WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With reference to post # 3690 which showed details of a British Westinghouse Petrol-Electric Tractor's ' Dorman ' engine and electrical generator, attached is another excellent photograph of a WW1 W^D ' Dick, Kerr ' Petrol Electric with it's engine's side-panels removed giving a detailed view of the Tractor's ' Dorman ' 45 h.p. 4JO 4-cylinder water-cooled petrol engine driving a 30 kW DC generator at 1000 rpm, which provided current of up to 500 volts to two 25 hp electric traction motors, with this power unit being common to both the British Westinghouse and Dick, Kerr PE Tractor models.

Also of note, are the front and rear fitted ' Life-Guards/Rail-Guards ' bars, which were designed to push obstacles off the light rail line, and prevent them coming into contact with the Tractor's wheels, thereby avoiding a possible derailment.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another common and very important use for the WD Light Rail system, was transporting evacuated wounded from front-line areas, and whilst there are numerous photographs showing such light rail evacuations, I found the attached colourised photograph of wounded soldiers being evacuated by light rail trolleys being pushed by German prisoners, particularly graphic.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Petrol-Electric Motor Vehicle Engines

The ' Petrol-Electric ' power units used in the WW1 W^D Petrol-Electric Tractors manufactured by both British Westinghouse and Dick, Kerr and Company, had their origins several years earlier in a Petrol-Electric Engine built by W. A. Stevens of Maidstone, Kent in 1906.

The firm of W. A. Stevens was founded in Maidstone by William Arthur Stevens in 1897, and by 1906 Stevens had produced a motor vehicle powered by a petrol engine which was connected to an electrical generator and the electrical current produced was connected to a traction motor, which in turn, drove the rear wheels of the vehicle.

Stevens' petrol-electric engine, was based on engine designs previously patented by Percival ( Percy ) H. Frost-Smith a London born engineer, whose expertise and experience was both in the design and manufacture of internal-combustion engines and electric tramways.

Due to the potential for the commercial vehicle application of Stevens' petrol-electric engines, in 1907 Stevens received a contract from another Kent based company, the commercial vehicle manufacturer J. & E. Hall of Dartford, Kent ( makers of the ' Hallford ' commercial vehicles ) to convert some of their lorries to petrol-electric engines.

Later in 1907, also realizing the vast potential for the powering of their passenger buses by Stevens' petrol-electric engines, one of Britain's largest bus operators, Thomas Tilling, purchased W. A. Stevens, to form a new bus and commercial vehicle manufacturing company, Tilling-Stevens.

By early 1911, Tilling-Stevens had produced a prototype petrol-electric bus, and in 1913, had introduced a 4-cylinder 40 hp. petrol-electric passenger bus.

With the outbreak of WW1, Tilling-Stevens offered their petrol-electric vehicle chassis to the War Department for use in British Army lorries on the Western Front. However, the WD declined to utilize the petrol-electric powered lorries, instead favouring lorries fitted with conventional petrol internal combustion engines.

Nevertheless, Tilling-Stevens did produce a limited number of petrol-electric vehicles for the Admiralty, which were used on the Home Front by the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Air Service ( RNAS ).

Attached are 2 drawings, which show William Stevens' 1906 designs for a ' Petrol Electric ' vehicle engine.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

2

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

#3726 Another cracking image. OK. It's colourised, but it gives it a sense of realism.

It could have been taken yesterday!

[David Filsell]

LF

Have you ant shots pf the Crewe Tractor - the Model T Ford capable of road and rail travel ( it was claimed?)

[Lancashire Fusilier]

LF

Have you ant shots pf the Crewe Tractor - the Model T Ford capable of road and rail travel ( it was claimed?)

David,

The ' Crewe Tractor ' was very much a reality, and if you refer back to the following link, you will see my presentation on the Crewe Tractor one year ago, with information and various photographs of the Crewe Tractor in action at the Front.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=173218&page=80

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

#3726 Another cracking image. OK. It's colourised, but it gives it a sense of realism.

It could have been taken yesterday!

As you say, very realistic.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

An early version of the Tilling-Stevens Petrol-Electric bus in service with the Moortown & Shadwell Bus Co., along with it's crew.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[David Filsell]

LF,

Apologies, I had quite forgotten the thread.

David

[BSM]

LF and other contributors good evening. Thread going well I see and congrats on the input. Was interested to see the image in Post 3724 of the Light Rail signalman. Nothing spectacular in its own right but it is reasonably rare to see such images that are more related to logistics and not the smoke and thunder of the front line etc. The old story of not knowing the question until it is asked i.e., how did they do that or how was that made etc. etc. The bits and pieces behind the scenes such as that good bit you supplied re ballooning a while back. That "Time Team" show on unearthing that rather large flame thrower also some time back is along the same vein. Cheers, Rod

[Lancashire Fusilier]

LF,

Apologies, I had quite forgotten the thread.

David

David,

I hope you enjoyed the reprise.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

LF and other contributors good evening. Thread going well I see and congrats on the input. Was interested to see the image in Post 3724 of the Light Rail signalman. Nothing spectacular in its own right but it is reasonably rare to see such images that are more related to logistics and not the smoke and thunder of the front line etc. The old story of not knowing the question until it is asked i.e., how did they do that or how was that made etc. etc. The bits and pieces behind the scenes such as that good bit you supplied re ballooning a while back. That "Time Team" show on unearthing that rather large flame thrower also some time back is along the same vein. Cheers, Rod

Rod,

Many thanks for your comments, and I certainly agree that providing as much background information on the topic is critical to understanding the topic, and also the important work that went on ' behind the scenes ' during WW1.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Following the introduction of the Tilling-Stevens' Petrol-Electric Engine in 1913, Tilling-Stevens buses fitted with the petrol-electric engine were soon in operation throughout Britain.

The next photograph, show's Walsall's first motorbus, a Tilling-Stevens Petrol-Electric motorbus Reg. No. DH 904, photographed in Hednesford in 1915.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A picture postcard showing a 1914 Tilling-Stevens Petrol-Electric Motorbus in service with Bournemouth Corporation Tramways.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

I was very fortunate to find a series of rare and interesting photographs, which may have originally been part of a history or archive of the Tilling-Stevens Company.

The first photograph, shows the original 1906 motorcar used as the prototype by Mr. W. A. Stevens for the development of his petrol-electric engine.

The photograph's caption gives an excellent description of the prototype :-

" During the latter part of 1906, Mr. Stevens evolved the first details of the Petrol Electric system. The first Petrol Electric was his ‘Old Grey Car’ equipped with a special dynamo, a series electric motor coupled to the back axle, a four armed controller and switch. The dynamo which was driven direct by a 20 H.P. four cylinder engine had a double wound armature with two commutators. A fan was fixed on the end of the dynamo shaft remote from the engine and propelled a strong current of air through both dynamo and motor. The electric motor with a cardan brake on the rear end was coupled to the road wheels by a cardan shaft and differential gearing. The controller was of the dial pattern with the contact bars arranged in two concentric circles mounted on an insulating base. Four insulated metallic brushes carried on the ends of a four armed switch carrier electrically connected the inner and outer contact circles. It was arranged for neutral, two speeds forward and reverse. This controller was operated by a lever corresponding to the orthodox change speed lever. The Petrol-Electric Grey Car was run as a Petrol-Electric for five or six years, and during this period covered a considerable mileage and made many successful demonstrations. The car was arranged so that an Electric Searchlight could be mounted in front of the rear seat and worked from current generated by the dynamo.

The first mention in the technical press of Mr Stevens’s petrol-electric system is in Motor Traction of 23rd February 1907. This contains a detailed description of “the Stevens system, patented by Mr. W. A. Stevens, managing director of Messrs. W. A. Stevens Limited, dynamo and electric motor manufacturers, of Victoria Works, Maidstone.” It includes an illustration of the chassis of a motor car fitted with the equipment and notes that “the system can be fitted to existing omnibuses, no special construction of the frame being necessary. It is therefore available for the conversion of omnibuses with defective gears to silent-running vehicles of the latest type. The main features of the Stevens petrol-electric car, including the controller and interlocking gear, method of ventilating dynamo and motor, also the electric engine governor, are the subjects of patents or applications for patents.”

It is an interesting coincidence that Stevens' prototype vehicle was fitted with a searchlight, as during WW1, the main use for the Tilling-Stevens Petrol-Electric lorry supplied to the Admiralty for use on the Home Front, was as an RN/RNAS Searchlight Lorry.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

We know that in 1907, W. A. Stevens received a contract from another Kent based company, the commercial vehicle manufacturer J. & E. Hall of Dartford, Kent ( makers of ' Hallford ' commercial vehicles ) to provide Stevens' petrol-electric engines for some of their lorries, and again, showing the importance of photographic evidence, in the attached rare and interesting photograph from that same ' Tilling-Stevens ' collection, we see an example of the collaboration between W. A. Stevens and J. & E. Hall to produce a ' Hallford-Stevens ' petrol-electric commercial lorry which is clearly marked ' Hallford-Stevens ' on the chassis.

To my knowledge, this is the only photograph confirming the existence of the 1907 ' Hallford-Stevens ' petrol-electric lorry.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[MikeyH]

Lancs,

Re. the 'Old Grey Car' featured in #3740, this is a London built Clement Talbot.

Regards,

Mike.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Re. the 'Old Grey Car' featured in #3740, this is a London built Clement Talbot.

Mike,

Many thanks for providing that vitally important information, identifying W. A. Stevens' prototype petrol-electric ' Old Grey Car ' as being a Clement Talbot.

Regards,

LF

[David Filsell]

LF

Reprise enjoyed.

David

[Lancashire Fusilier]

In addition to Tilling-Stevens manufacturing petrol-electric motor-buses, and no doubt drawing on W. A. Stevens' previous experience collaborating with J. & E. Hall in producing the ' Hallford-Stevens ' lorry, Tilling-Stevens also manufactured a range of petrol-electric lorries and vans.

It was these petrol-electric lorries which Tilling-Stevens offered to the War Department at the outbreak of WW1 for use by the British Army on the Western Front, and although rejected by the War Department, Tilling-Stevens did supply a number of petrol-electric lorries to the Admiralty for use on the Home Front, both as Mobile Searchlight Lorries and General Service Lorries, which were allocated to the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and I shall be posting examples of these Tilling-Stevens Admiralty vehicles over the coming days.

Attached are 2 photograph, showing examples of a Tilling-Stevens petrol electric commercial lorry, with the ' Midland ' lorry being the earlier model.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A later version of the Tilling -Stevens petrol-electric lorry.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

At the outbreak of WW1, Tilling-Stevens offered their petrol-electric lorries to the War Department for use by the British Army on the Western Front, however, their offer was declined by the War Department, and as a result, no Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric lorries were used by the British military overseas.

Despite Tilling-Stevens' petrol electric lorries being rejected by the WD as unsuitable for the Western Front, they did actually see service on the Western Front, not with the British Army, but rather with the French Army, who purchased a number of Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric lorries.

The attached rare photograph shows a French Army Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric lorry transporting French soldiers on the Western Front, the lorry's bonnet shows the French Army's ' DMAP ' marking, standing for the ” Dépot de Matériel Automobile et de Personnel ” ( Automotive and Staff Depot ), a French Army Transport Unit in charge of heavy vehicle repairs and the reconditioning of used vehicles, as well as of driver training.

With the French DMAP also being responsible for driver training, they obviously considered the Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric lorry, with its simpler and easier to use driving controls to be an advantage when training new drivers.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Although a little grainy, nevertheless, another seldom seen photograph of a Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric lorry being used by the French Army on the Western Front.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[MikeyH]

Lancs,

Here is a scene from the Slough Vehicle Dump, circa 1919. This shows a number of Crossley Tenders and nearly complete Crossley chassis. Most of these would have been re-furbished and sold on into the post war civilian market and others dismantled for spares.

Regards,

Mike.