1930-12-13 — Page 14

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1930.

IS STEAM COMING BACK?

THE PRICE OF PETROL.

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Tel. 56752,

BROOKS

main at a fair price. The present drop is explained on grounds which perhaps justify his atsitude. The price of petrol and kerosene has dropped in America, and as h.

Probable Help for the consequence froights are lower.

Industry.

JL

is nothing complicated or abstruse about those reasons, which are puro business. The primo cost, as it is in our low, la laus, transport is lower, and

AN OLD OBSESSION. therefore we pay less. It can be

more safely assumed that the re- duction is a paying

Hau *** By John Prioleau.]

that the vendors are feeling tom- porarily philanthropic. So long The reduction by twopence per as it pays them to take something gallon in the price of petrol last off we should be able to forget for weelt in the latent of a long series while our ceaseless anticipation of remarkable fluctuations, ever of their putting something on. since the war, in the cost, thin The immediate effect of the side of the Atlantic, of commoradaction will naturally be more on which the life of the coun-marked in the books of the users try depends. In 1920 a two of commercial vehicles, lorries, Kallon ta cost little short of ten transport and passenger cars, but shillings (in 1904-5 first grade the owner of a private car will petrol cost 10d., and second-grade

grade face the making-up of his monthly na little as 7d. a gallon), and since accounts in better spirit than for what it is to be hoped was then a long time. Twopence a gallon highest price ever to be charged, does not mean a great saving for gallon has cost anything the man who uses his car for short between 4s. 6d. and the present distances at Intervals like the price of 18, 41⁄2d., but as the last own

owner of what is call

called the week- price includes a tax of fournence.end car, in the garage from Mon- the variations have been even day to Friday, and on the road wider than they seem.

only during the week-end-but to While

enormona army of people who every motor-user is the naturally rejoicing at the relief, it daily, for business,

their moderate-priced cars

recreation, The moter is hung six feet in would hardly be wise to assume holiday-making, it should mako a automobiles have passed out of the front of the rear axle, which is that the future is in any way pleasant

of reference, picture, but steam is again making anchored to the floor of the body.assured, or that we are safe from without figures

further rines. The

famous ita appearance in the field of The propeller shaft is five

remark of the then Sir Marcus should any that the car which is vehiclar transportation In the long and meets a rear axle at Samuel that the price of potrai most generally used and the one

tached Brooks steam bus designed here,

the body by spring was what it would felch, hotly din. which is driven hardest and farthest throughout the year is The buses a poppet valve,shackles. Air brakes are used on

puted ever since, has turned on the 12 to 14 h.p. family car. This Aall four wheels. V type, eight-cylinder engine.

to be something of a prophecy

Type Half Cost of Gas Bus.

usually

About averages team generator has been perfeet.

The price has risen and fallen twenty-five miles to the gallon of that generates steam from colt

It is said that this bus will save

over since, often quite inexplicably at least 50 per cent, in operating to the ordinary mind.

petrol over generous fixed periods. water In less than 20 seconds, the

All sorts which means that it will cost 8d. water being inside a coil, A pres- east compared with the cost of of reasons have been offered for less for every hundred miles ran. uro.of 200 pounds, the amount running à gasoline bus. It is able eneh change, but they have nolur, on an average, about 35 a year necessary to start the is, is said be raised within 26 seconds after the burners start generating steam.

oil

Steam starts this bus in 25 seconda! Buffalo, Oct. 27th-Steamdriven

The burner utilizes heavy fuel lighted and is automatically

by a spark plug. It is able to

weight of 10 tons

generate Emiles an hour..

60

Chassistess Body, The body of the bus is built of steel and has no chassis. There is no connexion between front and rear axles except through the body to which they are attached.

SPEEDY BUS.

می

to

feet

to ran from 260 to 400 miles always been particularly obvious.

with one ling of water.

ת

difference.

and

Speaking

A Simulas to Sales.

will

It may be remembered that a few less than before. The bus fe of the "squared years ago a riae was explained by Froat" type, having

hood the fact that there wRA & shortage sticking out ahead. The interior in the United States, even that The owners of most American

fitted in leather and is able to

there was a possibility of a steady cars

benefit considerably necommedale 70 passengers, with diminution in supplies, owing to more, as will, of course, those of

room the exhaustion of wella. seats for 38 and standing

And athe big luxury typea. The latter. for 32.

very short time afterwards win my experience, are generally. for learnt, to our surprise, that the less used, in proportion, than the en-industry was suffering from over-more economical sort, probably because there is usually a smaller cheap car in attendance to share the

work, or, more likely, to do the

No gear shift is required the operation of the stenm gine. For different speeds and production. power, it is only necessary to jush a foot trotlle which "regu lates the amount of steam mitled to the cylinders,

LOW BUS COST. ·

nd-

15 a Year Less.

Doubtless there was another work while the big one looks after the play. The owner of the explanation, quite intelligible, if av it had been considered advisable can which runs about fifteen miles average moderate-priced Ameri- Ito present it. The unfortunate to the gallon will save something Laser is not concerned with causes like £8 or 29 a year, or a third A new streum-lined passenger

The National Association of Mo-over which he can have no conf his tax. bus recently seen in Paris is able tor Bus Operators estinuates that trol, and must exist in perpetual to make 85 miles in hour. Ajit rosts an average of almut one optimism, hoping and again sents 100 passengers besides two fcent a mile per seat to operate the hoping that the stuff on which sof difference in other and perhaps l,drivera.

javerage pranenper imus.

mach of his life depends will re-more important ways. It should

The new Buick offers all those advantages and features

which provide the supreme motoring luxury of

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33, WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD, HAPPY · VALLEY.

SKIDS, BRAKES AND THE “HAM FOOT.”

By Captain Woolf Barnato.}

The reduction should make

4

stimulate sales, and that at a time when a Allip is sorely needed. Ever since the first standard car was sold to the general public, as distinct from the rich man who mado motoring in the early days his costly and precarious hobby, the problem of potrol economy has held first place in the mind of the buyer. There was very seldom a

Knowledge of road conditions--| taking that "nasty bend on the valid reason for this, as, especial- the fifth of the factors mentioned Brighton road" at excessive speed.ly in the early days, and up to the in my first article as being essential As he does so, suddenly the car war, the other sources of expense.

as repairs und lyros, were

to the good driver-is a thing well taltes charge and he finds himself to be considerably more

broadsiding towards the -ditch

worth studying.

By that I menn how your car or completely out of control,

serious. Tyres which lasted two the cars you may be called upon to What has happened is that the or three thousand miles, or less (drive behave under certain road car has suddenly (through corner on powerful cars, were a perpe jednditions, Base Hikely they are to Jing at excessive speed) fost itstual drain on the poor man's purse.

skid on wet surfaces of varying road adhesion and, because it has as

as were the overhauls and fre- natures: how much more therefore that very low centre of gravity, quert adjustments and small re- you should allow for pulling up on the driver has had no previous pairs to which all but the most such surfaces and what safe speed warning sensation of lift or heel-expensive machines were painfully you can naintabi without the nging over that a car with a higher liable. The amount of petrol pleasant sensation of back-wheel centre of gravity might give him. used was of little importance by fskating, which is more impleasant i am by no means condemning comparison.

still to those sitting behind.

a low-built chassis; I advocate but Find out the behaviour of your I am trying to point out

The Importance of Economy.

To-day a set of tyres should last

car on a highly cambered road. If because it feels safe you must not you are forced into the side while take undue advantage of this fact, between 12,000 and 15,000 miles passing another ear on such a road it can still skid, and cemeteries are on a car which is carefully driven, you may find great difficulty in full of skidded drivers.

and only occasionally pushed to getting the "tail" on to the crown

Now I come to "Accelerator Con-Its maximum speed, which means trol" and I think I can justly couple that, after the first year, the tyre of the road again.

brake application with Chin A should not exceed £15, allowing a If the rond is wet, a bud skid

car on 4 treacherous surface can proper span of life for the spare may result which might prove

be nicely controlled and helpfully wheel.

posts.

accelerator.

are Infinite-

Infinitely

of the type Curly those

serious, especially if the road is bordered by trees and telegraph balanced with correct use of the ly more ro

This is a difficult thing to explain, better built, and far less wheels of a car can be made ton car from a factory with

kid with the accelerator, so can pulations to lose, and a reasonably they be righted.

conscientious owner, such cars

Take careful note of the surface perhaps too difficult, but as the back to keep in running ordPensive

ahead of you, and if you realize it in greasy or badly potholed, alow down to a speed (before you reach this bad surface) which will not upset that serene equantimily of your passengers.

Giver

re-

may almost bo said to look after themselves for eleven months out

In cornering, as I previously told of twelve.

A car shida and bounces to you, the accelerator can help you

a Int. Never be "ham-footed" on The modest difference effected far greater degree with the brakes | on; so by the Line the bad surface your accelerator: let your car by a two-penny drop in the price

gilde away

us speedily as you like, of petrol does, therefore, assume is reached your foot should be off but a suddenly tramped on acce- importance, and the fact that it is lerntor will not always give you worth while is eloquent of the "Balance" is a sense that is more get-away and will

reality sometimes

of modern motor-economy. present with nearly everyone, but be inclined to choke your engine.

For Успен motorists have been by the queation of petrol

the brake.

with some to a greater degree than others. If you live a keen sense pedal be gradual; this will keep

Let the initial pressure on your baction, when the difference

of Valance you should cultivate it your passengers more comfortable, between twenty miles to the galjon In your driving. A car niechy ba Control your car in traffle with and twenty-two seemed to be of lanced a curve, even though the the throttle as much as possible the greatest importance, and was surface ia wel, will not skid; in before you de-clutch Hard and actually of practically no account fact, a car that in kont on even kcol fast rules cannot be laid down for at all at the end of the year. will seldom skid unless, emergency demands sudden brake application, you are driving.

this, as so much depends on the car flundreds of otherwise indifferent cars were probably sold on fuel. Manufacturers these days do Let your brake application also economy claims alone in those their very

very best their wolghts as suitably distributed braking will cause skits as well as

to supply cars with be as gradual as possible. Sudden plonecr days.

A fall in the price of fuel fust possible to give the greatest giving your passengers another before the Motor Show is likely to amount of equilibrium.

However, the driver should noting the family dog to slip off the With petrol cheaper, even by so discomforting sensation and caus. have a cheering effect on business. think that this takes the onus off scat and

land

да

a false

A car

with

lof

נס

proof of

clawa akimbo him to balance his car properly on Madame's shoes and stockings,

Hitle as twoponce, the nuower fast bands. If he does, ha one day

loses some importance, or, if it tla. I explained may find that he has suffered from tion in relation to cornering. Re-

you brake applica-satisfying, gains it. Motoring is cheaper once more, and here, is se sense of security.

back to this, therefore, substr ferring

it for the a very low centre of remember that in the event of a waverer. Potrol still forms the though seemingly skid the Inst things to touch are highest item of the moderate-sized marvellony,

stable, might prove your brakes.

car's bills at the end of the year, dangerous thing in the bands of Similarly, if a tyre happens to and tyres are cheaper. It is a an Inexperienced driver. Lulled burst, let your car slow down convincing argument for the into this false sense of security he against compression only, sane salesman proffering his new and may think he is perfectly safe in brakes.

more economical models,