1929-10-05 — Page 8

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

AUSTIN LEADS.

Heads List of Local Private Cars.

HONGKONG FIGURES.

Below we give some interesting statistics showing the number of motor vehicles of various makes registered, in Hongkong up to September 15, The figures include private,

cars trucks and omnibuses bat oxclude public cors: Dotalls with regard to the latter, together with motor cycles, will probably be available at the end of the present month.

The total number of private cars in Hongkong is 1,334, of which 427 are British, Austin heading the list with 165, and U.S.A. and

·Canada contribute 791. Italian care total 77 of which 76 are from the Flat factory and 1 Isotta Fraschini. There are 29 French, 9 German and 1 Belgian, this latter being a Minerva.

Trucks and omnibuses make, a total of 632, of which' 280 are British, 351 U.S.A. and Canada, and 1 Italian (Flat), '. First place is takon by Ford with 204, Chevro- let being second with 89. and the next in order are Dennis and Thornycroft (British), with 72 each.

Full details of private cars are appended.

Fiat Isotta Fraschini

MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1929.

ELECTRIC v PETROL teries, rather than a central elec- MENTAL HAZARD.

tric power plant; furnishing indi- vidual power.

The Only Electric. Car..

There is only one make of elect tric automobile now being pro- duced in the United States, and the drivers of that are of a kind that won't get out to repair E loose connexion or any other ill that might turn up on a run. At any rate, according to A. O. Dunk, company, the Detroit Electric, now builds these vehicles, the car is built so that there la no occasion to "get out and get un- der" at any time.

whoac

Belgian

Minerva

French.

Amiloar

Bugatti

Citroen

De Dion Bouton

Mathis

Peugeot

Renault

Salmson

Total

2:3

German..

Horch Opel ... Honomag

Total

Italian.

76

Total

77

U.S.A. and Canada.

Fit.

Auburn Briscoe Buick

The first successful electric |

121

Cadillac

Chalmers

Chandler

Chevrolet

33

Chrysler

Dodge

23

Erskine

52

Essex

58

Ford

74

Hudson

14

Hupmobile

10

British.

Jewett

४

A. C.

3

La Salle

1

Armstrong Sid.

30

Lincoln

X

Garner

'1

Arral Johnson

I

Marmon

2

Guy

Austin

165

Nash

10

Hallford

2

Bayliss Thomas

- Bean .

Clyno

Crossley

Galloway

1

Oakland

6

Leyland

16

3

Oldsmobile

16

Morris

24

7

Overland

41

Thornycroft

5

Packard

Tilling Stevens

1

Puige

Trojan

9

Humber

Pontiac..

1

Vulcan

29

Jowett

Studebaker

131

Lagonda

Stutz

Total

280

Lea Francis

Willys

19

Morris

Republic

Italian.

Riley

Cleveland

Fiat

Rolls Royce

Pierce Arrow

U.S.A. and Canada,

Rover

Roosevelt

Chevrolet

89

Singer

Templer

Denby

1

Standard

10

Magarett

Dodge

1

Star

Sunbeam

Fargo

Federal

6

De Soto

36

Ford..

203

Swift

Talbot Triumph

Trojan

Vauxhall

Wolseley

Saxon

1

Graham

5

"Plymouth

19

G.M.C.

20

Total

Hupmobile

791

Rco

3

Rugby

·Studebaker

Straker Squire

Calthorpé

follow:

Westcott

Albion

Seizure Berwick

-Austin

Karrier

Bean...

Burford

Total

4127

Crossley

Dennis

United

White

26

Bethlehem

Brockway

Truck an omnibus figures

British.

8-9722

Until 1911 the electrics were Caused by Car Defects. driven by a doublé chain drive, one on either side of the car and run- ning to the rear wheels from the crosswise motor shaft in front.

TRACING IT DOWN.

In 1911, the motor was turned around so that its shaft would ex-

(By Israel Klein:] tend lengthwise to a differential

There is a mental hazard in in the rear, thua adopting this

driving an automobile that results, phase of the gasoline vehicle, bein many cases, from defects in the sides the full floating axle, for its car itself. Chattering brakes, propulsion. This has been the slapping pistons, a'nolay distribu method of drive since then,

tor, rattling fenders, squeaking doors are only a small number of

AUTOMOBILE PUT TO STRANGE USE

This strost car, which is in daily use in the Deriurdo, Brazil le

mounted upon a quick chuwatu,

com-

been

The battery on the Detroit Elec-the many inconveniences that can However, as most motorists, that once were built, is a 42-cell,

tric, only survivor of 36 electrics Bet on the nerves of a driver.

It Isn't traffe alone that causes even though they drive gasoline 13-plate affair that weighs bethe mental hazard. It's the car [vehicles, may be interested - to know how an electric automobile tween 1500 and 1800 pounds. It and its parts and the original performs, the column will describe is divided into two sections, half cause, if we should trace it down in front and the other half in back, to the beginning, is the owner him- in order to équalize the weight, self.

Let the owner of an automobile A three-and-a-half horsepower automobile was built in the early motor la driven by this battery and look after the little things, as well Endurance is being demonstrat. )" "Other records have automotive days by George M. Ba- is so constructed, says Dunk, that as he does the more important ed almost daily in the parts depart established by Buick engines which con, who was then with the Cleve-it needs only the slightest atten- running parts, and he will avoid ment of the Buick Motor Company have outlived other parts of the tion. The battery has a capacity that mental hazard in driving that plant at Flint, Michigan, U.S.A., cars and are now bolig used to land Railway. Light and Power Company. All he did was to take of 180 to 190 ampere hours and might at any time unnerve him where orders are constantly recely furnish power for various kinds of an electric street car off the tracks, will operato a vehicle on a single when an emergency arises.

ed for parts for cars that were machinery.AMEN IN sold two decades ago.

Recently the Buick parts depart put tyres on the wheels, change the charge from 75 to 110 miles.

A recent order. asked for a new ment received an order for a crank- body somewhat and let 'er go. In depending on the speed. It needy

Brakes wear down, get out of valve and valve stem for a motor case for a 28-year-old motor still hours for true and begin to chatter and which, although 20 years old, is in service an the power plant for fact, that is about all that the elec. from six to seven-

squeak and alip if the driver neg still in daily use. These tric automobile is to-day-a street recharging.... car on wheels with storage bat-

a circular saw. Although years of lects them. Of course the remedy paratively, minor parts were all wear finally rendered the other is to reline them and see that they that were required to put this parts of the car impractical for grip evenly all around. But even much worked motor in excellent further use, the motor needed only better la the practice of avoiding condition. auch difficulty by having the

a few repairs to place it in condi brakes checked up regularly, to has been in a position at all times.

That the Buick Motor Company tion for duty on its new job.. see that they take evenly on all to furnish parts for cara manufac An order for a new crankshaft four wheels.

tured in the early years of its ex- brought to light an 18-year old The weight of the battery brings Sometimes even the

istence is a feature which has been Buick motor used daily to furnish. the total weight of the automobile brakes squeak or, in wet weather, largely instrumtal in building power for various types of farm to almost two tons. But Dunk is fail to hold. To avoid this a sales volume.

machinery.. expecting the day in the near fu- Buffalo, NY, firm has been put- ture when a new type of battery,ting out a plastic material which, lighter, cheaper when put into when applied to the brakelining, means reboring the cyclinder, and hinges and fender mass production, and much more will weatherproof it and enable installing oversize pistons and enough to avoid. aqueaking and powerful and efficient, will, be the brakes to bold evenly,

This rings. ---

rattling from these sections. available. This comes from substance fills the rivet holes,

Letting the piston slapping con- Europe and is said to have the where in rainy weather the water

A quiet car is a good car. And power to operate a car from 350 might enter the depressions and tinue for a time in wearing not it saves the driver from losing his to 650 miles in one charge, depend- cause slipping. It also works into only on the motor but on the patience and nerve. It can easily Ing on the speed. Yet it is much the lining itself to give it more lighter than the present battery gripping ability and to keep, the hammering from beneath the hood be kept quiet by regular inspection may eventually cause a seriousing of the body bolts and screws. of the wearing parts and tighten- and it will take a full charge in brakes from squeaking.

traffic accident. from half to three-quarters of an

The new car, especially, needs this hour!

jattention.

Cadillac

Total

351

A guarantee of three years goes with each battery, which is quite optimistic as storage batteries go, but Dunk saya there are batteries on some of his cars that have gone for seven and eight years.without renewal..

newest

driver's nerves.

*

The constant

Piston slap, on older cars, should warn the driver that his en tor is another annoying hazard to The tick-ticking of the distribu- An electric automobile, with its gine not only is being beaten to the motorist ad can easily be minimum of vibration, and high pieces by the constant hammering avoided. It is usually due to lack riding ease, is Ideal for elderly of the piston at fault, but that it lubrication. A drop of oil people, says Dunk. Furthermore, is also losing power and wastins very 500 miles or so is enough to

B result. A slapping prevent this annoyance. it needs little or no attention and fuel as its operating cost is extremely piston is a sign of looseness in it

cylinder and wearing of that low compared with that of the

cylinder out of its true shape gasoline vehicle.

The remedy might be costly for it

The car is easy on tyres, a set lasting from four to five years. And the average electric remains with its original owner for morej than six years, according to Dunk's figures.

The demand for electrica is greater than Dunk's ability to sun- ply, so there's no fear of this last of the line dying out. In, fact, Dunk believes popularity of elec trics will grow with the advent of the superior buttery and the improvement in the lines.

FIRST IN EXPORTS:

The value of automotive pro ducts exported from the United States during 1928 was more than $500,000,000. This was the highest value of any exported pro duct. Refined petroleum products' ranked second, with a value of more than $497,000,000.

津 #

supports

LOTS OF SERVICE,

Iowa Falls, Ia., claims to give motorists better service than any Similarly, a turn of a screw. other town of its size. On Dak river or wrench will tighten up street, nine service stations are. loose screws or bolts in the door found within four blocks.

TODAY'S SMARTEST SEDAN

The low, Freerament to give them beauty HE long, low, graceful lines of the Nash (“*400**

and character. "400" colours are in the correct mode of the moment. Coachwork compares most favour ably with that found in custom bodies of the highest price. Complete equipment leaves nothing to be purchased later, except a spare tyre.

Nash engineering offers many owner advantages such as a Twin-Ignition motor, ensuring greater, smoother, more economical power Outboard mounted hydraulic shock absorbers that make rough roads sinooth... Centralized chassis lubrication that ils 29-vital chassis points at a touch... A steering mechanism that provides unmatched case of control ... and other features usually associated with cars of much higher price.

20

Here is the car of care for families who appreciate true luxury yet wish to avoid excessive cost.

./

WONG SIU WOON,

་

Sole Agents for Hongkong and South China, Telephone C. 1474) ·

21 Fottinger Street. SERVICE STATION :-76, Des Voeux Road Central,

Telephone C. 644.

NASH 400

Leads the World in Motor Car Valua

FOR ALL CLASSES

OF

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WRITE

FOR

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China Underwriters, Ltd.

HEAD OFFICE Hongkong Bank Building,

o Des Voeux Road Central. Tel, U. 1121-22,

DUNLOP RUBBER Co. (China), Ltd.

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Tel. C. 4554.