1928-10-20 — Page 16

THE HONGKONG

TELEGRAPH, MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1928.

PROBLEM SOLVED, consumption virtually unchanged, IS LIGHTNING

Buick Power Increased without Extra Fuel.

Increase in horse power without; a consequent increase in fuel con- *sumption.

Douglas pointed out.

Marked improvement in the nu tomatic heat control unit built into the fuel intake system · was also cited by the Howard expert.

DAN-positively and some are negatively

GEROUS TO A CAR?

A Home Writer's Advice.

charged, and minor discharges are always taking place, which, as we know, are the bagbear of wireless. These miniature electric storms disturb the other and cause the "This device, which ja oxclu-

woll-known crackling and fealing sively Buick's, is responsible for

termed "atmospherics" Hot the quick start in the coldest won-

weather causes evaporation, and "ther," Douglas declared. "Tho] One of the atmospherle pheno-the particles, of moisture that That was the problem Buick butterfly valve which controls tho mena that we accept as a matter form inte clouds become electri- Motor Company engineera faced flow of heat, from the exhaust of course, during summer is the fied in the process, and when these In development of the silver an- manifold, Loward the car-thunderstorm, usually following a clouds become very large and niversary Buick, which has prov- buretor. and intako is made poriod of oppressive heat. Ono overcharged they flash across; of special boat-resisting day the clouds gather ominously, sometimes over miles of interven- iqotal, and its shaft is of a larger diameter to prevent bond- ing at extremo heat under the pull of its spring.

od a sensation throughout the country since its presentation.

How well this problem has been solved already has been domon- strated to the thousands who pur- chaand the luxurious new cars in the first fow days after their an- nouncement. For Buick's six- cylinder valve-hond engine is al- moat one-fifth more powerful than heretoforo and the entire chassis has undergone commensurato en largement.

This power increase, according to Roy C. Douglas, superintendent of the Howard Automobila Com- pany, Buick distributors, has been accomplished through an 11 per cent. Increase in the piston dia placement of the larger engine' and an increase of 12 per cent. in the smaller. But changes in the carburetor and manifold system, redesigning of the camshaft and provision of a new muffler, In which back pressure la reduced to a minimum, havo kept the fuel

rain, begins to fall in peculiarly large drops: whitch splash on the Pavement, there is a distant roll of thunder and the electrical storm begins..

ing atmosphere. At other times low-lying, powerfully chark'id clouds strike to earth and ful the path of Isast resistance through a tree or down a chimney stack. Lighting does not necessarily strike to matal; in fact, its effects

"To insure fuel supply at the higher speeds for which the new We all know the corle, "air engine is designed, two high-speed raid" sensation, as the thunder jets are built into the carburetor and Hghtning get unpleasantly are distinctly freakish and cannot instead of one. The vacuum tank nearer and nearer. Perhaps a be expressed by laws or formulac, has been eliminated, and the me flash discharges so near at hand but we can dismiss the popular chanical fuel pump, with which that one detects the so-called theories that steal attracts light-

["sulphurous” Bufck has been experimenting suce

odour, although ning or that mirror glass does. cessfully for many months, has there is really no "sulphur" pre been substituted. This feature sent; the odour is actually that of completely does away forever with ozone invariably produced by a powerful electric discharge fuel failure under heavy engine through air. loads such as prolonged high speed or steep grades sometimes impose

"Thus, through these various new features, the horse power in the smaller wheelbase models has been increased from 63 to 74, and in the longer ears from 78 to 91, at the same time retaining the economy of operation for which Buick long has been noted.”

THE BEST

Tel. C. 2221

Tel. C. 4821

HAVE A TRY

AND BE

CONVINCED

A. GOEKE & CO. 'DISTRIBUTORS

FIAT GARAGE

DEPOT.

The pedestrian makes for cover as quickly as he can, but what of the motorist on the road? It may occur to him that he is seated on

Every time a thunderstorm be-

gins thousands of misguided per sons hide all their knives and steel articles and cover up the mirrors-all of which procedure is sheer nonsense.

Safety Movement.

Now let us seo how the man-in-

mass of metal-popularly sup posed to "attract" lighting-and the car is likely to be affected. In there is enough petrol in the tank the first place it can be stated that to "blow the car sky-high" if it it is very much safer to be in a should be struck. If he is a car than in an aeroplane or air- cheerful optimist he may Bay, Altip, which have, on well-authen- lightning won't touch the car be ticated instances, been struck by cause it's insulated from the earth being in the path of a discharge. by its tyres." Ile would be quite But rapidly moving objects on the wrong; the Insulation of the tyres earth are not often struck. One would be simply nothing at all to rarely hears of a train in motion lightning discharge at many there have been instances of cars, being struck. On the other hand, hundreds of millions of volta,

probably moving slowly, having ! What Causes it.

been struck, the petrol fired and the car destroyed, but on the opon Let us first consider some of the road, travelling at a good speed, facts about lightning. Until the there is very small risk of a car middle of the 18th century It was being struck. There is no par- not clearly identified as a form ticular danger in the fact of it be of electricity. Then Benjamining mainly a mass of metal. It is Franklin, the philospher, mado his in contact with the earth, for, as classical experiment of dying a explained, a few inches of wot kite very high into some thunder-rubber represented by the tyres clouds. Whon the cord holding make no difference at all. the kite became wet with the rain

electricity from the clouds was A moving car may, however, run conducted along it, so that Frank-into very close proximity to the lin was able to show to"an as-path of a dischargo striking to tonished audience how he could earth and, without itself being "draw fire" from the sky. He pro-actually struck, the driver and duced powerful Rashes and passengers may receive severa charged beyden jars which to- shocks from the numerous sub- day we term condensers-so that aldiary discharges, and windows he could give shocka to a dozen or screen may possibly be broken, people at a time.

Everything within a considerable Apart from at my periods area of a heavy discharge to earth there is always more or less elec-18 under immense electric strain. tricity in the elɔuds;' some are

YEARS OF LEADERSHIP

VALVE-IN READ

Buick

MOTOR.CARS

WHEN you see the Silver Anniversary Buick

_note the deft touches-marking-the-work-of-experts in trim and upholstery, and the care with which every control and convenience has been placed. Driving it, you will fully realize the comfort such details mean.

THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.

Telephone Central 1246 or 1247,

33, WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY.

The Real Danger.

All records and experience prove that sheltering under a tree in a thunderstorm is the most risky procedure. Numerous in- stances are on record of wayfarera and cattle being struck and killed whilst shelterine under a tree. Although it is rather unscientific to say that a tree attracts light- ning, it is a fact that the leaves and branches have this effect, as they discharge electricity from the opposite sign to the electrified cloud Trees are often split and Met on fire; the inference is there- fore not to shelter the car under a tree. One might leave the car in the open and let it take a sporting risk and shelter in a barn and be reasonably safe. The on danger is that of being inside A brick structure having a chimney and fireplace, as a discharge ofien atrikes down a chimney, the car- bonaceous soot forming a con- ducting path; hence it is that one occasionally reads of a fireplace being wrecked. Of course, anу building provided with a lightning conductor is as near being safe na can be expected, although with such a tremendous natural force absolute safely is an impossibility.

Furthermore, it is very dißcult to learn much about safeguards from experiments. Artificial lightning has been produced in the laboratories of the General Electric Co., of U.S.A. and at the great Siemens electrical works in Berlin. By the use of large trans- formers and banks of condensera alternating current has been rais- ed to over a million volts potential, producing miniatura lightning discharges about 7 ft. long, which occur with deafening. reports. The effect is stated to be very awe- Inspiring, but these effects are the increst trifle compared with Na- ture's electrical discharges of miles in length.

Incidentally, We can safely dismiss the idea flint such things as fire-balls or thunder- bolla

ever produced. "Car struck by n fire-ball" may servo as a typical daily Press headline, but every electrical authority agrees that the so-called ball-lightning is a simple optical illusion produced by an ordinary flash to earth.

NEW MODERN CAMP.

The Calgary Automobile Club is planning to operate what it belleves will be the most complete- ly equipped tourist camp in western Canada. It will have all modern conveniences, besides many entertainment and recrea- tion features.

NEW CHRYSLER

PLYMOUTH

PLYMOUTH

ANewCar..ANewCarStyle..ANewZenith

of Low Priced Car Luxury and Performance

New slender profile chromium-plated radia» tor.--Long, low bodies.-. Generous room for 2 to 5 passengers, according to body model. Luxurious. deep upholstery and ap. pointment detail. - New "Silver-Dume" high. compression enginė, for * use with any fictrol. Smooth speed up to Go and more miles an hour. Chrysler light-action in ternal expanding hy draulic four - wheel brakes-noether car of this price possesses this feature.

With the new Plymouth, Chry sler is the first to give, at so low a price, the advantages of performance, riding case, de pendability and full adult sizo which characterise line cars of higher price.

It is so revolutionary an advance over other low-priced cars, it is such conclusive evidence of the past year's strides in the science of motor car manufacturing that you will surely want to see it and drive it.

A Plymouth ride is the best demonstration of the case with which it leaps from 5 to 60 and more miles per hour-the 'qulet of its rower and the smoothness of its flight. You yourself must

A. LUNG &

19, Queen's Road, C.

ALWAYS

put your foot to the light-action internal hydraulic 4wi:cel brakesto know the confidence of the fastest and safest deceleration you have ever experienced. And above all, you must see its beautiful lines and finish, and stretch at ease in its deep uphol

stered, full adult-size bodies, to comprehend how completely the Plymouth surpasses cars in the low-priced field.

Please see and ride in the Plymouth. We believe you will discover there has never been a car anywhere near its price that can approach the Plymouth for power, pick-up, smoothness, easy handling, safety, quietness and rooninces-nor that can equal, it in beauty and style.

CO

Tel. C. 1119.

TIGATE WHAT GENERAL MOTORS:HAS BEFORE YOU?BUYS

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Bix Cylinder Engine Chaul Prices

Que Top 1095 Onand one-halfcom #1185 Two Ton・・・ $1950 (pneumate ilrem

bayel gear drive) Two Ton --- $2050

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wortyget drive)

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BIG BRUTE Heavy Duty Engine

216 tons in 15 come

prices ranging frorn

$3690 to $5820

THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.

Telephone Central 1246 or 1247.

38, WONG NEL CHUNG ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY.