WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[Lancashire Fusilier]

How extensively was it used?

The time to set it all up.......

johnboy,

The setting up of the turntable looks to be a fairly easy procedure for the gun's crew to undertake, as to exactly how many were manufactured at the Coventry Ordnance Works, that is not stated.

It seems that this turntable would have been useful in ' fixed ', or more permanent positions.

Regards,

LF

[johnboy]

It seems that this turntable would have been useful in ' fixed ', or more permanent positions.

I wondered that.

I suppose that it had to be transported by another lorry? Bearing in mind that in London the guns had to travel from a base

any further delay could be critical.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is another example of a gun using a tracked turntable to rapidly traverse at a much wider angle, this very interesting photograph shows a 60 pounder wheel-less Gun and it's crew, with the gun, which is possibly a one-off, mounted on a light rail E - F wagon bogie with blocked springs, with the gun's trail mounted and running on a curved section of railway track, enabling the gun to rapidly traverse on it's mount to the left or right, thereby giving the gun a much wider field of fire.

LF

IWM 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]

In August 1916, the decision was made to relocate some of the Royal Naval Mobile Anti--Aircraft Brigade's assets from London to the east coast, setting up a RNMAAB base at Bacton, Norfolk, from which to intercept and destroy the German aircraft and Zeppelins using that section of the Norfolk coast as their route to launch aerial attacks on London.

Bacton would be the Brigade's East Coast H.Q., with other RNMAAB fixed Anti-Aircraft positions located along that section of the Norfolk coast.

Bacton was also the location of a Royal Flying Corps Aerodrome, which would coordinate with the RNMAAB in attacking the German aircraft and Zeppelins attempting to cross into that section of the British coast.

Also, Bacton was close to Sandringham House, where Queen Alexandra and other members of the Royal Family spent much of their time, and it was envisaged that RNMAAB would also provide suitable Anti-Aircraft protection for Sandringham.

The RNMAAB assets moved from London to Bacton, consisted of 12 Automobile Guns, 3 Mobile Searchlights, and 20 other assorted vehicles including Ammunition Waggons and Motor-cycles.

Commander Rawlinson's plan for the RNMAAB's coastal ' fixed position ' emplacements, was to construct sandbagged gun-pits, each housing 2 x 75 mm Auto-Canons and their equipment, with a roomy weatherproof dugout to accommodate and protect the crews manning the emplacement.

The attached photograph shows one of the RNMAAB's coastal ' fixed positions ', and also gives good details of the general layout of the emplacement and the various types of equipment and personnel deployed in the emplacement.

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]

To make the reading of the previous photograph's text a lot easier, here it is shown vertically.

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]

In December 1916, acting on information that the Germans would be changing their main method of aerial attacks on London from Zeppelins to aircraft, it was decided to move the bulk of the RNMAAB's coastal operations from the Norfolk coast to the Thames Estuary in an area extending from Shoeburyness to the mouth of the Blackwater River, which was considered to be a likely route for German aircraft attacking London, with Burnham-on-Crouch being selected as the RNMAAB's main Thames Estuary base. A smaller RNMAAB force, would also remain at Bacton.

In January 1917, the RNMAAB commenced Anti-Aircraft operations along the Thames Estuary.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is an interesting photograph linking two small and relatively unknown companies operating in England during WW1, Palladium Autocars Ltd., and the Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

The Lorry is a ' Palladium ' manufactured by Palladium Autocars of Felsham Road, Putney, London.

The Company was founded by John Ross McMahon in 1912 as ' McMahon's Motor Exchange ', then later operating as Palladium Autocars Ltd., from 1913 to 1925.

Palladium started by manufacturing 3/4-Ton commercial vehicles and bus chassis powered by a ' Dorman ' engine, with Palladium subsequently also manufacturing motorcars.

As was the case with many other vehicle manufacturing companies assisting with the war effort during WW1, Palladium applied for sub-contracts with major War Department suppliers, and was awarded a contract to build Sopwith Salamander TF2 aircraft during the later part of WW1.

Palladium Autocars Ltd., ceased trading in 1925.

This first of a series of photographs, shows a ' Palladium ' lorry belonging to the Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd., transporting one of Whitehead's aircraft.

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]

The Sopwith Salamander TF2, some of which were manufactured by Palladium Autocars Ltd., at their factory in Putney, London, during WW1.

LF

IWM 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]

Further research shows that whilst it is generally accepted that Palladium Autocars Ltd., received a contract from Sopwith to manufacture 100 Sopwith Salamander TF2s, that contract seems not to have been implemented. However, it is known that Palladium Autocars Ltd., did manufacture DH4 aircraft during WW1 as a sub-contractor for Airco.

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]

John Ross McMahon, the owner of Palladium Autocars Ltd., of Putney, seems to have enjoyed a good commercial relationship with the aircraft industry, and we know that he sold his ' Palladium ' commercial lorries to the local Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd., of Richmond, and in the attached photograph, we see a rarely photographed pair of ' Palladium ' lorries, with their distinctive double bar radiator design, belonging to the British Emaillite Company Ltd., of Willesden, London, who were one of the largest WW1 manufacturers of the finishing varnish used as ' aeroplane dope ', which provided a durable protective coating to an aircraft's fabric outer covering.

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 1914 ' Emaillite ' Aeroplane Dope trade advertisement.

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]

' Emaillite ' Aeroplane Dope trade advertisement.

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]

Of all the radiator designs for WW1 era lorries, that of the ' Palladium ' lorry is probably the most distinctive and ornate.

The radiator is cast from a silver coloured non-ferrous metal, which is probably Aluminium, has 2 horizontal protective bars across the radiator grille, which divides the grille into 3 distinctive panels.

At the bottom of the radiator, the brand name ' PALLADIUM ' is proudly and boldly displayed, and at the top of the radiator is an ornate roundel displaying an image of the Greek Goddess Athena, which appears to have be taken from an image of a Roman statue of Athena.

In Greek and Roman mythology, a ' Palladium ' was a protector or guardian, and perhaps, the lorry's manufacturer, John McMahon, had this in mind when naming his vehicle brand in 1913.

The only other popular use of the word ' Palladium ' at that time, would have been the ' Palladium Theatre ' better known as the London Palladium, which had recently opened on Boxing Day, December 26, 1910.

Here are 2 photographs, showing the same ' Palladium ' lorry ( Number Plate LR 9601 ), with one photograph providing excellent details of the Palladium lorry's distinctive radiator design.

Also, and very importantly, in the first photograph, the Palladium's Scuttle is clearly marked ' ON WAR SERVICE ', indicating that this lorry may have been part of the ' Palladium Autocars Ltd ' fleet of their own vehicles and was used in relation to their war work on aircraft production ( DH4s ) at Putney, and it certainly confirms that the ' Palladium ' lorry needs to be legitimately included in any references to WW1 Lorries, which typically it is not.

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 photograph of ' Palladium ' Lorry, number plate ' LR 9601 '.

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]

For John McMahon's selection of an ornate roundel to decorate the top of the radiator on his ' Palladium ' lorry, he appears to have a used an image taken from a Roman statue of the Greek Goddess Athena, who in Greek mythology was herself a ' Palladium ' or ' Protector '.

Here are examples of the ' Palladium ' lorry roundel, the ' Athena ' image from one of Palladium Autocars' trade advertisements, and a photo of the Roman statute of the Greek Goddess Athena, which closely matches the image used by Palladium Autocars Ltd.

LF

These images are 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]

Whilst John McMahon used the image of Athena ( a Palladium in Greek mythology ) on decorate his Palladium lorry's radiator, the brand name of ' Palladium ' may possibly have also been in his mind following the opening of London's Palladium Theatre on Boxing Day, 26th December 1910.

Here is a copy of the printed original programme, cost one penny, from the Palladium Theatre's opening day on 26th December 1910, and a photograph of the facade of the Palladium Theatre taken in 1912.

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]

London's Palladium Theatre in 1912.

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 ' Palladium ' Lorry in commercial use.

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]

This photograph provides an excellent detailed side view of a ' Palladium ' Lorry, which was one of Palladium Autocars Ltd's own fleet of lorries, and is clearly marked as such, and was probably photographed at their Putney works.

LF

C/o The Stilltime Collection. 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]

In addition to manufacturing Commercial Lorries, Palladium Autocars Ltd., also manufactured a range of motorcars.

Here is a photograph of one of the ' Palladium ' motorcars, and again, the image of Athena has been used as Palladium's radiator badge.

Palladium Autocars' models and production years are as follows :-

12/16 hp 1911

10/12 hp 1912

12/16 hp 1912-13

15/18 hp 1912-13

10/18 hp 1913-14

18/30 hp 1913-14

20/28 hp 1913

12/22 hp 1914

10/18 hp 1915

15/26 hp 1915

15/20 hp 1915

Cyclecar 1919

12 hp 1922-25

15 hp 1922-25

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.

[johnboy]

Good job they stopped in 1925 or we may have got a lorry called Bruce!!

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With reference back to post # 3790 and the French 75 mm Auto-Canon barrel and recoil assembly systems which were provided to the British un-assembled, and subsequently assembled at the Coventry Ordnance Works on gun mountings developed and manufactured by C.O.W., for use by the Royal Naval Mobile Anti-Aircraft Brigade, and also other British units.

These C.O.W. assembled 75 mm Guns were designated as ' Centre Trunnion ' models, as opposed to the French 75 mm Auto-Canons being ' Breech Trunnion ' types.

The vastly different C.O.W. ' Centre Trunnion ' gun mounting allowed the 75 mm Gun to rotate 360 degrees, and as with the French model, the breech was loaded by a crew member standing on the ground.

Here is an excellent detailed photograph of the Coventry Ordnance Works ( C.O.W. ) 75 mm Gun on the ' Centre Trunnion ' C.O.W. mount, this photograph shows the 75 mm Gun mounted on a French De Dion vehicle, however, other types of vehicles were used with the C.O.W. mount.

LF

C/o British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914-18 Hogg & Thurston 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.

[phil@basildon]

I wonder if the Palladium works in Putney still exists.

[MikeyH]

The location for Palladium Autocars (1912-19) was Normand Road, Kensington W. They moved to Felsham Road, Putney, SW15 in 1919.

Do not know if either of their premises still exist.

Mike.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

I wonder if the Palladium works in Putney still exists.

Phil,

38 Felsham Road, Putney, Palladium Autocars Ltd's old address, is now apparently the site of a block of flats.

Regards,

LF