1935-04-30 — Page 2

Page

CARS OF TO-DAY MOTOR DRIVING,

The Humber Twelve

The Humber Twelve saloon, with its new shape, all-synchron- ized gearbox, lower and more for- ward centre of gravity, and stron- cer frame, is an improved model. writes a correspondent.

The stx-light four-door body is coomy everywhere; head clear ance is good. A safe view is given all round. The front seats have big squabs and are adjustable; the rear seat has three armrests; The here, too, is real comfort. front side-windows are divided vertically each has two well- placed winders--the top one to swivel the no-draught ventilating section, and the bottom one to lower or raise the after-section. The quarter lights can be swivel- led out towards the back for ventilation without draught. The large speedometer has the clock, the water temperature and petrol gauges are together, and the am- meter and oil pressure gauge are combined. There is automatic engine restarting part of the roof slides back, and the two visors are not attached to the sliding Twin electric wipers are part, concealed and worked quietly. There are three pull-out ashtrays and an electric cigarette lighter;" the screen will open enough to give a direct view; there is a BOIL and loud control for the two horns the working switch of which is a convenient ring in the centre of the steering wheel. The wells in the door behind are shallow and long, with the back panel opened out a luggage platform is formed; the spare wheel and tools are kept inside the cupboard. There is good entrance by all four doorways, the running boards give adequate foot-room, and the the front, sides, und back of saloon are well proportioned and of a neat simplicity.

THE BONNET SIDES

The bonnet sides have each five louvres, of which four "can be opened. I dislike the screw clips The four- to hold the bonnet,

cylinder engine has side valves and is held on cushioned power with the gearbox as a unit. The sparking plugs are in the top of the head and can be got at with a box spanner. On the nearside are the vertically driven make- and-break and distributor, which are above the head and have vacuum control, and the down- draught carburettor, with its large air cleaner and silencer: These parts are readily get-at- able, but the tappets are over- shadowed by the manifolds, and " the dynamo by the inswept cur- ved wing. The sump is extended at the sides for the oil; drainage is by a plug at the back, The dynamo has a belt which is com- mon to the combined far and Impeller, The starter is under the floorboard, On the offside there are merely the petrol pump, the oll Aller, with gauze and breather pipe, the diprod, and the junction box; all are handy.

There is carr steering, and the coll fusea and cut-out and screen- wiper box are easily reached on the dash. The power is passed through a single-plate dry clutch to a four-speed gearbox which has central control and synchro- mesh for all forward speeds. The rest of the transmission comprises propeller-shaft with an open needle-roller bearings for the uni- versal joints, and a Half-Boating spiral bevel-driven axie, There are four duo-servo brakes work- ed by cables by pedal or hand- lever on the outside under the dash, thus leaving the floor and the driver's entrance clear. Nor is the lever inaccessible as might appear. The drums are 10 inches in diameter. The half-elliptical springs, which work with hydrau lic shock absorbera, have silent- bloc shackles, and are termed multi-rate, having progressive action. A plate must be unscrew- ed to reach the gearbox filler.

ON THE ROAD

The engine, in fact the whole car, is particularly quiet and smooth it runs more like a six- cylinder than a four. Only under severe abuse at very low speed. une realizes the engine's size and the weight of the car. The aaloon is pleasing to drive and the con- irols are handy, the engine is reasonably, flexible with good ac- celeration for its class, and the running is silky. There is a feel- ing of well-being about the ma-. chine that it is well and truly made. The steering is light and sufficiently arm; the spring wheel is rightly placed. The driver can

As An Art

It was asserted at one time that motor-drivers are born and not made. Later, when this view bad been rejected on grounds of ex- perience, the opinion was expres- sed that only the road itself can "teach man to drive. The im- plication in both cases was, of course, thas, tests of drivers and training for drivers are alike use- less. Mr. Hore-Belisha's speech i the House of Commons, when he stated that some of the applic ants for the posts of examiner had never heard of the Highway Code, should go far to dispel these ideas. No really experienced dri- ver has ever entertained them. Some time ago there was publish- a driver who ed a letter from

had the honesty to confess that neither his inborn capacity nor an experience of the road extend- "ing to many thousands of miles had taught him the lessons which a capable "Instructor quickly im- parted. He had been driving un- der à sense of illusion-namely. that he had nothing more to learn. In fact, as he found; he had almost everything to learn. Such candour is valuable at a moment when instruction of new drivers is about to be undertaken in all parts of the country. Many of these learners may feel that an unnecessary burden is being laid on their shoulders; others may resent a period of probation cal- culated apparently to damp en- thusiasm. Let them realize that driving is an art rather than a the unless science and that, foundations of technical accom-, plishment are well laid, real pro-"; ficiency will never be attained.

WILL REDUCE ACCIDENTS?

What are these foundations? It is true generally of all art that, in the words of the younger Dumas, "It is based on prepara-

The artist selects: "he", tion." creates out of his selected mater- lal a tension which he finally re- solves without accidens or mis- hap, and without any loose

the ends." It 19

conspicuous quality of a good driver that he moves from tension to tension during the whole of his course, Every cross-roads every vehicle on the road, offers to his senses data from which he selects the mater- ials of these tensions. All his knowledge and experience · are drawn upon each time that re- solution is effected. But the pro- "cess is so swift and so smooth in its operation that the onlooker sees nothing of the game. By far the most important part of the process is the initial selec- tion. A good driver knows what a corner before he is behind reaches that corner; he knows how the vehicles which surround him will move during the next few seconds; he knows how the pedestrians, who for the moment are, within his "danger zone," are going to act. Since most accidents are due to faulty observation rather than to faulty action, it is probable, to say the least of it. that the new training will result ip a substantial saving of fe and limb.

be

see the road well. The brake and

Dedals should accelerator more separated; the reflecting mirror would not set at the best.

driver angle for

of norinal height. The clutch was efficient and I liked the 'change speed, ex- cept that on this car engagement of first or second from a stand- still was far too stiff. Otherwise the synchromesh worked properly. making chages simple and gil- ent, and the gears were quieu la running. The handbrake lever is convenient in form and in place, but does not give great leverage: It is, however, only for parking. The brakes by pedal were strong. but inclined to pull a little, and this with hard application could be felt through the steering. The car held the road firmly and the" suspension allows one to travel comfortably behind as well as in front.

The test performances were good, particularly so as there' was 2 stout bead. wind The roads" were dry and there was the usual load. About 27, 48, and 65 căn be done on second: "third, and top, and nearly 60: was attained and maintained against a slight- ly rising gradient and the wind. ...The rates on the upgraded stretch were 15 and 52; those on the 1 in 22) Dashwood Hill were '30 and 45. "With a good standing start at the bottom of the old h30 miles an hour was shown at the crest.”

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935.

MOTOR JOTTINGS

MOTOR NOTES FROM

GREAT BRITAIN

Bigger Demand For Large Cars

(From a London. Correspondent)

The output of private cars so far this season bids fair to sar- pass the previous highest British figures by a substantial amount. For the first four months of the current period registrations of new cars are up from, 66,824 to 83,866.

The commercial vehicle branch of the industry, too, is making good progress, new re- gistrations being to 24,812 from 22,514 for the correspond- ing period last year.

קס

An analysis of recent regis- trations under the various horse- power groups shows

definitely

this

that the demand for bigger cars is on the increase, the percent- age of cars of more than 25 hp. registered last year being more than double the number for the period in the previous year. In actual figures of course, group does not amount to a large proportion of the total output, the numerically largest class nowadays being the 10 h.p.. At the same time. It does point to improving conditions, while the lower scale of taxation now In force has also had its effect.

EXPORT ORDERS

This increased demand for large cars during recent months is reflected in the greater num ber of export orders being car- ried out by Hooper & Co., the London coachbuilders. At the present time their works contain bodies: i course of construction for India, Australia. Spain,

France, Roumania, Hungary and Switzerland, the majority - being for Rolls-Royce chassis.

An apparently normal mou- sire body on a 40/50 h.p. Rolls- Royce was recently completed by 'this concern for the President of a West Indian, republic. Actual- ly, however, it was armourplated all round and atted with buliet- - proof glass. Despite this, the total weight of the car is only 5" cwts. more than one of normal Anish.

PERSONALITIES

..

Once again Sir Malcolm Camp- bell has given a flip to the British motor Industry by the performance of his wonderful motor, industry by the perfor- mance of his wonderful" "Blue- bird" at Daytona. Defending the " value of these speed records, one eminent authority described "Bluebird" as a travelling re- search laboratory, providing data of the utmost value to the mo-. tor industry.

Sir Malcolm is, himself, the link between this car with its Rolls-Royce Schneider Trophy

show up the best points in an oil after an "engine has been in use s for long periods,

from

milies and

B

Such circumstances were, how- ever, exactly represented by test, devised by Germ Lubricants and supervised by Prof. Low, during which two cars were ran after all af had been drained Actually, their systems. two identical 1935 model Austing were carefully" run-in for 550 were then "done to death." With empty sumps and no of in the engine at all, ex- cylinder the film left on cept walls and bearings, they circled the track at 30 m.ph. One car, which had bean lubricated with a first-grade oil, seized at 9.6 miles, while the other, "Germ" ofled, carried on to 18 miles. The value of the extra "olliness" re- presented by the successful lub- ricant was thus convincingly de- monstrated.

JUBILEE PLANS

Everything points to the King's ".. Jubilee year seeing a boom in motoring and travel. Steam- ship bookings for Overseas visi- tors to England are "extremely heavy, while hotel reservations are on a corresponding scale. A large proportion of the visitors will undoubtedly require cars for the period of their stay, and concerns which specialise in this Alass of business are likely to be very busy indeed, Shaw & Kilburn, for instance, are mak- ing additional arrangements ta meet the demand.

The 12 and 14 .p. Vauxhalls. for which they are the sole London - distributors, are very... popular among visitors 2nd, after the exceptionally sucessful 1934 season, second-hand vehic- les are beginning to come on the market. This type represents excellent value for the "visitor.

BETTER ROADS WANTED

The demands of modern traffic have increased so rapidly in recent times that road autho- rities are continually faced with the urgent problem of putting their roads into condition to carry the traffic economically.

the

The basic problemi s how to combina moderate first cost with. economical maintenance and durability, and in this respect Fowler Penetration system, introduced by the Leeds frtz shows to great advantage. The road metal is lald dry and party consolidated before any binding material is applied to it. The material is ther sprayed on to it absolutely evenly at a pres- sure of over 200, 15 per sq. in.. and to a definite pre-determin- The ed quantity per

sq, yd, sprayed surface is covered over with a layer of smaller stones or chippings which are well roll- ed in.

then The spraying is repeated once or twice, urtil sufficient material has been for- ced into the road metal to bind it well together and to the old surface, or foundation With each coat a layer of small chippings reduces the voids, makes a durable road coating and effects economy in birding. material. Finally, a sealing coat covered with a layer of chipp- during his 20 years in the Royal Ings forms a non-slippery wear- Navy. Specialising in submarinesing surface. he was in K.13 which sank during tests in the Gareloch with 80 persons on board, more than half being subsequently rescued. During part of the War he com- manded, "Q" ships and has two enemy submarines to his credit.

type power unit of 2350 hp, and another vehicle of very different type, which nevertheless marked im- the commencement of an portant epoch. This was the 10 h.p. 2-cylinder Rolls-Royce car of 1904/5, which has just been pre- sented to the Sclence Museum. 8. Kensington. Despite its age this veteran "is still in runring. order and last year was one of the entries in the "Old Crocks Race" from London to Brighton. with Six Malcolm as driver.

The

appointed sales newly director of the Standard Motor Co. Commander Godfrey Herbert, D.9.0% had an exciting career

For the past 15 years Comman- der Herbert has been connected with the BSA group. He is a brother-in-law of the late Mr. ; R.W. Maudslay. the founder and chairman of the Standard Co.

DESTROYED WITH A PURPOSE

Professor AM Low stated, re- cently in a report on, a demon- stration held at Brooklands that the type of test to which an all 18 put very seldom representa actual service conditions, though It is conditions of neglect which

road

Incidentally, the plant employ

ed is also useful for road spray- ing, ordinary rolling and scarify- ing. so that there is no need for It to lie idle at any time of the year.

Relativity

"He applied for the position, stating his age to be 16, but it wa later discovered that he was 18”— Brisbane paper. k

Reminds me of the family next door. The kid is seven, except when he travels by tram or goes to the pictures. Then he is four. His mother is round about 40, but she tells everybody's she's going on for 30 The poor old man is the exception. His only 42, but looks every bit of 60,

CAR PRODUCTION SHOWS GAIN

AN ELECTRIC CAR

For Town Use

Modern matorists may have. forgotten that at one time the electric brougham was a popular

One Million In First vehicle for town use. Electric

Quarter

The

In February of last year the au- tomobile industry maintained an average production rate of ap-

vehicles proximately 65,000 week. The plants now are pro- ducing at a rate exceeding $80,000 unils a week and pointing toward a total for the first three months of the year that will exceed 1,000,- 000 cars and trucks. The Grat quarter production one year ago totalled close to 750,000 units, Writes a correspondent from De-

U

In the first quarter period of each successive year the upswing in production has been slow but continuous since 1930. The mark- ed Impetus of 1934, however, may be seen by recalling first-quarter total of 1933, which was only 368,- 265 units of all makes..

As evidence of further progress, it may be noted that three of the five companies, that the depres- sion brought into receiverships are on the way out of them and keeping production going. These are Studebaker, Pierce-Arrow and Willys. Studebaker has had re- organization plans approved by court action, and the other two have similar arrangements in process of negotiation.

The million-car objective, which leaders of the industry hope may be achieved before April 1, is a rosy prospect for the time being, but with one reserva- tion. This appears in the pos- -sibility that labour troubles may again interfere with production.

If the situation can be brought past a critical period thas may develop on or about March 1, the chances seem good for production: of the million or more vebicles. The hazard appears in the form of agitation now brewing from

vehicles have two great advant- ages over the normal petrol-engin- ed car, these being silence of operation and ease of control. and it is, therefore, interesting. that a coupe intended for town. use has just been produced by Partridge. Wilson and Co., Etth.. Davenest Works, Leicester, and. 167, Shaftesbury Avenue, WCT. It is a comparatively small vehicle with an attractiva foursome coupe body of modern lines, and its price is £885.

Actually the chassis bas а wheelbase of Mt. 6in., and a track of 4ft. 3in.. while it consists of a normal frame front and rear axles. with half-elliptle springs: four wheel brakes and steering. In this a small series-wound ven- tüated electric motor is mounted in the position which would nor- mally be "occupied by the gear box, with its armature shaft par- allel to the centre line of the car, so that a universally jointed pro- peller-shaft is all that is neces- sary to transmit the drive, to the rear arle. Fower is supplied by an Exide-Ironclad battery, which diners from the ordinary bat tery in that its positive plates are" built up of a perles of ebonite tubes in which the active ma- terial is contained around lead core conductors. Fine slits in the tubes give the acid free access in the active material.

DUMMY BONNET

1

The batteries are disposed be-: neath the dummy bonnet and be- neath the rear seat, and their capacity is sumcdent to give the

which it is feared there may be a repetition of last year's experi- ence, when strikes were called in key-parts plants supplying the main passenger-car producing factories with units necessary `tó. interrupted operation.

w

GOOD WILL"

TOUR

To South America

A project taking the form of an automotive commercial tour of "Clood Will,” greater in length than the distance around the world," will shortly start from Chicago to visit the capitals and principal cities or each state and country in the Latin-American Republics of - Mexico: Central America and South America, it is understood.

"The equipment for the tour consists of two 1935 Studebaker automobiles, a coupe and a five- passenger sedan, and a covered wagon trailer in which to display and demonstrate the products of a number of American manufac- turers, several of whom are Chic- ago concerns.

M

"This is the arst good will au... tomotive tour ever attempted through these countries. it is being sponsored by the Pan~ American Commercial Service Company of Chicago requiring eight months to, complete,"

of 40 miles on

vehicle a range one charge. The cells are con- nected in series, and the motor operates on 64 volts, and gives the car a maximum speed of from 30 to 35 m.ph. The controller for the motor is operated by a Dedal, and the only other con- trols are a switch to give reverse running, a foot brake, and the hand brake.....

On the road the car is decided- ly attractive by reason of the ex- treme ease of control. the silent running, and the quite good dc- celeration. It 13 completely equipped with a 12-volt lighting system, electric horn, and double screenwiper The tax is only £4 10s, while the cost of mainten- ance is extremely low.

As regards running costs, it is understood that electricity is ob- tainable in all localities at a spe- clal low rate for night charging. and that the cost percharge is then approximately 8d., for which ' -40 miles can be covered.

TRUST A THORNYCROFT WITH YOUR TRANSPORT

DEAL DIRECT

THORNYCROFT

SIX-CYLINDERED

COACHES @OMNIBUSES

MOTOR VEHICLES

DIESEL OR PETROL

none Manufacturers of Com

Pull Range of Spares carried in Hong Kong and Shanghat

4 or 6 Wheels

4 or 6 Cylinders

80 Cwt. to 10 Ton Loads

20 to 70 Passengers

JOHN L THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED,

Pioneer Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon,

AREA 5675S.

TRXIST A THORNYCROFT WITH YOUR TRANSPORT