THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT.
THE ROBOT IN REAL LIFE
The Motor Car as the Mechanically
shuddern.
>
Perfect Robot.
Mechanics a La Mode.
**
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY
Higher Standard of Performance.
STUDEBAKER AIM.
tomobile in use.
in principle to the smithy under the On the great Studebaker Proving LESS SPARE PARTS. chestnut treet in Longfellow's Ground the engineers simply poem. But there the comparison couldn't keep house without their ends. Mighty steam-hammers are Robots. Individual opinions may forging crankshafts, connecting differ in respect to the riding quall ds, and other parts, striking six- ties of a car, its steering ense or its ton blows several times overy braking officiency, but; the Robots minute, turning out with a few have no doubts. Sitting beside an super-human strokes a forging that engineer on a trip around the test A short time ngo a Czech play which would otherwise keep fifty would-have taken the village black ronds is a Robot known to his in-
timates as a sort of selemograph
The achievement of the automo. wright-Karel Capek-presented to or sixty expert mathematicians con-smith a week to produce.
not unilke those which are used to the world an imaginative picture tinuously busy. It forecasts the.
We move on Robots on all sides record earthquakes, thousands of bile industry in offering curs which not only provide a con- of the ultimate triumph of the ma action of tides for a year in advancę. chinery age. It was entitled "R.U. in all the principal ports of the of us some of them shearing off miles away. As the car moves R. and it introduced the term "Ro world and does the job in seven great pieces of steel as easily as a along, this critical passenger tells stantly higher standard of per child bites through a bar of chocol-just what he thinks of his experformance, but which cost their bot," which has come to mean any houra,
ate; some, drilling a score of holes ence. Not in loud tones or in mere owners less and less to maintain is emphasized in recently compiled mechanical contrivance apparently Every youngster knows the story into an engine block in one opera-empty words, but with a permanent figures showing the steady decline endowed with the power of thought. For the mythical seven-league bootstrap; some stamping out complete record which, at the conclusion of In the play mechanical automatens and probably has wished that he fenders of steel in a single motion; the run, will point out any flaw. in in the sale of repair parts per au- constructed like men did the world's lived on a fairy sphera where such some grinding gears; some shaping the car's riding qualities. work.
phenomena actually existed, flow springs; some
"A concrete example of this pro-. cutting out body
Another Talented "Person."
gross is the statement that sales of The story followed an intricately about Dad's motor car that waits, parts, Men are here, too, but only woven-dramatle plot which ter-impatiently, to carry him off over in the capacity of direction, using'
Here is another talented "person" Studebaker repair parts have car in minated in a revolt of the autom-the country at a pace that, by com-their brains while the Robots do the whose hobby is judging acceleration, shunk from $12.41 por atons and in general chaos that sont parison, makes the seven-league work definitely more quickly and when his boas wants to know just operation in 1922 to $7.49 lust accurately than the limitations of chills clear back into the low-priced boots fade into insignificance?
how fast a car gets away, he calls year.
Research - laboratory and pro- senta. For days thereafter theatre-: The motor car a Robot? Indeed it human, skill would ever permit.
on this Robot who can tell just how goera gave much thought to theist And in its building, experiment-
fast the car accelerates during the ving ground have contributed horrors of "Robots." The more ing and testing scores of other Ro-] -
first second, how much faster It much to this decline in repair parts thought of having a little Robot in bets come into use-Robots whose On to visit Robots who are in-travels during the eccond than the sales through the development of their home was enough to bring on activities are no "human" and sospecting and testing the materials Arst, how many feet and seconds are finer design, the discovery and use complex that they seem to have which will go into future Stude-required for the car to attain its of better materials, and improve Yet we have had Robots with us bralis. Indeed many of them per-bakers. These are of a higher plane maximum acceleration and whether ments in manufacturing methods:
Here are two there are any" fint spots" or slug- But another and equally in- for quite a considerable length of firm work too delicate and accur-of "intelligence." time, a very desirable and conveni-ate for the human faculties to dup tasting upholstery fabrics. One is giah periods during the "test Ateresting phase of the industry's tearing the cloth apart, the other brother of his specializes in braking constant search for Improvement ent naaet to our modern civilization, liente or even approximate.
Of course, these Robots of the rubbing samples together to wear and gives the same sort of story is revealed in a recent article in But, you may answer, the Robots
friction. Both are in reverse-in deceleration An Automobile Topics", which goea now about machine in the Mas pear like those you anw in R.UR making detailed and indisputably other of the same family tells a behind the scenes in Studebaker's of R.U.R. actually thought. Well, manufacturing world may not ap them out by nuchusetts Institute of Technology most of them are in no way like the accurate reports for their masters. "graphic story of the amount of grent South Bend plants to dia- the Robot which can solve any human being in appearance. The Here is another who is twisting effort required to steer cars with close the ingenious system by problem in calculus, highest branch engineer, however, is not concerned apart a bar of solid steel. Disp. various types of steering mechan-which this ninnufacturer uses the of mathematics, and solve it in a with the form of his Robat. In-sunately, he rends several samples.
tells his superiors the fraction the time needed by any dyed, they perform their human and then
And so they go on-these men human being? Perhaps this machine functions all the better for not being simple story of their comparative
but it in the form of men, for the human merita. Another spends his day pul- with mechanical minds speeding does not actually think,
Studebaker's system is an in- maching is a pretty poor piece of ling cigar lighters out to the limit up manufacture, reducing anve a lot of thought,
work from the standpoint of strict of their cords and letting them snap facturing costs and removing that valuable aid to the skilled research It is unthinkable that there ever engineering efficiency. Man directs back into place. He doesn't smoke, human frailty, the chance of error. and design engineers and technic
ians who are striving to achieve was a door that opened to the mys—and the Robots do the work.
but he is making certain that those
Even, in your car itself are Rothe impossible task of building an who do will have the finest type of tie words of "open sesume" as the Let's watch a few of them at lighter in their cars. Another has bots-friendly sort of fellows that automobile so soundly designed, 'sa Arabian Nights tales allege, but there is a door in East Pittsburgh,ork in the plants, laboratories and the complicated job of reproducing do the jobs which once inade motor-accurately manufactured that fla all the effects of the weather on ing unattractive. There's one who, parts will never need repair or re- Ponnsylvania, which opens to the proving ground of Studebaker, very same words and to no offers. The first glimpse reveals a Robot samples of paint and lacquer for when you touch his button, leaps placement. The science and skill. who leans tiver ears of steel and bodies. He turns on, alternately into action and cranks your car for of these engineers might well de- And It isn't a speakeasy, either.
"hands" and carries his bardes sun, rain and cold in such rapid sug-you. There's another who keeps the sign the perfect automobile. But. easily to a designated spot. Somson cession that he can turn weeks into oil flowing to all the moving sur-they can never eliminate that one ang to legend, but in comparison trustworthy "man."
was a pretty stout person, accord-hours. An extremely handy and faces of the motor and gives you a human quality which makes a signal that all is well. Another skilled workman, supervised with this Robot his strength would
stores up electrical current in your though he may be by the most Another Robot makes his own storage battery and gives you are diligent and exacting type of in- seem childlike.
weather for testing motors. A sort porten his activities, Another keeps spection, perform his taek a thou- of modern magician, on a few hours the windshield wiped for you in rain sand times perfectly, and once im- notice he can send the thermomet storms. In fact, every feature of perfectly. or down to 30 degrees below zero or your car's operation is governed by shoot It up to 100 degrees in the relatives of those same queer 6gures shade and his disposition remains in Karel Capek's satire all you unaffected through changing clim- have to do is sit back and give them
directions. ates. "
Computing Without Error.
C
A mediaeval legend tells of great brass head that used to an swer truthfully all questions "put to it. Impossible, of course; but what of the Great Brass Brain in Washington on whose forecasts of tides are staked the lives of thou- sands of persons and millions of dollars in cargoes. This Great Brass Brain computes, without
mathematical
..orror,
..
Just a crane, you way, and rightly
but a Robot none the less. -Langfc low Parodied, We enter a building and our cars are assaulted by mighty concus calculating sions, It is the forge shop, alike
+
THORNYCROFT
RIGID SIX-WHEELED MOTOR VEHICLES
127731
COMBINED EFFORTS
of.
RELIABILITY OVERCOME ALL DIFFICULTIES.
T (5 [PICTURE ILLUSTRATES}} THE MEANING OF
..
"DOUBLE ASSURANCE
SECURED BY USING
"
THORNYCROFT
· FAMOUS MOTOR
VEHICLES
JOHN I, THORNYCROFT & Co., Ltd, UNION BLDG, HI
SHELL
MOTOR PIRIT. LUBRICATING OILS AND GREASES,
Inanu-
whole world as a second line of
laboratory defence against imper-
ections in its cars.
Hence the existence of thou- sands of automobila servico stat- lons and repair shops and Stude- baker's general service depart ment. But if these engineers and technicians learn that in wide so- parated sections of the world Studebaker owners are having | trouble with 'a certain unit, they can at once take action to correct the cause of the trouble and thus send future Studebaker cars to their owners eured of this particular source of annoyance and possible expense.
Studebaker's unique follow-up system is based on service reporta from its dealers all over the world. From virtually every large Stude: baker service station and many of the smaller ones come reports of every service opération per- formed on Studebaker cars, ..
By this system any slight me chanical troubles which may ap pear in cars are checked to their source at the factory, and. cor- rected in many cases within a few days after the cars were produced. Speed and simplicity mark this fact finding work, and it is the claim of Studebaker's servise de partment that this second line of defence lags behind production only a matter of about ten days,
GOOD ROADS.
Save Motorists Money,
A FEW FACTS.
Washington, Del. 27th:-Good roads Bave the average motorist more than two cents a mile in operating costs, according to figures of the American Road Builders Association.
When a motorist driven over a good road, in preference to a sand
or dirt road, this amount of say Ings is realized in tyre and tube wear as well as gasoline consump tion.
20
Tractive realstance on paved roads is greatly reduced, au shown
by the following table:
1930.
STUDEBAKER PLEASURE CARS
"
HONGKONG DELIVERED PRICES.
ERSKINE SIX.'
R.A.C. Hoise-Power Rating this. Brake Horse-Power 30 at 3,200 Revolutions, Piston Displacement 205 Cubic Inch. Whetin-Bare 114 Inchet. -Spred 60 MPH;
Packing
Pric
Tourer Hegular....... Coupe Regular......... Olub Sodani........................ Coupe Regular .................. Sedan Rogulir Regal Tourer...
2,000 iba.
3-pazs. 2,875 the G6805. G800 08160 G$1,2 1-pass. 1,890 lb 5-pass.
693 935
505
1,240
.40 305. 1,280
4-pass.
1,910 lbs.
895
40
305 -1,330*
5-puas.
3,030 lbg.
985
40
305 1,330
S-pass.
3,030 lbs.
.1,085
85
260
1,410.
Rogal Sedan
3-paks. 3,140 ¡bu.
1,083
120 310
1,515
Regal Landau „...................... 5-paas. 3,165 ība. .3.123 128 $10 1,355 Delivered Prico includes the following oztra equipment.→ Spare Tire & Tulo (13) Dumpers (23) Tourists Trunk (30) Leather Upholstery
(95).
DIRECTOR SİX.
R.A.C. Horst Power Rating, 97.34: Brake Hurst-Power 68 at 3,200 Revolutione. Piston Displacement 201 Ogkir. Inch. Wheels. Bare 116 Inches.
Tourer Regal
Tourer Regal...
Badan Regel..
Sperd 66 M.P.H.
5-pass, 3,000 lbs.
7-pass. 3,050.
5-pass. 3,199 ibs.
$1,075
90 320
1,065
115
300
1,800-
0$1,205 G$99 G#320 . 1,375 1,295
Hongkong Price Includes & Wire Wheels, Lunther Upholstery, Front and Rear Bumpers, £ Extra Tires and Tubes. Extra Bulb Horn, Hydraullo Shook Absorbers and Tourist Trink.
T
DIRECTOR EIGHT,
4
1.4.C. Home Power Rating 30.
Brake Horse-Power 70 at 3,208 Revolutions.
320
Piston Displacement 221 Cubic Inch. Wheel Base 115 Inches,
Speed 65 M.P.11.
"Tourer Regal............................. 5-pass. 3,055 lb. G$1,185 - G#90 04320 G01,705
Tourer Regal...
7-pass. 3,080 lbs.
1,305 00
1,805 Bodan Rogal.............. S.pası, 3,220 lb. 1,395 115 .390 *1,900 Hongkong Prion; includes 6 Wire Whools. Leather Upholstery. Front and Rear Bumpers, 2 Extra Tires and Tubes, Extra Bulb Horn, Hydraulic Sbook Absorbers and Tourist Trunk..
COMMANDER EIGHT. -
R.A.C. Hort Paser Rating:36.45. Brake Hoyne-Power 100 at 3,000 Revolutions
Picton Displacement 4*3 Cubic Inch, Wheel Boat 126 Inches.
Speed 75 M...
1,505 100 338 2,030 1,505 100 335 2,030 1,605 130 425 1,230 1,695 95" 495 2,115 1,695 135 425 2,256 1,785 135 425 7,345
Rondater Regalo 4-pass, 3,030 lbs. ..G$1,595. G#40 G#336 G$1,970 Tourer Regal............... 5-pass. 3,24013#. Tourer Regal... 7-poes. 3,265 ibm. Cabriolet Regalo 4-page, 3,230 lbs. Brougham Regal.......... Súpana. 5,430 m. Sedan Regal.................. 5-pass. 1,375 In.. Sedan Regal
7-pass. 3,400 m. Hongkong price includos Wire Wheels, Leather Upholstery, Front and Rear Bumpers, 2 Extra Tires and Tubes, Extra Bulb Horn, Hydraullo Shock Absorbers and Tourist Trunk. Roadster equip. ment includes 5 Wire, Wheels and Tires only and no Trunk.
.1
PRESIDENT. EIGHT.
*
B.A.C. Hgue-Power Rating 30.4.
Brake Borac-Fower) 115 at 5,200 Revolutione
Piston Displacement 386 Cubic Inch. Wheel Hose 126 Inches
($25 G350 G#230 1,975" 130 430 2,555 1,075 100 *30* 2,305
Sperd 88 M.D.
Roadster Btate......
4-priss, 3,750 Ls. $1,795 Cabriolet State
rus. 3,9601b,. Sedan State. 5-pasa. 4,150 Thu,
Hongkong price includes 6 Wire Whods Loather Upholstery, Front and Rear Bumpers, 2 Extra Tires and Tubes, Extra Bulb Horn, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers and Tourist Trutik. Bondator equipment includes 5 Wire Whools and Tires only and no trunk,
PRESIDENT EIGHT.
B.A.G. Hone-Power Rating 3912.
Uzake Horst-Purtr 115 at 3,200 Reyolutionng
Piston Displuerment $36 Cubic Inch, Wheel-Barr 190 Inches
Speed 60 M.P.R.
Tourer State.... Brougham Stato.... Sedan State...... Limousine State.
7-pour. 4,200 lbs. G32,145 7.pass. 4,350 lbs.
G$120 G4370
2,295
7-pas. 1,360 lbs.
7-pass. 4,300 Ïbe.
2,245 2,495
0382,635 2,010 ... 125 *490
170 -490 2,905
160 400
3,145
Hongkong price includos & Wire Wheels, Leather Upholstery, Front and Rear Bumpers, Extra Tires and Tubes; Extra Bulb Hom. Hydraullo Shock Absorbers and Tourist Trunk.
Equipment and Price subject to change without notice,
Tel. Central 4750,
High type roads (paved sur- THE HONG KONG HOTEL GARAGE
faces), 70 pounds resistance per ton of automobile weight; inter-) medlåte type. (treated surfaces), 110 pounds per ton; low type (80?l and gravel-surfaces), 160 pounds per ton.
This resistance acts on tyres, and naturally the least amount of
25 Queen's Road Central
8.2.1837.
resistance causes the least amount cost of tyres and tubes 31 is ex- of tyre wear,
pended for this item on high type
FARE "CRUISING.
roads, while the cost is more than There are 8,200 taxicabs serving- Gasoline consumption is affect doubled on intermediate type the city of Detroit. Officials there- ed by paved roads. Where a vej
hicle will travel 18 miles to a gal-roads, and almost tripled on low are trying to stop cruising for
type roads.
fares in the business district, be--
lon on a paved surface, it will do aaving shown in operation cause they say it congesta trafic.:
the same distance with 1.2 gallons
U.S.-ALASKA ROAD,
on the Intermediate type and 1.47 of an average automobile due to gallons on the low type surface, road improvement is, where low type roads are changed to Inter While gasoline, consumption has mediate type, 1.07 cents a mile: A proposal in Congrese suggests, some part in this operation cost where intermediate type is chang- an International highway con-- reduction, tyres and tubes take ed to high type, 99 cents a mile, necting California and the Pacifle THE ABIATIO PETROLEUM 00., (5,0 ) Lid, AKIATIO BLDG., E K cars of the biggest share of the and where low type Is changed northwest with British Columbia savings. It is estimated that into high type, 206 cents a mile. the Yukon territory and Alsaken.
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