1937-03-09 — Page 2

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1937.

AVIATION

"All-Air" Empire Services

Bringing Still Nearer The Elimination Of The European Train Links

Imperial Airways flying-boat, passengers commented with" ad- 'Centaurus has just brought mication on the spaciousness and staze nearer the regular all-air' luxury of Centaurus." operation of the Empire services.

On January 16, an Inaugural 'all-air' fight in the reverse dir- ection was scheduled from Bou- thampton through to Alexandria, again eliminating the European train stages.

con-

Leaving Alexandria recently and eliminating the necessity for any European train link, she brought eight passengers and a heavy load of mails right through by air via Brindis!, and Marseilles to A familiar sight at Waterloo

are the Southampton, alighting there on

special boat-trains the afternoon of the 13th Im- necting at Southampton with out- ward-bound ocean-liners; but re- mediately she had picked up her 'moorings at the air-port off Hythe,cently at this busy station, a new her passengers and mails were taken off in one of the marine tenders of Imperial Airways and, transported to Southampton Docks. Here a special Pullman-coach and mall-van were waiting, and in a very short time passengers and mails were on their way to Sou- thampton Central station, where the Pullman and van were attach ed to a train for Waterloo,

The passengers carried by "Cen- taurus,' who had the distinction of being the first to be flown right through between Egypt and Eng- land by à commercial air service, were enthusiastle as to the speed and comfort of the 'all-air' stages. One of them, who had already made previous Empire fights in which the Paris-Brindisi sections had been by tram, said he had never enjoyed an air voyage so much as that in 'Centaurus.' Not only was it a great boon to be able to climin- ate the rail stages. but on their fight through to Southampton they had enjoyed wonderful pano- zama views from the promenade saloon of the flying-boat. All the

note was struck by the 'flying-boat special, comprising Pullman and mali-van, which stood awaiting its passengers and mails..

'Centaurus' duly took aboard her load on the arrival of the train at Southampton, and was quickly in the airthe passengers in her saloons making air transport his- first to leave tory by being the England by commercial flying-boat route for destinations along the Empire routes.

сть

Flying to schedule via Marseilles and Brindist, 'Centaurus reached Alexandria on January 18th., both of her 'all-air' trips, west and east. having been carried out

without

a hitch, and the connections be- tween London and Southampton

worked having

with perfect smoothness.

As soon as further units of the '0' class flying-boat fleet new come into regular service, the 'all-ar stages between England and Egypt will become a schedul- ed feature of, the Empire services, European train links being. elimin- ated permanently.

AIR ITEMS OF INTEREST

Illustrating

Recent Progress

In Civil Aviation

In addition to the transport of urgent fashion goods by air be- tween London and the Continent, an examination of recent waybills shows that there is a growing use of the long-distance Empire routes for the dispatch of the latest mo- dels in hats, and gowns these now being exhibited in fashion-houses thousands of miles distant within a few days' of their leaving Lon- dori.

་་

Books, woollen and leather goods, wireless valves, dims, perfumery essences, livestock. and urgently- consigned mechanical parts have been among the consignments passing just lately through the freight department of Imperial Airways at the London nir-port.

In the big cargo-planes. now in use in Canada articles such as win- ches, motors, and ore-buckets can be loaded as, complete units. In- dividual consignments weighing up to nearly 2.000 lb. are being cat- ried in these air-freighters.

"Practically all commercial planes flying in the Canadian north-west are. it is reported, now fitted with wireless. Radio is becoming in- creasingly important when pilots are flying in remote territories or on an extended series of flights.

A message to hand from Astra- la indicates that fresh aerial sur- veys are about to be made of pros- pective mineral-bearing areas in Northern Australia.

MOTOR JOTTINGS

PROBLEM OF FLYING

MUD

Keeping The Car Clean In Wet Weather

altogether pleasant: anything might happen in the way of a sudden swerve or a skid.

I have said that the faster the road speed the more forcible the air stream and its gritty contents. I think there is a moral in that

fact. When, driving along wet Toads on which there are also

pedestrians, just bear in mind the feelings of the man on foot who finds himself suddenly into the range of the powerful and dirty hosepipe streams from the near- He has Doesn't the car become fright-hitting of rubber or leather vertical side wheels of your car. fully dirty this weather? Mud flaps to the rear edges will assist no metal panelling to protect his clothes from the flying mud, and, guards looking like sections of the in canalising the nying fluid. To back of a whale have been popular make these flaps, purchase a sult-after all, it is so easy for you to for a year or two and yet the door able size of hexible leather or thin panels become coated with flth rubber sheeting and cut into two within a few miles, writes Owner pieces broad enough to cover the Driver in the "Bulletin. All kinds entire rear edge of the guard and of brainy people have spent much deep enough to reach within three inches of the road surface. To time in trying to produce a non- splash mudguard but without sp- the bottom edges of these rivet a preciable result, and such small thin strip of sheet lead to act as progress as has been made, has a weight and then drill three holes been nullified by the scrapping of In the mudguard and the material. running-boards on many cars. Using one bolts, fasten them to

In cases where the mudguards are, as it were, Independent units

not attached to running and boards, those over the front wheels with flexible should be fitted vertical flaps at the rear.

|

the guard and the job is complete. Keep the flaps as flexible as pos- sible so that they will yield to road surface inequalities.

The fitting of these flaps to cara with running-boards is also use- ful. In these instances the fitting

slow down when about to pass him. If slackening speed does not appeal to you, then get over a good bit and avlod smothering him with spray that may contain a certain proportion of oil. You would not like it yourself; why compel him to suffer it?

REAL "ROAD HOGS“

I remember on one recent, oc-

caston I found myself following three cars along a narrow road with a bad surface full of potholes Mlled with water. It was so easy to observe a number of people and their children a good way ahead that-was shocked to see the lead-

WIRELESS IN

MEDICAL AIR WORK

Further detalls have become available of ingenious wireless sets which have been evolved for use at lonely stations, and settlements in remote territories overseas, to summon medical aid by air from the nearest available hospital cen-

tres.

LADY HAIG'S AIR TOUR

J

Lady Halg is making an exten- sive tour of the Dominions in or- der to stimulate interest in her book about the late Earl Halg. She left the other day by Imperial Airways for India, and is then flying on to Australia. Apart from sen, stages between Australia and Buch sets can now be operated | New Zealand, and from Australia by people unaccustomed to any of to South Africa, Lady Ha'g is mak the technicalities of wirelñas. Po- ing use of the air services in every wer is supplied by a dynamo oper- case where It is practicable to do ated by bicycle pedals. The apso

so easily that a After the tour on which she is paratus works woman or child can pedal and now engaged, Her Ladyship pro- operate the set unaided. Dry bat- poses to undertake, mainly by air, teries are used to supply the file- further tours covering. Canada. Newfoundland, the United States. ment current. Morse messages can be sent out by an automatic key- | and South America; afterwards board resembling a typewriter making visits to various European Up to about 20 miles, however. countries. under ordinary conditions, tele- phony may be used.

from

Messages

!

the base station to those necessary for those installing these operating the pedal sets are sent small wireless set to read Morse out by voice-which renders it un-signals.

MOTOR NOTES FROM GREAT

BRITAIN

THE ROAD PROBLEM In Great Britain the population per mile of road is 250, whereas in United States it is only 42; in a few years the number of vehicles mile of classified road per has risen from 40 to 60.

These were some of the impres- siva figures quoted by the chair- man of Leyland Motors at the re- cent annual meeting of the com- pany, when he referred to the un- sultability of British roads to He modern traffic requirements. went on to express the opinion that, given suitable conditions the motor industry of the country Is capable of expansion so great s to rectify the Overseas trade balance and absorb practically all suitable workers as housing and armament slackens.

OVERSEAS ASSEMBLY OF CHASSIS There has been a lot of talk lately about British car assembly In Australia, two or three firms laying claim to being pioneers in taking this step recently.

In actual fact, during the past 12 years or so, the Standard Co. has been sending out unassembled

chassis to its distributors in Aus- tralla. Parts "of these, such as

Over 10,000 Ostra lamps have General been supplied by the Electric Co., Ltd., of England, to industrial concerns in quite a short period. They are installed. for instance, at the Austin factory and at the Standard works at Canley. It has been found that this lighting increases output, and there are less rejections, for in- spection

under these conditions can be far more precise.

A RUMOUR SCOTCHED For the last few years it, nas been the fashion to decry the mo- tor cycle industry and to predict that its days are numbered, but, according to Mr. Edward Turner, managing director of the Triumph Engineering Co., it is anything but moribund. "There is no truth whatever in the rumour that the motor cycle industry is declining." he said recently, "In fact, just the reverse is the case, for bust- -ness is better than it has been for the last 7 years. Almost all motor cycle manufacturers are doing reasonably well, and some are ex- periencing boom conditiona.”

It is just a year since this con- cern took over the motor cycle business from the Triumph Co. Ltd., who are now making cars only. The administration came into the hands of some of the best known men in the Industry, but

the services of the existing staff and work people, many of whom had been making motor cycles for over 25 years, were retained. In cidentally. In the International Six Days Trial Triumphs were the only team. British or foreign, to score 100 per cent success.

road springs, batteries, tyres etc. are procured from local sources of supply, the whole being put to gether in the very efficient as- sembly plants belonging to the respective distributors themselves The leading Australlan body builders attend to that side, except in cases where body panels are exported from England for a sembly in the distributors' plants.

"NIGHT STARVATION" TROLLEY BUSES FOR MOSCOW

When an engine stops, the For some time past the increas- lubricating oil drains away from ing popularity of electric trolley the working parts to the sump. buses Overseas has been evident, and, after standing all night, the and It is satisfactory to add that oil flm has to reform when the British manufacturers of this type engine starts. This is the time of public service vehicle have re-when almost all wear takes place, ceived substantial orders.

and when the battery is strained.

A particularly interesting order has recently been obtained by the English Electric Co. for two A.E.C. EEC. "Renown" type. These are 6-wheelers, and the order was placed by Machinoimport for ser vice" in Moscow. In Johannesburg a fleet of 11 vehicles of this make are now a prominent feature of that city's transport system, whilst Adelaide, Christchurch, Montreal, were helpless to protect them-Shanghai and Sydney are other selves from the showers of mud

cities in the Empire where they thrown up on their clothes and

are in service. The the faces of their children.

ls easier; simply a case of screw-ing cars rush past these folks, who ing the top edge of the flap to the wood a few inches to the rear of where the mudguard joins the board.

It seems to be common sense that the large quantities of water and grit thrown upwards by the fast-revolving wheel on to the un- der side of the metal guard must be blown backwards by the pres- sure of the air as the car forges

A counsel of perfection in con- ahead, and, as that gritty mixture cannot force Itself through the nection with the flying mud pro- blem is to keep down the road sheet steel, it must follow the con- tour of the guard and so travel speed of the car. The higher the downwards towards the rear tip. speed the stronger the air and Once it reaches that point it must mud stream, but even the most Ta on into a high-pressure air tortoise-like driver cannot escape stream and be carried backwards the splashes from passing cars. along the length of the car. frat sight it would look as if that alr stream would produce a pei- fectly horizontal path for watery stream, but it does not be-

At

the

cause of the eddy behind the rear tip of the guard. The air eddy draws much of the stream up- wards, and, in rising. It meets with another stream curling over the top of the guard. The result Is a flow of fine dirty spray along the door panels.

MAKING MUDGUARD TIPS When running-boards are fitted on the car the now of the initial upward stream is checked and the

AN OLD ARGUMENT

It has always' beeri a' subject of argument whether, on wet roads, It is better to pass close to another car than to pass afar off. I think there is no argument in it at al provided theoretical considera- tions are admitted

· conduct of these drivers was noth- ing less than beastly.

FOR IMPORTANT DUTY

The term "night starvation," so well known in connection with famous health foods, has been neatly adopted by Germ Lubri-

cants. Ltd. to describe the very trouble which their product de- feats. The oll flm formed by Germ oil remains adsorbed on the working surfaces; in fact, it "oll- plates" them, and so the wear and tear engendered by "night starva- tion" is thus eliminated.

WHEN EXPERTS CONFER The City of Westminster au- thorities were. recently confronted There is at present" under con- [with a problem in connection with struction in Denmark a vessel emptying the street gullies. By car and walted intended for the duty of refuelling day there is far too much traffic until the party had passed. They the light buoys stationed roundabout and, when a night-shift were covered with mud, and were the coasts, and this is being equip tackled the job, residents im- righteously indignant at the hogs ped with British petrol pumps. responsible for the damage. One Two Beekmeters are being fitted

I stopped my

mediately protested that the noise interfered with their sleep.

gentleman came over and thank-

for the work, and no doubt the

Three firms, each known in its ed me, remarking that if" all

fact that this type of pump has own class of work, were asked to motorists werezo considerate already been exported to Den-combine their appliances in order there would be less il-feeling, mark for garages and service ata to produce something more silent. tions assisted its selection for this A 6-wheeled articulated tanker was the outcome, comprising a 2- new duty

wheeled tank with. gully-emptying apparatus by Dennis Bros., the front end being supported on a

apologised for the conduct of the half-wits who were now out of sight, but felt that a thrashing would have done them good.

MOTOR FACTORY LIGHTING A positive transformation has been effected recently in some

I mention the incident not to The flying show how considerate I was, but factories which have adopted Scammell mechanical horse trac- to illustrate the caddishness of electric discharge lighting, as it to, the power unit being a bat- people who in probability are has been found that operatives tery-fed electric motor by Electri courtiers in the drawing-room but are enabled to see in a way they cars ideas in menjav pigs on the highway. After all, have never done, before. In fac- A separate battery is employed the loss of a few seconds in such tories where hundreds of precision to operate a second motor which circumstances cannot mean death operations are carried before the against life. In most instances anal product emerges, the import- hurry is a bug that bites people ance of good lighting is tremend- having time to burn.

grit from the wheels of the car rises for a considerable distance before it commences to fall, and, obviously, the closer one is to the source of the stream the lower down will it hit the coach work of your pet vehicle. On the other hand, passing another car within a few feet on a wet road is not

drives the pump, and draws the contents of the guilles silently in- to the tank a road speed of 10 m.p.h." is obtainable.

SANDEMAN

SHERRY & PORT Obtainable everywhere.

THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING

COMPANY OF HONGKONG, LIMITED.

!!

BUILDERS OF ALL CLASSES OF SHIPS.

BUILDERS OF RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINES. BUILDERS OF MARINE AND LAND BOILERS. BUILDERS OF TURBINE MACHINERY

Under License From Messrs. Parsons. BUILDERS OF DIESEL ENGINES

Under Special License

From Messrs. Sulzer Bros., Winterthur. LicensedTo Manufacture Lanz Perlit Iron, Specially Suitable For Internal Combustion Engine Working Parts.

DOCK & SLIPWAYS.

FOR DOCKING VERY LARGE AS WELL AS SMALLER VESSELS,

ON ANY TIDE

ALL CLASSES OF BHIP, ENGINE AND BOLLER

REPAIRS AND EXTENSIVE

WELDING, BOTH ELECTRICAL AND OXY ACETYLENE SKILFULLY AND PROMPTLY CARRIED OUT.

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,

HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN,

TEL ADDRESS: "Txoanode," HONG KONG.. TELEPHONE: 80211

Casa FLAG: “Nukanal Oxy" Orge * Panwasz Ang."

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