1933-02-28 — Page 2

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SINGER TWELVE SALOON

ROAD TESTS OF NEW MODEL

The road tests new models carri ed out by The Autocar and re- ported in its columns each week ama well-known and mach appre- ciated feature, of that journal and enabled the student of modern cars

to obtain an accurate idea of the characteristics of each car deserib ed. A recent issue, for instance, contained an account of a road test of one of the most interesting Twelve saloon, which sells at home for the very moderate price of *£109.

PERPETUAL DAY ON ROADS

Floodlighting The Highway

NEW INVENTION TO BE

TESTED

HONG KONG DARY PRESS, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 1933.

SPARKS

FROM THE PLUGS

London.A new system of street

lighting which may bring perpetual daylight to arterial roads through- car

TESTING AND CHOOSING CARS

VALUE OF EXPERT ADVICE

During the past two or throo months, writea John Prioleau in the Observer when mast of the new de aigns that were shown at Olympia have been introduced on to the road, I have received an unusually large number of letters asking for my opinion of various cars and for These letters, for the most part,

advice in their choice of new ones.

ORDEAL BY ICE

-MONTE CARLO MOTOR

RALLY

the

PLUNGED FROM SNOW INTO SUNSHINE When the competitors in Monte Carlo motor rally began to arrive at Monte Carlo on Jan, 25th, the open dickey of a Ford car. young woman was seen sitting in With Miss S. P. Richardson as

BRITISH MOTOR TRADE GROWTH

REGISTRATION FIGURES SHOW BIG INCREASE

10h.p. Class

reflects Д

MOTOR RD. RACING IN ENGLAND

COURSE PLANNED NEAR LONDON

2

The time is ripe for the intro- duction of road racing in England, and any well-found scheme for es- tablishing a good road circuit is likely to receive widespread sup port.

One such scheme is the Ivingboe Motor Road Raoscourse, which is on 435 acres of open, almost, tres. less land, rising at the southern

from Hyde Park Corner.

of 1033 British cars the Singar Electric Company on a by-pass road; ical knowledge, even when they ad. ¡ of nearly 2,000 miles from Johning the six months from June to ness. The increase reported in this end to Pitstone Hill. It is 38 miles

In some of the most important respects, the new Singer Twelve provides much more than might be expected of its modest cost. Chief of these are the accommodation, finish and comfort of the body, and

the quite remarkably smooth-run- ning

Fleasing_Elect.

Evidence is coming to hand of a of 1932, it is safe to assume that steady expansion in the British the expansion also

To many observers genuine expansion-in-public-de- motor trade.

The facts disclosed in the Austin private cars in Great Britain will seem surprising in view of the con- Motor Company's debenture pro- the figures of new registrations of mand.

traction in the purchasing power spectus show that this company has been well to the fore in obtain of the public.

These are the latest totals, covering a fair share of the new busi.

November, 1832:

case for the 24 weeks since August laat is 43 per cent, in the home market and as much as 100 per cent. in the export market.

An analysis of the registration sion has been taking place in the total shows that the biggest expan- 10 h.p. class. This is the class of car supplied by makers such as Austin, Standard, Singer and Lan

out the country and make motor- show that the writers are pussessed driver, and a young woman pas

headlamps redundant will shortly be tested by the General, of a good deal of useful and praesenger, she had made the journey mit to being in no more than the O'Groats exposed to ice and snow and bitter weather with a hot

New Car Registrations, secondary stages of motor owner-

1932 1931. Increase ship, and as a general rule the cars water bottle tied to her waist. She their final choice for them are all the trip. from which they ask me to make said she had thoroughly enjoyed so eminently suitable that advice L. K. Hamish-Wilson, a dispensertion of July, the 1832 total was This undaunted woman was Miss June November 71,995 58,418 +93p.c. In each month, with the excep- is superfluous.

in a hospital where Miss Richard- son, who is the daughter of one of the oldest British motorists, is a radiographer. They had obtained

near Wembley.

Invented by a young British scientist, the new lamp, which is on the lines of a neon electric sign consists of a tube, inside which gas will be made to glow brightly with

I

strong, almost daylight-white light. The electricity consumption

will be only a fraction of that of the

present tungsten filament lamps.

These brighter, cheapor "catho- de lamps, pinced on the ground will throw an even light over roads and eliminate the shadows which are unavoidable between overhead lamps.

Mixture of Gazes,

Good Cars are Fast Cars, A point of some interest in these inquiries is the importance attach

substantially bigger than the cor- responding figure for 1931. During the four-month period, August to

November, the increase was actual- chester. ly as much as 40 per cent. Al-

It is understood that the Singer

Among those who alo advising on this course are Captain G. E.-T. Commander Whiteroft, Eyston, Mr. H. N. Edwards, and Mr. W. be formed on the land, with a club- Keer. An aerodrome will probably

bouse.

The circuit for the road course.

would be four miles long and. would provide all the hazards of the beat Continental courses. There

The tired competitors stretched though some part of the rise must! Company has been benefiting from would be six corners per lap, with

be attributed to a special drive to its export business to the Belgian increase sales during the autumn market.

themselves happily in the war sunshine at Monte Carlo, for many of them had been travelling for four days and nights, and they nearly all had endured bad wea ther, with heavy snow and slippery BRITISH CARS IN HOLLAND, A MOTORIST IN THE FOG roads everywhere.

Many of the cars were equipped with spades, boards, and iron chains. They came from all parts of Europe, some of them from as far as Reval, Esthonia, over 2,340 miles. In this little group. ing for the first time in interna-. was Lord de Clifford, who was us- tional competition on the Contin ent a Diesel oil-driven British en gine.

ed to maximum speed on third and 4-cylinder engine....Thera would be sxcuse even for experi-

top gears. This is new, in my ex-special leave from the hospital to anced drivers being led to believe

somebody else to choose their cars perience, most people who want join the rally. that the engine posscases six, and

for them taking--or pretending to not four, cylinders, as is the case

take-little or no interest in Buch for it is not too much to say that

things. For myself, I welcome it. throughout the range the engine is

Cars have improved out of all know. free from a vibration period, a

light but not at all disturbing The light is a mixture of gases, ledge in practically every direction tremor being noticeable at the and it is expected to make coloured during the past three years or less, lower speeds, which disappears en-food-lighting of buildings and but it is still trus that, Bave in tirely at the ordinary cruising monuments much cheaper and more quite exceptional circumstances, a range between 30 and 40 m.p.b. efficient.."

good car goes fast and a bad one Sir Hugo Hirst, chairman and won't. It is not exactly correct to managing director of the General-say that you can judge of all a Electric Company, told a Press re-, car's other qualities by the pace at presentative that the now system which it will travel, but there are would mean a great revolution in less sure guides to good design and

construction. lighting.

The exceptions that occur to one rare cheaply are, first, the very made car that Balls on its pace and not much else besides. It is not, it cannot possibly be, built to last spoed is still one of the most ex- pensive things you pay for and if it is possible to drive it as fast when it has covered 20,000 miles a when it had only 3,000 to its credit, the chances are that the mainten- anee and repair bills are mounting up at a rate out of all proportion to the price of the car. In any case, ita useful or economical life is certain to be short. There must

Higher speeds round about 50 can be held without the slightest fuas or mechanical noise; and al though in these days an engine rated at 12 hp. is certainly not Among the smallest category of all, its nevertheless, very commend able indeed, that a full load of four quite heavy people does not pull down the performance appreciably -in fact, hardly seems to be felt by the very willing engine. There is no doubt at all that a good power output has been obtained; and, partly due to the flexible mounting of the engine in the frame, the power impulses are not felt, giving a very pleasing ef fect.....

"The latest Singers have the logical development. that the use Bf silent-running, constant-mesh pinions,is extended to second gear as well as third gear, so that there is no annoyance produced by em- ploying either of these indirect gears, second also being useful ratio on which a maximum reading of 36 can be reached....

During my speech as chairman' at the annual general meeting of my company on June 30 last year, visualised the great possibilities of future street lighting," he said.

"In the seven months since I made that speech considerable pro- gress has been made and the com- pany is now in a position to carry out contracts,

Contract Sacurad

The method is just emerging from the laboratory into practical Lяe. I am convinced we shall over come all difficulties, but it may wearing out there take some time.

I think, if the thing is a success, all the established arms will be able to share in the benefit. It will do good rather than harm to the established "firms, like every

Another feature likely to prove vory popular with the future own- er is the lightness of control, the steering being remarkably light, yet not vague; none of the pedals needs anything but the lightest of pressure, the force it is necessary to apply to the clutch and brake being approximately equal, light clutch operation has long been a feature of Singer cars. Also, the We shall be able to.supply more latest types of brakes, which are light for the same money, Whether hydraulic, ar particularly good in we can produce more units of light this matter of light operation....." is still a question for the future."

progress.

Skid into Fjord.

the ice.

One of the English competitors from Stavanger related that while in Norway he had seen a competing car, after skidding on flung into the waters of a fjord. Spectatora dived several times, and pulled driver and passenger out and took them to hospital.

Two male competitors from John O'Groats-they made up the largest group to arrive and nearly all of them were British-arrived in the early hours wearing pale blue pyjamas

The first contract has been secured, and we are now ready to mako a practical demonstration on one of the by-pass roads leading out of London, from somewhere be very few, makers of repute to near Wembley, towards the north. day who would be ready to risk

"By the measure, of success of their good name and the money of Eleven competitors started from this first installation we shall be their shareholders in the production Athens, the furthest point, and able to see how near or far we are of a fast car that cannot stand only two of them, Mr. R. St. G. from making a success with the new up to its work. Granted that it Riley, driving a Riley, and a were possible so to advertise a car Frenchman, M. Thehoux, driving a type of lighting.

that the public would understand Hotchkiss, managed to get as far that at the end of a given time as Budapest. They had to give up the car would be worn or rapidly there owing to the heavy snow mak- would being the road to Vienna impassable. 80 small market for it as to

One of the most thrilling experi- make its production commercially ences of the rally has been that of of Mrs. Montague Johnstone, the impossible.

well-known British driver from The Chief Exception-" Dotuned."

Such cars as are sold principal Henley-on-Thames. Half dead with ly on their speed are usually of fatigue, she practically lost con- the type that do best in the hands sciousness near Bordeaux. During of experienced drivers, who use the fraction of a second when she their maximum speeds only occa went to sleep the car crashed head- sionally, Moreover, they are not an into a wall and turned a coin- really cheap. I am not here speak-plete somersault Only by a mira- ing of the higher classes, where ele did she and her woman, pas. prices between £800 and anything senger, Miss Champneys, escape in. up to £1,200 obtain, but of the jury. They righted the car and more modest machines with small continued their bid for victory. engines The big or coetly care are, or should be, safe enough in the hands of any but confirmed "butchers" (who would ruin the slowest car even more quickly than the fastest), but the little ones, cost- ing between £300 and £500, require and deserve sympathetic treatment The other exception is the type of car which is best described by the epithet de-tuned." It is usual. ly a high-class machine, costing a

Here are some figures about the good deal of money, designed to meet the needs of a definite class which have been issued by the Na- American car industry for 1932 of user. It has an engine of a

tional Automobile Chamber giza und design that would; in

Commerce: the American and normal circumstances, give it a

Canadian production numbered speed considerably in excess of what' it is allowed to develop. It has 1,198,500 cars and 237,500 trucks; 13 per cent. ware sold abroad; 93 been deliberately. "softaned" in or der that its performance from a per cent. of the cars produced wore atandstill up to its permitted maxi- closed; there are 24,878,000 cars in nium should be as luxurious as use, and 3,231,000 trucks; there are possible. That is the only sort of 35,000 filling stations; service sta Blow car (using the word compara- tions and garages total 97,721; the tively) that is a good car because petrol consumed by the industry it is really a fast car that bas amounted to 320,000,000 barrels of been intentionally slowed down. Its 42 gallons. life, if unexciting, is fairly certain to be a long one,

THE NEW

PRINCIPLE TYRES,

BY

FISK

MEANS MORE

mileage

SUPER-TYRE WITH

COMPETITORS.

Bola Distributors

GILMAN & CO., LTD.

Telephone 28011..

Hong

Buil

by Signor Mussolini.

The Geneva Show.

Out of 111 competitors, only 72 completed the course..

DISCONNECTED JOTTINGS

Motoring in America,

An Air Cutter,

of

*Racing car streamlining helped a petrol-driven rail coach to attain 96.3 m.p.h. in Germany.

Seeing is Bolleving.

For the Geneva Show from March 10th to the 19th, nineteen Ameri-

At the Chicago World's Fair it can manufacturers have entered, is proposed to exhibit a full-sized eleven French, nine German, and model of a car nearly every com Boven English. In addition ve ponent of which is made of glass Italian, one, Austrian, and two just to show the American motorist Belgian firms will be represented that there really is something in- A second building is to be erected side the machine! again this year to accommodate

Some of the eighteen lorry exhibits In Rome,

Spring Fashions.

May there is to be a motor

All instrument boards are becourcycle rally in Rome. It is hoped ing all more ornamental if the that over 4,000 motor cyclists will Intel American models are any attend, and they will be reviewed thing to no by,

Wontinued on Precious Calumai

GOOD IMPRESSION AT

AMSTERDAM SHOW

Eleven-makes-of-British cars are being exhibited at the Amsterdam Motor Show.

This show is of importance be cause it is the first occasion on American models which the new are on view after the New York

show,

The first order received at Ams- tordam was from Mr. Telkamp.. the bulb grower, who purchased a

two-litre Singer car.

British products generally, are creating a very favourable impres

sion.

:

WHY HE SWITCHED OFF HIS LIGHTS

Wellingborough Magistrates agreed with the opinion-of-a-mo-

and safer to motor at night in fog torist who said that it was easier

without lights.

& maximum gradient of one in five up and one in ten down. On the straight stretches it is believed that speeds of 130 miles an hour would be possible.

A company is shortly to be form- ed with the object of developing this courde.

COOING HORNS

From time to time controversy arises about the ugliness of the He was summoned for a lighting notes of many motor horns, and offence at Finedon, Northants, on the damage to nerves caused by ex a foggy night, and he told the cessive noise. Poste Parision, the Bench that he could not follow the well-known broadcasting station, road with his lights on, and had is now adding to the gaiety of things in general by selecting, as Alderman J. T. Hawthorne: its new interval, note the sound of switched them of..

"As motorists the Magistrates a coach horn Among the ideas agree with you, although legally submitted, says The Wireless,

ou were wrong,"

World, is the cooing of a dove and a burst of feminine laughter!

The case was dismissed.

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THORNYCROFT

SIX-CYLINDERED

COACHES & OMNIBUSES

MOTOR VEHICLES

Pioneer Manufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles

Full Range of Spares carried in Hong Kong and Shanghai,

4 or 6 Wheels

4 or 6 Cylinders

30 Cwt. to 10 Ton Loads

20 to 70 Passengers

JOHN I. THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED,

Pioneer Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon,

TEL. 56789.

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