema picture which mov. ed as I moved the car controls. It is too complicated a business to describe fully, but I failed utterly to keep the ear where it ought to be. There must have been some thing wrong with my nerve contro. and I know my special relation. ship went all to pieces.

The work of investigation which the National Institute of Indus trial Psychology is doing is most valuable. Many large firms, who employ drivers are co-operating in providing subjects for the tests.

But it is the calculation based on a variety of tests that matters

If the private motorist, could and so we passed to the one which tells of "resistance to distraction.have the opportunity of learning A picture was thrown on the his defects in this way, with a view to correcting them, the roads of

screen.

"This," said the wizard, "may, Britain would be much safer.

lengthen the time-lag and general-

ly does. It lengthens it sometimes

As much as 1.5 seconds.

"TRADE IMPROVING):

It is an extraordinarily good test of whether the driver can be relied

TESTIMONY OF MOTOR on to keep his eye on his job, or

MANUFACTURERS whether he is a "mind-wanderer."

To find out whether the age mus. [ cles were co-ordinating properly I Glasgow.Sir Herbert Austin, peered through coloured lenses at who was a visitor at the Scottian coloured oblongs. This helps to: Motor Show, declared that while judge the ability to estimate the there was not a trade boom m distance in front of the, car of an sight-these sudden booms were not object which has to be noted in a good for, the nation-trade was hurry. If co-ordination is faulty quite definitely improving. the judgment of distance will be bad.

Dazzle and Spaad. The "dazzle" test as something like that given by an oculist, only you look at the letter after you have gazed on a dazzling light bull,

To test the nerves you grasp. bandle and a needle records your reaction. It may have been for my consolation, but the demonstrator anid I think the nervous person may make as good a driver as any

Tel.

This improvement, Sir Herbert found, was, reflected in the motor show, where hundreds of orders are being taken.

SIR WILLIAM MORRIS RACING CARS

WHY HE BUILDS NONE

Sir William Morris presided at a luncheon of motor racing drivers at the Savoy Hotel, held in honour of M.G. successes during the past

Benson.

He made it clear that he is still opposed to building cars with rac ing as the main objective. It was, he declared, a sure way to ruin,

A SURPRISE

NEW SELF-CHANGE GEAR MODELS

AUTOMÁTIC DIRECTION

INDICATOR

Captain John P. Black, Director and General Manager of the Stand ard Motor Company, Limited, has given still further evidence of his unceasing activity and inventive enterprise Not only is he respon- ible for the production out of the blue" as it were, of four new self- changing pre-selective gear models at revolutionary prices-but, now, working in confunction with Mr. Oliver Lucas (Managing Director, Joseph Laicos, Ltd.), he has evolved now Stment to these models, con- sisting of an entirely novel auto matic direction indicator.

"I have not gone in for racing," explained Sir William, "because I want to remain in business, I am

A 1933 Standard "Big Nine" mall- like a breeder of famous sheep-changing pre-selective gear model dogs. Suppose I sold one to fitted with this direction indicator, man who entered it for the grey made its first appearance at Olym- hound Derby at the White City. pia, to the great surprise, of every- If the dog won I should be de- one, except Captain Black himself, lighted, but I should not be foolish who has literally worked in the enough to pour out money trying dark, devoting many of his recent to create a breed of racing sheep nights to the development of this dogs."

device.

Men bought M.G. care, he added, and raced with them and won. Naturally they were delighted, but the important thing was that these cars would still behave like a tame rabbit in traffic.

!

Direction Operation.

The direction indicator is operat ed by a lever beneath, and to the loft of, the steering wheel. A finger placed on this lever as a left or right turus is made, lights up a yellow arrow on one of the two Jutting-out arms situated on either side of the roof, midway down the car's length

Lord Howe, who is to be one of a team driving M.C cars in the famous Italian thousand miles rach next April, said that in the new M.G. Britain had at last produced a car fit to hold its own against These signalling lights can be the finest racing cars of the world sten by both oncoming and follow in its class. He looked forward to ing traffic, and one of the most the day when some British mann- convenient features of the device is facturer would build a racing car that, after a turn has been made, to beat the world, irrespective of the compensating adjustment of the wheel automatically cancels the Rize

signal,

RAIL CARS FOR SOUTH AMERICA

LEYLANDS IN BUENOS AIRES

A green light, signifying safety

AT THE PENINSULA HOTEL

FULL LIST OF GUESTS

Capt. Alexander, Mr. W. F. Arndt, Mr. J. TAsquith, Mr. and Mra: E.; Austin-Holer, ¡

Mr. W. L L. Barker, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Barnes, Caps and Mrs. E. C. Barry, Capt. K. V. B. Ben- field, Mr. Berlingioni, Mr. J. H Berry, Mr. A. Bianconi, Mr. and Mrs. R. Bigazzi, Miss A. M. Bishop, Dr. G. Boffa, Mr. de Boigne, Mr. H. Bos, Lt. Comdr. and Mrs. F. T. Boswell, Mrs. F. Bowers, Missce H. and J. Boyd, Col. E. Boyd, Mme. Boyer, Lt. Col. Boys," Mr. Brausiger Mes M. W. Brennan, Mr. A. F. Brennan, Mr. and Mrs. O. Brookelbank, Miss P. W. Brown, Capt. L W Bundred, Capt. P. J. Burgess, Mr. and Mrs. A. I. Burnie, Mr. B. G. Butler.

Mr. A. L. Caplan, Mr. and Mrs V. R. Castillo, Mrs. and Miss Cay zer-Dr and Mrs. S.-Cerejeira, Mr. J. G. Charlton, Dr. J. E. H Cogan, Mrs. E. Cogan, Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Craig, Mr. F. H. Crap- nell, Mrs. P. C. Creer.

Lt. Comdr. and Mrs. W. R. Deane, Mr. Delalando, Mr. and Mra, A. Delcourt, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. S. Dent, Mr. R. N. Drake, Dr. and Mrs. Drenkhahn, Capt. T. B. Drew.

Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Easterbrook, Mrs. B. Elder.

Mise D. Faye, Mr. and Mrs J. C. Ferguson, Mrs. W. C. Field-Hook, Mr. K. N. Finnher, Miss Kay For- ater, Mrs. J. E. French and son, Mr. R. Friml, Mr. G. E. Frisque.

Mr. Gardini, Mrs là II Garling ton, Mr. I. H. Geare, Mr. L. L. Chilson, Mr. Gledhill, Mr. V. B. Glover, Mrs. Godfrey, Mr. and Mre J. Gould, Col. F. E. Gowan and family, Mr. F. Gregory, Mr. T. M. Gregory, Mr. W. Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Grove..

Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Hall, Mr. 'S. Hanson, Mr. E. Hansunjzan, Mr. A. d. P. Heard, Mr. and Mrs. F.

or straight ahead," appears on Heath and family, Mrs. Honder-

Mrs. L. Howie, Mr, G. Hull

the opposite arm when the indicatson, Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Hilado, ing arrow is switched on, and this green light can also be operated in- dependently by pressing a button situated at the end of the arm bear ing the lever.

|

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Innocent. Mr. E. P. Jennings, Mr. M. A. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. F. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Judah and child. _--

This extremely satisfactory direc- In the fact of the Road and Raition indicator is now fitted to the Sir E. Kndoorie; Mr. L Kadoorie, controversy which is raging all over Standard" Big Nine" and "Big Admiral and: Lady W. H. Kelly, the world, it is particularly in Twelve" self-change gear models. Miss C. Kelly, Mr. D. M. Kerr teresting to hear of cases in which The Big Nine self-change gear Mr. and Mrs L Lamorie, Col. railway authorities have sought model, be exhibited at Olympin re-. G. Lecky, Mr. and Mrs. J. the co-operation of firms in the cently, is priced at £230, including Ledesma and family, Mrs. H. M. motor industry to assist in solving this device a remarkably moderate Levine Mr. Lo, "

Continued on Fage 5.) their particular problems

figure.

In South America, for instance, the Buenos Aires and Pacific Rail. way has recently completed suc- cessful trials with Leyland- engined rail car, On the run to Buenos Aires from the workshops at Junin, a distance of 250 kilo- metres, an average of 01 k.p.h..was recorded with ease, though in ac tual service the vehicle will only" be required to maintain an aver age of 50 k.p. Earlier types of rail car operated by the company had been unable to cope with the

Sir William Morris, another visitor, was similarly impressed with the success of the show. He, too, expressed his belief that trade was picking up. Money had been tied up, he said, but it was now being released, thanks to the grati:high winds frequently encountered fying spirit of confidence" that way growing every day.

MICHELIN

THE NON-SKIDDING. TYRE.

Tel. 24821

Distributors

A. GOEKE & Co.

China Building, Floo DEPOT FIAT GARAGE

950, Hennessy Road.

rice to Michelin owners

on the tracks, but the new machine proved conclusively in an 60 k.p.h. gale that, not only could it main- tain a speed of 56 k.p.h. for s period of two hours, but, that high- or speeds could be attained, if re- quired.

The power unit is a Leyland 6- cylinder engine, rated at 38.4. h.p. | and developing 00 b.h.p. st. 1,700. r.p.m. The 4-speed gearbox forma a combined unit with the engine, the drive. being taken by means of an intermediate cardan shaft to a reversing gearbox and thence to the worm-driven rear axle.

**WHEN THE PIE WAS

OPENED

At the very successful Singer Agents Luncheon, held in London during the Olympia Motor Show, the following song was enthusias tically sung to the tune of Sing a

Song of Sixpence

Sing a song of Singer for 1933,

Every car's winner on price and

pedigree.

When your clients ask you what

you recommend,

Sing a song of Singer, and you!!!

make another friend.

·BRITISH CAR TOPS/ TASMANIAN REGIS TRATIONS

A cable from the Bydney repre- sentative of Rootos, Ltd, states that, during the third quarter of the present your Hillman cars top- pod the list of registrations in Tas imanis

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

As a sign of the progress which British built vehicles are making in South America, it is interesting to hote time ar

about twenty vehicles hold rece ún Buenos Aires in connection with the Sixth Annual Re

gress, no fewer than

BRITISH TO CORE

THE

FAMILY BALOON

Triples. Glass mindscrnen” FAMILY TOURER: SPORTS TOURER, •BALOON DE LUXE. BOURSOME SUN SALOON.

CLUB SUN

SALOON.'

•Triplex Glous Throughout

It will end

Packard.

Cars

THE COUPE ROADSTER.

Reo Royal

A car of character

individuality

-Hong Kong and South China

LAM WING YAN & CO.

919-817, Hennesy Road

Phone 20002, 22812 PO. Box 35.

this "much-of-a-muchness" idea,

PRICES FROM 155--

The sturdy

You who have the idea that all good cars of or less alike. about the same price are. come' and see the Minx! It gives you real big. er comfort and performance at small car cost!

RAC. Rating 9.3. Brake horseporiér 25.1 Ariciency side valve engine with 3 during cran

sinder 13 Band 35 TLP-E10 to 30,m.?!

dropped frand with 5 heavy

brakes with

PONG MAN Marles finger tip me

Easily the roomiest

distance.

linder hak

Double (Rear 44) wards from

the price

HILLMAN MINX

10%

The car with “CUSHIONED POWER-

Hongkong Service GILMAN MOTORS

MR

SALES

GILMAN

took parts