“IS THAT A PUNCTURE?”

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

“IS THAT A PUNCTURE?”

OBVIATING THE DANGER. MATERIAL AND DESIGN IMPROVE.

(By

“Spotlight.”)

The fact that in 1908 a car taking part in the trials between Christchurch and Dunedin experienced no fewer than 70 punctures was recently recalled. One puncture in the day is thought by the modem Taranaki motorist to be something of a disaster, but in the days when motoring was very young, to escape with only one would be considered something of a miracle. Many reasons have combined to obviate the recurring bug-bear of the puncture, and not least among these is the vast road improvement, not only in Taranaki, but also throughout the Dominion. But that is . not the main reason. This is to be found in the changes in tyres and their construction.

In the old days hard, high pressure tyres were used, about 701bs to the square inch being required to inflate them. That in itself threw strain on the side walls and bead of the tyre. The diameter was small and hence the tyre had to carry a greater load to the square inch than any: modem tyre. The fabric of the tyre was canvas, covered with rubber, and therefore the flexibility was much less.

The present day balloon tyres are of low pressure, the average being 281bs to the square inch. The fabric is comprised of hundreds of different cords of the best Egyptian cotton that have been immersed in gum. When woven together they form a solid web which has much more resilence than the older type. When an obstruction is met the tyre giyes more easily and the stick that would have caused a puncture in 1908 is now safely negotiated. Moreover, the modem tyre has straight sides and is not held in the rim by a bead as formerly. Consequently the load which was once thrown on the bead is now obviated. Thus there is not the risk in the low pressure tyres of chaffing at the bead, which used to cause a tyre to be thrown away before, the road surface was really worn. The treads are now much thicker than in the early days of motoring, and the processes of curing and vulcanising have been so improved that when the tread is vulcanised to the casing less life' is lost through overmuch “cooking.” There is . a modem tendency for even less pressure, and the latest development is a spokeless balloon wheel comprised of only the hub and the tyre. The huge circumference of the tyre takes up the space now occupied by . the spokes. The pressure in these tyres is said to be only 121 b to the square inch. . Such improvements in design and material have made the puncture almost a thing of the past. The tar surface of Taranaki roads make the chances of a puncture in a good tyre even more remote, while, as one man connected with the. motor trade said recently, there are fewer horse-shoe nails on the roads now than there were in 1908. THE HILLMAN COMPANY. QUARTER CENTENARY. On June 6, 1932, the Hillman Motor Car Co., Ltd., of Coventry, attained its 25th anniversary. The company was originally formed to enter in the 1907 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race, a car designed by William Hillman in conjunction with Louis Coatalen. The car carried off the lap record at 60 m.p.h.— an amazing speed for those days. Orders for replicas ■ caused the establishment of a factory. In 1912 the Hillman company pioneered the light car with a 9 h.p. model, which achieved remarkable success and popularity up to the war, when the factory was turned over to munitions. After the war the 11.9 h.p. model was introduced, and had a long run of popularity till, in 1925, it was superseded by the Fourteen, which gave such a favourable account of itself in all quarters of the globe and is still giving unqualified service to. many New Zealand owners.

The year 1928 saw the amalgamation with the even older established Humber and Commer Companies, and the addition of £1,000,000 fresh capital for investment in the most up-to-date equipment. Now to-day Hillman turns its quarter centenary again leading the light car development; this Ijime by producing in the 9.8 h.p. Minx a car developing over 30 b.h.p. with full head and leg room for four six-footers, and revolutionising ideas of 4-cylinder economy performance with its patented “Cushioned Power” as now also adopted in the six-cylinder 20 h.p. Hillman Wizard.* COMFORT AND SAFETY. After taking • possession of a new motor-cycle it will probably be found that the footrests and handlebars require adjustment to suit the particular rider. By securing comfort the new. rider will have done much toward assuring his future motor-cycling pleasure. It is, as a matter of fact, dangerous to ride a machine on which one is ill at ease, and after a little experiment the most comfortable position for the various controls will be found.