Obscure British Manufacturers.

[speedman29]

Old Merc said:

Bucklers of Reading were in business from 1939 to 1965 and built sports and racing cars around the Ford E93A engine.I picked this one as Reading is my home town and I can remember them when I started my motor trade career in 1963.They had a huge machine shop for engine recon`s,they also built the "Buckler Special" E93A engine with twin SU`s for the stock car boys that used to race at Reading Stadium.As most of you know that engine had white metal big ends but Buckler converted them to shell bearings.

I'm a Reading chap too, I never knew Buckler existed until I picked up a copy of the first ever Autosport and there was an advert on the back for them.





A couple of Bucklers I've seen around recently.

[nicanary]

Elderly said:

What about 'Markham-Peasey', here's mine in about 1965. I didn't know it was a Markham-Peasey then; I registered it as a Ford Popular Tourer!

Edited by Elderly on Tuesday 23 October 20:22

You were probably right to register it as a Ford. Markham-Peasey were not really manufacturers, but one of the many companies who built sporting bodies which could be fitted to the Ford 10hp chassis. From 1959 they supplied a combined body/floorpan which still required mechanicals. It's like any kit car today - the reg forms will show the make of the donor vehicle.

[4rephill]

Elderly said:

What about 'Markham-Peasey', here's mine in about 1965. I didn't know it was a Markham-Peasey then; I registered it as a Ford Popular Tourer!

Edited by Elderly on Tuesday 23 October 20:22

Quite like that! - It's like a baby AC Cobra!

[srob]

srob said:

digger the goat said:

At the turn of last century, the main manufactuing area was between Station Hill and K.e.g.s.
There was a foundry along there...opposite what is now the preschool nursery..
Have you tried the records office ?.......(I'm an ex Bury boy too )!!

That's interesting thanks.

I've just had a look on Google, and there's even a mention of several 'foundry' places along there, including a Foundry Terrace, up behind where the Cannon Brewery is now. That would make sense, as they were there around the time that sidecars would have had leaf spring suspension. I guess it'd be up behind the Linden Tree somewhere.

Funnily enough I've just been to Bury and driven along Station Hill - I'll try the records offices next I think

Just found an old advert for the company. I thought that if I could find an old advert, it may have the company's address on, to write for a catalogue at the time (as most in the 1908 bike magazine I have, seemed to have done). Sadly not. Will try the records office, just passing lunchtime searching at the moment!

Does anyone know of any other online methods of finding out an old company's address?

[digger the goat]

srob said:

Just found an old advert for the company. I thought that if I could find an old advert, it may have the company's address on, to write for a catalogue at the time (as most in the 1908 bike magazine I have, seemed to have done). Sadly not. Will try the records office, just passing lunchtime searching at the moment!

Does anyone know of any other online methods of finding out an old company's address?

I tried all of these ads Simon.....Coventry cycle museum, sidecar museum etc....Old ordinance survey maps....
It does seem the only way I can find is the records office in Bury !

P.s....P.M. me.. I would be interested to slide down there with you !!!

Edited by digger the goat on Thursday 25th October 18:55

[srob]

digger the goat said:

I tried all of these ads Simon.....Coventry cycle museum, sidecar museum etc....Old ordinance survey maps....
It does seem the only way I can find is the records office in Bury !

P.s....P.M. me.. I would be interested to slide down there with you !!!

Edited by digger the goat on Thursday 25th October 18:55

Yeah, that would be good! I must admit, I don't even know where to start with the records office though?!

[sc42]

I too am a "Bury Boy" with an interest in local history, and was intrigued to see that Montgomery motorcycles were initially made in the town. The Eastern Counties of England trade directory of 1901 shows Montgomery & Co at the Ensign Cycle Works, Orchard Street. I'll take a stroll at the weekend to see if there are any clues left in the street.

[srob]

sc42 said:

I too am a "Bury Boy" with an interest in local history, and was intrigued to see that Montgomery motorcycles were initially made in the town. The Eastern Counties of England trade directory of 1901 shows Montgomery & Co at the Ensign Cycle Works, Orchard Street. I'll take a stroll at the weekend to see if there are any clues left in the street.

That's great, thanks!

I've just had a little look on Google Streetview and I know exactly where that road is now! Some of my friends used to live just along from there.

I'd like to get the bike back to where the factory once was - if I can - just for a novelty photo' really! Although ours was made in 1923/4, so would have been built in Coventry. If you find anything else I'd love to hear about it. It's actually a pretty big deal for Bury, if the sidecar was essentially patented by Montgomery there! I can't confirm that yet but it's what I've read.

Oh, and welcome to the site, thanks for registering to help out

And sorry for the thread hijack everyone!

ETA; I've found this photo which shows William Montgomery (according to the caption!) who was the founder, who I assume was a Bury boy too!

Edited by srob on Friday 26th October 16:37

[esso]

I am the OP on this topic and there are some fascinating stories on here...thanks to all who have,and are posting....keep `em coming....anyone got any stories on the last car Lea-Francis built...the Lynx?....that will be an interesting one !

[davepen]

esso said:

anyone got any stories on the last car Lea-Francis built...the Lynx?

Only what I can read in Barrie Price's book on LeaF Cars. It says they built 3 and two more chassis. He also (obviously, as he owns Lea-Francis Ltd.) mentions the rebirth in the 1990s where they built another few cars.

The other day at the VSCC Welsh we were parked next to a ~1929 LeaF Tourer, interesting to compare with my Alvis, both cars having Cross and Elis style tourer bodies. The Alvis being a little bigger and heavier.

[dartissimus]

My father was offered a Vernon Derby just after the war. but the previous owner had filed down the gear teeth to "help" it engage gear.
Unfortunately it doesn't count anyway because it was French.

This small detail I discoved whilst looking at this page
http://www.lightauto.com/forfun2.html

Instead I offer :

A.B.C. Super Sports 1925 Light Sports Roadster England

[srob]

dartissimus said:

My father was offered a Vernon Derby just after the war. but the previous owner had filed down the gear teeth to "help" it engage gear.
Unfortunately it doesn't count anyway because it was French.

This small detail I discoved whilst looking at this page
http://www.lightauto.com/forfun2.html

Instead I offer :

A.B.C. Super Sports 1925 Light Sports Roadster England

How odd!

I just did a quick Google to see whether it was the same ABC company that made the motorbikes in the 1920s (the same one that was connected to Sopwith aeroplanes), and it seems that the engine in it was designed by one Granville Bradshaw, the same man who deisgned the oil cooled engine in the Montgomery motorbike that I posted a picture of. Small world, these obscure manufacturers

[dartissimus]

What about Peerless Cars Ltd, which was later known as Warwick. One of the founders was John Gordon, better known for his association with Jim Keeble.

I hope I'm not upsetting any PHers by saying Peerless's are the epitome of obscure manufacturers, but I've not seen a mention of them in the motoring press for years.

[Roy C]

dartissimus said:

My father was offered a Vernon Derby just after the war. but the previous owner had filed down the gear teeth to "help" it engage gear.
Unfortunately it doesn't count anyway because it was French.

Yes, the Derby was French, but imported by their British Agent (and racing driver), Vernon Balls, whose name seems to have caused Bill Boddy much amusement.

[nicanary]

srob said:

How odd!

I just did a quick Google to see whether it was the same ABC company that made the motorbikes in the 1920s (the same one that was connected to Sopwith aeroplanes), and it seems that the engine in it was designed by one Granville Bradshaw, the same man who deisgned the oil cooled engine in the Montgomery motorbike that I posted a picture of. Small world, these obscure manufacturers

The same engine was used to power light aircraft at the time. Double coincidence.

The Peerless is best known for competing at Le Mans, just once, in 1958. Powered by a TR3 engine, which must have been modified, or the car had not been produced in sufficient quantities, because it was in the Sports 2000cc class, up against Porsches and Maseratis. It finished 25th but unclassified. Still, a valiant effort.(Apparently, they were named Peerless because they were built in the old works which maintained Peerless trucks dating from WW1, American machines which were widely used by the Allied forces.)

[srob]

nicanary said:

The same engine was used to power light aircraft at the time. Double coincidence.

Yep, we had a trip to the Shuttleworth Collection and it's amazing how many similarities there are between aero engines of the 20s and bike engines

[sc42]

Re the Montgomery works in Bury St Edmunds, a useful starting point is an 1871 photograph of Orchard Street on the Bury Past and Present Society website (under other streets in the main streets heading). The street looks pretty much the same now, but roughly where the cart is in the 1871 photograph is number 9 Orchard Street which has a small yard to the side and back. The yard has a small, rather dilapidated building which could have been an old store or part of a light industrial unit. Moreover no 10 Orchard Street (which is further away from the viewer on the 1871 photo and which adjoins the yard of no 9) appears to be the only house in the street which is 20th century, so my guess (and it's only a guess) is that this could have been the site. Hope this helps!

[Skodaku]

Surprised no-one has mentioned the Jowett Javelin saloon or Jupiter 2-seater. Pretty much ahead of the game, in their day.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5p1SFEWSFo

Video is bit pedestrian to begin with but stick with it. Some surprises if you don't know Jowetts.

[RichB]

Perhaps because Jowett aren't that obscure?

[austin]

dandarez said:

Sorry, not a good pic, but you can see the Bean Cars sign above his hoarding, and I think that is a Bean by the petrol pump on the forecourt.




Another British marque (don't think it's been mentioned so far) is Gwynne Cars (c.1920s). Very interesting history, and did more than just cars.

It's an Austin 7 "Chummy" by the petrol pump. I've got one in my garage.

How about an Albatross?



Brilliantly the comment below the photo is from my dad, I didn't know he had worked on the car when I put the photo up.

There are a lot of obscure manufacturers listed on the cars page on my site. It gets quite obsessive finding more after a while.