1933-11-28 — Page 2

Page

NEW THORNYCROFT “HANDY” TRUCKS

Lightweights And Easy To Drive

0-the wo new models in the 1934 Thornycroft programme that which is likely to prove most po- pular is the lightly but strongly constructed 2-tonner which will be the Thornycroft included riemenclature under the title of "Handy."

(for Thornycroft's) This Uttle machine has every chance of jus- tifying the name "Handy," as it 8 relatively upon is mounted short wheelbase, while, by reason of its forward control, the avail- able body space is as great as it can be without an unwieldy over all length.

Steering (with which particular pains have been taken) is definite- ly easier than that of many pri- vate cars, in spite of having been trled with a fuù load aboard, and this in spite of the extra loading of the front axle imposed by the more forward positioning of the forward load made possible by control and the rearward location of the front axle.

Accessibility, too. has been well ease with studied, even to the

the driver can enter the > which

special cab which has been de- signed for this model:

The fact that eighty-four of these machines have been ordered by the Great Western Railway and thir- rone by the London and North-

Eastern Railway is eloquent,

i

Maximum saving in weight has obviously been chiefly obtained by careful attention to the frame de- ugn. The chassis weight, includ- without ing the standard cab which the chassis is not normally available. 13 1 ton 17 cwt, 1.qr.. and with a 9-cwt, body, for which make allowance, 2 the makers tons 8 cwt, 1 qr.

Thus, the vehicle is legally per- mitted a speed of 30 m.p.h., since it weights less than 2 tonis.

Careful Design

In plan view the side members are parallel, and in side elevation they are arched over the

provision, since it avoids compli cated work upon the electrical gear when the removal of the cab be- comes necessary, is plug and soc- ket connection to which are at- tached all wires which would have to be disconnected when the plug out of the socket and reverse the operation, when replacing the cab.

Simple Construction" Simplicity of the forward con- troi is largely augmented by the simple expedient of bending the gear lever forwards, thus avoiding possible complicated gear selector extensions. From the trial it was Jurent that gear changing "was quite simple, and the hand brake lever was easy to manipulate. The The clutch take-up was smooth, latter is of the single dry-plate pattern without a clutch stop, and rest axle transmits the drive to the full floating spiral bevel through a four-speed gear box.

The single brake shoes in each wheel drum are expanded both by hand lever and the pedal, the Brake adjustment' is by self-lock- ing brass column nuts at one end of every rod, and the brake cam- shafts are serrated,

It is not yet possible to obtain illustrations of the new XE/AD6 chassis. This, of course, is the new 10-12-ton trailing axle six-wheeler already" mentioned. Suffice it to say that this machine can legally carry a full 12-ton load when ted with a body weighing just over 33 cwt. The standard engine "at- ted to this model has a bore and stroke of 3.3/8 X 5./14 in giving an RA.C. rating of 45.9 hp., while Alterna- 99 b.h.p. is developed. tively, the Thornycroft Cind die- sel engine may be titted.

In addition to a normal for speed gear box an over-speed box is fitted, thus giving eight forward speeds. The driving axle is of the overhead worm pattern with fully moating sharts. :

.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1933.

MOTOR

SUPPLEMENT

POPULAR CARS FOR 1934

500,000TH

MEMBER

OF THE A.A..

MOTOR BOAT ENGINES

Increased Overseas

い

Business

shown in fulfilling this demandt may be gathered from the record. of Mr. Shillan's company.

Thus, the Britannia outboard motor has, during the past twelve months, met with phenomenal suc- cess and has been shipped to over 50 countries in different parts of the world.

When creating the "Britannia," the first question was to decide on" the type and site of engine that

It was in 1930 that, for the first would have the widest application, time, the annual Motor Show at and in this very valuable assistance received from Overseas enthus-

Many Developments Amusing Reminiscences Of

Amusing Reminiscences Of Olympia, Londen, included a mar-was

in British Cars

the

رحیم

Early Members

As was expected after steady rise in motor car sales

A significant chapter in the his Exhibition tory of our times came to an enl ual Olympia Motor during the present year, the ann- has produced many extremely in during the past few days, when the the Automobile Association enrolled its teresting developments products of the leading British 500,000th member and reached ou the same day its twenty-eighth

class

in

registered.

in

motor car manufacturers.

It will be interesting to note birthday,

To a younger generation which whether the small 10 h.p. motor

Buch has been brought up to consider car, which has achieved popularity during 1933, will main-motors and motoring us among the tain its position as the leading necessaries of life it may come as a surprise to learn that the A.A. of vehlele

waa at several periods during its Great Britain, There is no doubt a decided tendency towards a early history, on the point of, being revival of the 20 to 30 hp. vehicle, exterminated by. law, almost as if and many manufacturers have its officials were conspirators guilty Per- at every one of their meetings of built models in this class.

unlawful assembly; and that for haps we may expect to find many of the 10 b.p. ownere patronising any years after its inception its slightly larger vehicles, and the small band of scouts and patrols had to make use of secret signs and 12 and 14 h.p. class should ar-

move about the country as if they count for a high percentage of

were plotters against the policy. the total sales during 1934.

"In those early days," said Sir Stenson Cooke, the secretary of the A.A. to a representative of The Observer recently, motoring was a misery, Law abiding citizens with cars were constantly finding them selves in conflict with the police, and for exceeding the 90 m.ph.. speed limit even though he were driving along a wide country road with no ons in sight for miles the motorist was penalised with a £3 fine.

interesting Two of the most models in this medium-powered -class, are the new Vauxhall 12 hp. Light Six, and 14 h.p. Light Six. both of which sell at home at the extraordinarily low figure of £195 for a smart, roomy and well-built saloon. This car was introduced last June, and remained unalter ed at the Motor Exhibition, but the sales during the past four months have been exceptionally good and the cars were a decid- Messrs. Shew & Kilburn, Ltd.. ed centre of interest at Olympia. the "sole London-distributors for Vauxhall Motors, anticipate that these cars will be particularly popular with Overseas visitors to Great Britain, and for 1934 they will be still further extending the scheme which they have opened during the past ten years, gua

ranteeing

fixed a

repurchase

£1,000 A WEEK IN FINES. "I am not exaggerating when I say that the motorist was on all sides being persecuted by the police and by magistrates on the bench. In one week one county bench alone took £1,000 in fines for exceeding the speed-limit. Something, of course, hail to be done about it, and that was how the A.A came into being as an organisation to protect the motorist from persecut ion and to determine his status in

price at the end of any definite period for those who wish to avoid any responsibility or worry the eyes of the law," rear

at the end of their visit.

akle and raised ad clear the front axle. They are well proportioned, being deep in the middle and tap- ering off gradually towards front

to

and rear. Adequate support the side members is afforded by four cross-members, all of which, except the front one, are located below the frame. All these cross- members are thin-gauge flanged channel section and formed into box-type girders by flat plates at- tached to the flanged edges. The third cross-members is arched to clear the propeller-shaft, and, at Its flattened centre portion, is boited to another straight mem- ber above the frame; thus, the fortified frame members' against twisting. stresses, sa this bulit-up member is part bolted and part welded to the main frame flanges. Outer extensions of this member support the rear spring anchor brackets and also the dis-

are

/

Even Weight Distribution Rear suspension is by four in- verted semi-eiliptic springs inde - pendently pivoted at their centres to brackets rigidly attached to the frame. This system is claimed to afford even distribution of weight on all four bogie wheels, irrespec- movement. tive of their relative The whole layout is simple and no unnecessary weight is introduced of torque arms, the by radius. springs forming "the only connec- the axles and the tion between frame.

Internal expanding brakes apply in all six wheels, pedal operation being assisted by triple servos.

Motoring in Great Britain in

be very these circumstances can pleasurable at a moderate rost, and Bhaw&Kilburn's splendid ser- vice facilities at 112-114, Wardour Street, London. W.1, make the purchase of a Vauxhall a still more attractive proposition for Overseas visitors,

CHARCOAL GAS FOR MOTOR-CARS

Two 50-gallon petrol tanks are provided, one heing mounted on each side of the frame. Standard Start Of 6,000-Mile Journey equipment includes a 12-volt light- ing set with dip and switch head R mechanical tyre lamps and pump.

It is of interest to note that in the case of these chassis an order tributing brake cross tube, which for forty has been placed by a is of large diameter and dropped well-known London firm of trans-

in the centre to clear the propel-port contractors. ler-shaft. The open rear end of

the frame is braced by : two diar

gopal flat plates from the centre

of the last cross-member. The SUNBEAM

rear cross-member.

carries

the

shackle brackets, and note-worthy points to be observed in connec- tion with these cross-members and spring brackets, and also the brake and propeller-shaft, cross-shaft

AND

LAGONDA

are the extreme lightness of con- Are Sixes Better

truction. This, however, has been brought about, as will be seen, by careful design and not by Indis- criminate lightening of standard parts.

Four Cylinder Engine.

Than Fours?

ground. Questions were raised in one occasion Parliament, and on the Home Secretary went so far as to declare that there could be no doubt that the scouts employed by the Automobile Association as road patrols hampered the police in carrying on the duties which Par- liament had imposed upon them, might become necessary for Parlia and that if the evil continued it ment to intervans for their protee tion}'

}

The

ine and motor boat section, and lasts. After weighing carefully the since then this branch of the indus- various opinions, it was decided try has become an ever increasingly that the greatest demand was for important exhibit On the present an easily portable twin cylinder occasion one of the most interesting engine which would be capable of stande, partiiularly from the point driving a substantial dinghy at of view of Overseas visitors, was speed of 7 m.p.h., or a Hight boat that occupied by the British Motor of good lines at 10 m.p.h. Boat Manufacturing Co, Ltd, of present. model is light in weight, London, Mr. J. W. Shillan, the but develops 4 h.p. at 3,000 R.P.M.. motor boat expert being the Man and is sold at home at the very low aging Director On this stand price of £25. uility types of both outboard and

Until inboard motors were on view,

An inboard motor, the Britannia "Middy," is another interesting recently | product of this firm. Outstanding in comparatively. and utility types, was in American cylinder engine are its extreme practically the whole of the business features of this useful litle twin hands, and this created an interest-compactness and the fact that it ing position. Many people con- aan he installed in any part of the earned with motor boating in the boat. The whole unit, including FAMOUS MEMBERS. Overseas Empire markete had for the underwater fittings, can be re- long been acquainted with inboard moved from the boat in three min "To which & famous daily news-engines of British manufacture and utes by simply unscrewing six wing A small craft fitted with a paper replied, with the suggestion had rightly formed the opinion that nata. that the Home Secretary might the best marine engines were of "Middy" engine is extraordinarily be well advised to study a list of British origin. There arose, there- easy to handle, for it can be turned members of the Automobile As- fore, a definite demand for out-in its own length, instantly revers- sociation and see from it the board engines of similar nationality ed or held dead still against a land- opinion many of his colleagues in for utility purposes, and some idea ing stage with just a turn of the the Cabinet and Judges of the of the enterprise that has been handle. High Court hold of its necessity and usefulness by the fact of sub scribing to its funds and ita tenets Its roll of members embraces most of the best-known names in the country.

"Who knows how long the per secution. might have gone on had not the Chancellor of the Exohe- quer decided that there was money In this motoring business, and by

means of a new and drastic re vision of the old-time carriage duties of a guinea or two, vast sume might accrue to the Treasury. The formation of the Road Board industry began to take its place soon followed, and the motor-car among the great industries of the country. At the present day, as we all know, it is probably the healthiest industry in Britain."

The most surprising thing that bas happened in the history of motoring in Sir Stenson's belief, is the remarkable growth in the num her of women drivers. There are now Sir Stenson, who was knighted over 80,000 women members of the this year, was the A.A.'s first secret-A-A., and it would hardly be mak- ing an overestimate to declare that drivers in the country. for twenty-eight years. ary, and has remained its secretary there are at least 300,000 women

"At the beginning we had no really definite is or plans," he said We felt something had to be done. That was all. We began in a very small office in Fleet-street, lent to us by a friend, and borrowed a typewriter, When I applied for the job as secretary I had been in a motor-car only twice in my life. My rival for the position actually owned a motor-cycle, a fact which I felt would secure him the job, hut oddly enough it didn't.

"One of our first tasks was the organisation of patrol scouts. In those early years we could muster Two Rolls-Royce motor-cars, cheap funds for only six of them. They of them driven by gas generated worked on such main thoroughfarea. week-ends.. They had no uniforms, plant and the other petrol-driven, the Brighton-road-and only at fro & special charcoal-burning. left the Royal Automobile Club, and their weekly pay-roll came to for patrols is somewhere in the North-West Frontier of India. Pall Mall, last month for the 8 10s To-day the weekly payroll, neighbourhood of £10,000. The job Colonel Edward Noel, who, has of the patrols consisted largely in just been appointed Commissioner tracking down police-traps and for Development for the North warning motorists who were men- West Frontier Province, is driving bers of the A.A, that they had better the gas-driven ear, which is an keep within the 90mph. Hait open tourer of the Silver Ghost" type. He is accompanied by Mrs. Noel...

THE STOP-WATCH CLUB.

"The patrols had no uniform, Colonel Noel stated that the objects of his 8,000-mile journey only armlets, and their work was not unlike that of an amateur de- were to revive the charcoal indur try in India arid to keep in this tective. All sorts of devices were country money now spent on im-employed for detecting police-traps. ported petrol. Charcoal was able Perhaps the most ingenious of our to do the work of petrol and it was patrol-man in those days was one. (By John Prioleau)

cheaper. Twelve pounds of char who made the important discovery Among all the announcements of coal were equal in power to about at Reigate that when a stop-watch was missing from the local jeweller's" new cars to be produced imme-one gallon of petrol.

The route taken will be to window, there was always a police- trap in the neighbourhood He The power unit used on the two-diately or in time for the show

was right, and his theory was never ton chassis is of a well-tried-out next month, few will be caid with Continued ai foot of next column,

known to fail po type, namely the FB: engine. This greater, interest by the majority of

"Another bright idea was worked: four-cylinder unit, with a bore and owners than those of the new four- stroke of 37 X 5in, is rated at 22.5 Cylinder Sunbeams and Lagondas, h.p., and develops 38 b. Weight is the first because it is several years some years ago when the six took out in collaboration with the hand- the company abandoned its place in all but the smallest reds of garages and repair-shops. saved by casting the crank case in since

the country. We supplied them' electron, while rigidity of the unit tours and devoted itself exclusive sizes, and I consider the appear- which were springing up all over

monobloc ly to the building of sizes; the ance of the new Sunbeam highly is further secured by

cylinders.

second, because it is the first light significant, I think I am right in with a kind of barber's pole fitted: construction of the

car made in the Staines works saying that the last Sunbeam four with a ball and lanyard. The ball, Noteworthy engine features are

since the famous Twelve, in which was the celebrated 1926 14-b.p., a which was painted yellow, could be that the dynamo and magneto are driven in tandem and are inter- entirely novel principles of body model of which well-worn examples pulled up and down the pole. When changeable. There are no external cum-chassis building were adopt are still eagerly sought for by the the ball was at the base of the Role band machines. The new car, at the tip of the pole it meant to oil pipes, all oll being conveyed by ed. As readers of this column will knowledge in search of second- it meant nothing When it was

know I have always been an en- drilled or cast channels.

thusiastic advocate, of the four- which is of 12.8-h.p. and £13 tax, AA members that not far ahead. point mounting is used, the front cylinder engine, when it is pro- is very like the 25-h.p. In general the police were at work on a trap. We had all sorts of difficulties point being rubber buffered, while perly balanced, or alternatively, to design, but it has two special fea- the two rear, points are, spring that expensive process, so mount- tures of interest. The first is in- to meet in those days. There were loaded to absorb vibration. The ed that vibration is damped out. dependent front wheel suspension quite a number of people, including radiator is mounted on two rub- It seems to me that in motor cars This consists of a transverve front many eminent lawyers, who believed ber-buffered brackers at the foot, the simpler, the means by which spring that carries the front load. that our patrols warnings against and is also held along its sides by given results was obtained, the The centre of the spring is bolted police traps were illegal, and that to the frame (at the front cross- we could be prosecuted on that bolls passing through a sheet better. In certain obvious in- metal dash held by the bonnet stances, à six is a better car than member), so that the movement of framework The radiator filler cap a four I have had pleasant per each front wheel is controlled by is invisible, and access to it is sonal proof of it myself during the its own half of the spring only; Brindisi and thence by boat to reached through a trap in the cab. past six years and occasionally, independently of the other-Radius The petrol tank aller also is reach- all things, being equal, more and torque rods keep everything Haifa. From there the cars will ed through an aperture in the efficient more nexible, and less straight and relieve the spring of go to Damascus, Baghdad, and on aide, of the cab..

noisy, but there is more of it the twisting effects of braking to Teheran If permission can be than of the four, and although the It will be very interesting to see, obtained Colonel Noel will go time is not yet in sight, I believe how this arrangement behaves, through Afghanistan, but if it is we shall one day produce cars of The other special feature is the refused he will turn south through a simplicity and fewness of parts pre-selector Wilson gear box which Baluchistan and then on to Quetta

Ma is connected direct with the en-Ins destination,

Three-

Cab design calls for mention, as the particularly wide doors facil tate the driver's entrance and exit. Further, since the cab can

be removed-merely by undoing unimagined to-day.

seven" bolts the forward part of The Sunbeam " Dawn” Suspension, gine by a cushion coupling, and Among those present to see

In the meantime, the, four is lubricated automatically from the Colonel slowly regaining the ground it lost sump.

the chassis is rendered more than usually accessible. Acreditable

Noel's departure was

ths Nawabzada of

A

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