1930-09-20 — Page 18

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C/a "Hongkong Talograph"

NOTICE

TO

ADVERTISERS

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1930.

FACTORY SECRETS BRIGHTEST BEACON.

FOR 1931.

Price Reductions and Improvements.

THE POPULAR SIX.

(BY A. G. THROSSELL.)

Mid-sumuner, when some of wa have barely got our cara thoroughly run-in, seems a little early to talk about next year's cars and what we are likely to see at Olympia in October, but the manufacturers bave themselves raised the topic. One programme is out already, at least two moro firms are all, not to give their glad tidings to a waiting world about the end of the month, and Coventry and like places aro fairly humming with "secrets" and rumours of all manner of astunisn- ing developments.

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Most of it is were gossip and speculation; the factories keep a jealous guard on their doings, but after discounting all guesses, enough is known now to give us a good general idea of the trend of design and of what the ears of 1931 will be like.

One cheerful prophecy 1 am bold, enough to make. is that prices will by lower, at least in the popular varieties. In spite of renewed stories of the "£100 car," I do not know whether there will be any real.fourwheeled motorcar en the market cheaper than the present **babies. But you will able to

properly-made, properly equipped six, with a propor-sized body, for considerably less, than you can now. And whatever figure you are prepared to give, you will get more for your money-1 won't

buy a later

All advertising to be inserted in this Motor Supplement, must be delivered. not than 2 p.m. on the the Wednesday of week of publication.

THE

NEW

UNAPPROACHABLE NORTON

Model 20 Two-Port

THE MOST UP-TO-DATE THE MACHINE AND CHOICE OF THE CONNOISSEUR. Inspection Invited

SINCERES

SOLE AGENTS

umise more enduring reliability; it is a moot point whether any cars outside the aristocrats aro built to last as long as their predecessors but more silence, more smoothness, 'more comfort, and more useful speed.

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The British cars

1939 have shown a truly wonderful advance over those of 1929, and enterprise is not yet exhausted. The process of improvement continues. The fall in prices of raw materials has had some effect on production costs. Buy makors, for instance, CLA supply saloon bodies for popular models at about half the price they used to cost, and, thanks to com- peition, all such savings or nearly all are passed on to the consumer,

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He seldom gets them directly by way of reduced catalogue prices but he gets them all the same improved specifications or increased equipment. If he would be content with cars as they were he could have them cheaper, but he is for ever demanding the latest improvement.

The Silent Third. Silent gears, for example. Since it was introduced on the Riley three years ago the constant-mesh silent third has leapt into popularity. When Olympin arrives nearly every new model with a four-speed box will have the silent third, and there may be some three-speed boxes with silent seconds. Now that, like safety glass and chromium plating and other things which wo now ex pect as standard, costs money. To substitute a four-speed silent third gear box for the normal three-spoed coats the manufacturer as much, believe, as adding two cylinders to the engine.

The public has also made up its mind that it wants, if possible, sir

At Chicago's Air Port.

The most brilliant aerial beacon in the world, a rotating light shaft of 2,000,000,000. candlepower which will be visible 500 miles; away, is rapidly nearing comple tion a top the thirty-storey Palm- olive Building in Chicago. Below

To be known as, the Lindbergh Beacon, the brightest aerial light- house yet to be devised was de- signed by the late Elmer A. Sperry

and presented by him to the city. of Chicago shortly before his death.

SAFETY REGULA-

TIONS.

Examinations for Operators.

FOR BUS SERVICES.

Inc.

HELPING MOTORISTS.

A Road Patrol System on A.A. Lines.

ADOPTED IN U.S.

PIONEER DAYS,

The Death of Glenn.

·H. Curtis.

AVIATION LOSS.

SURE CUR

Revoked Licences.

WAR ON RECKLESS.

In the first five months of this : In the death of Glenn H. Curtiss year, 643 motorists in California "With the rapid growth of the

A system of traffic patrols with aviation has suffered the loss not bad their licences revoked for bus as a means of mass trans-roadside telephone boxes modeiled only of one of its outstanding Tay of 300,000,000 candlepower of comprehensive code the main beacon is a fixed light partation in China, the adoption on the system controlled by the Pioneers, but of an inventor of reckless, drunken, or incompetant |

of Automobile Association of Great unusual versatility and genius driving. pointing toward the Municipal

operating conduct by the National Britain, is being tried for the Srst whose willingness to translate

Investigations are made of the unshakable enthusiasm for new: Airport.

Association of Motor Bus time in the United States.

The New Haven County Auto-speeda on land and in air into character and competency of all Operators, in the United States is of much interest here, I believe," mobile Club is responsible for the personal demonstration of the motorists who bare besa involved said Mr. C. F. Cress, Managing innovation which was decided machines he conceived and built in three accidents in whion fatal

national enthusiasm both for Director of General Motors China, upon after Mr. Robins Steckel, played a great part in kindling ties or bodily harm resula.

the State Commissioner of motor aying craft and for the motors If State inspectors "make" un with more than 1,500,000,000 vehicles, had made a personal suitable to drive them. Holder of favourable reports, drivers are passengers annually using motor inspection of the AA. Bystem Air Pilot's License No. 1 in buses," says the National Motor during a visit to England.

Ten roadside patrol stations America, Curtiss made the first required to show cause why their Bus Association, "This new code of operating conduct may be re-havo heen established in New public flight, the flights which licences should not be revoked. garded as an added assurance to Haven county, at crossings where took the early Scientific American trophies, the Bishop Prize and patrons and to the public general-accidents

the Gordon Bennett Cup and won ly of the high standards to be frequent. They contain tele-

the $10,000 New York World prize maintained in the conduct of this phones and emergency equipment. for his historic flight down the great transportation agency. All members of the club have keys Hudson from Albany. He added FOR The code itself is merely a classi which open the boxs.

to his laurels by contributing fication of precautions, safe guards and service ideals that the patrols (road scouts) will be many solid and constructive ideas ALL

and both airplane leading bus

have stationed near the boxes. These design. His work operators

light CLASSES. always attempted to carry out." men have bees trained by the motors was particularly notable,

club under the direction of and more fliers took to wings su "The most important obligation Connecticut police officer. They tained by the Ox engine, which of public transportation agencies will perform similar duties to was his brain child, than by any Troia service to the public.

those of road scouts in Britain, other motor yet designed. He of the Americans besi „noWE 01

(n) Service requires: Opera-directing traffic, giving informa this side have just launched out with eight-cylinder mudels, but the "light eight has not yet established itself to say marked degree.

RUMOUR DENIED.

There has been the usual official denial of the usual rumour that a Ford baby car was to be produced.

to sell at £100.

cylinders (a decision which I heartily applaud) and there will be more low-priced sixes and probably still fewer fours Whether there wil be more eights is doubtful

There is no sign of much change in ly hushion The horrible vogue of low roofs, high waist-lings and shallow windows is dead, un- mourned. Most of the new body designs allow more headroom, and

where a low roof is nimed at, it is got by dropping the frame, a much better arrangement,

Unsolved Problems.

Worse

Saloon Lodies continue to in 'crense at the expense of open ones, and new that the former can be produced in quantity so cheaply, those of us who hauker for a decent convertible body are in a plight than ever. In the United States efforts are being made to devise a more satisfactory all- weather body, but there seems no hope of anything of the sort here,

d for, the ordinary man--that in the man with no spare cash for non-standard luxuries, the only alternative to the clused body with, perhaps, a sliding roof is the open tourer with its clumsy, ugly. old- fashioned monstrosity of a hood.

Of two minor improvements that I had hoped to find incorporated in the car of 1931 there are so far no відин We have got really silent engines, we are on the way to silent fears, and back axles and properly cared-for bodies have also ceased to irritate our auditory nerves. And yet my nice 1930 car is not noise- less Its carburettor hisses vicious- ly when I accelerate, and its tyres howl-the smoother the more bigbly in- polished the road, and more sistent the howl.

Silencers for the air intake are on the way, I believe, but they will not be common or general for a long time yet, apparently. As for silent tyres, the difficulty is that while they can be made, andie deed aro. made, for Rolls-Royces and Daimlers, that particular noisless tread pattern has nothing like as good grip of the rond when

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brakes are applied. However, they are alive to the problem at Fort Dunlop, and sooner or later we shall get a tyre which is just as safe as the present one, but misus its irritating voice.

It follows:

have been

At week-ends,

most

uniformed

to

on

motor

tion of clean, comfortable tion, helping in cases of break- gave to aviation both the pontoon well maintained equipment; down and generally assisting and the flying boat, the hinged careful, courteous, properly motorista, instructed drivers; cche-

dules and routes so laid out

as to serve in the best pos- sible manner" the larrest number of patrons. "The fundamental elements of service are safety, reliability and comfort..

(8) The selection of operators

NEW DANGER.

Curious Fire Cause.

alleron and the fixed stabilizer.

A visionary, in the best sense, the. stuff of which his dreams were wrought will endure...

3.

RUBBER BUMPERS.

AIDING SAFETY.

[

A curious cause of a car taking

Preumatic rubber automobile 1-Safety of service" requires: fire was discovered by a motorist (a) Regular inspection of in Hamilton (NZ). Leaving his bumpers are among the latest vehicles to determine fitcar in the sun he came back some accessories for automobiles. The ness for operation. No time later to find the upholstering new bumper consists of a slightly curved steel bar to which is vehicles should be operated of the front seat smouldering.

cylindrical rubber when such fitness is in Investigation revealed that the attached doubt.

rays of the sun had been focussed casing containing an inner tube. by the windscreen on to the seat The air pressure maintained is! by standards of physical and had fired it. A hole was burnt about that of the average balloon

tyre. and mental fitness and in the seat. their training to know, understand and observe all Jawful regulations azd courtesies. essential to the safe and efficient use of public highways.

be (c) Operators to

'held responsible for a thorough and complete knowledge and observance of state laws, local ordinances and police regulations govern- ing traffic, speed, and the use of streets and public highways..

(d) The installation of sche- dules planned to avoid the reckless necessity of

driving, or the use of any speed that is unduly fast or in excess of any legal limit "Reliability of service requires: (a) The maintenance of proper insurance, OF equivalent funda to protect the in- terest of passengers and property in case of accident.

(b) The provision of adequate schedules and their main- tenance with due regard to Bafety.

(c) The proper care of property including of passengers, lost articles, etc. "Comfort of Passengers re- quires:

(a) A vehicle properly venti- lated, heated and lighted and so designed and con- structed that the patrons may ride with the maximum 'of ease.

(b) Arrangements of schedules

THE FIRST AND ONLY

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Sole Distributora:

PAGE 16 DE 204, 206

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TELEPHONE 28011.

with due regard for proper

connexions with intersect- ing carriers.

(c) Training of operating To protect motorista who some-

forces. so as to instill the times forget to stop at railroads principle of courtesy to crossings, ter states, Alabama, patrons at all times; pro- Delaware, Florida, Georgia, vide for the giving of all Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi,| reasonable assistance and Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Ten- the furnishing of informa-nessee, have passed a law that all tion requested when that is motorists must come to a full stop possible."

lat such crossings.

OF

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INSURANCE

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FOR OUR

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China Underwriters, Ltd.

HEAD OFFICE. Hongkong Bank Building,

40 Der Voruz Road Central. Tel. 28121.

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