WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A 1919 ' Martinsyde-Newman ' motorcycles' advertisement.

Originally marketed  as the ' Martinsyde-Newman ' in recognition of the motorcycle engine's designer, H. Newman, however once Newman left Martinsyde, the motorcycle's marque became simply ' Martinsyde '.

This advertisment, provides lots of details and specifications.

 

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 1920 6 h.p 680 cc V-Twin motorcycle carrying the original ' Martinsyde-Newman ' marque as shown in the advertisement in the previous post.

The ' RS ' number plate letters, are for an early Aberdeen registration.

 

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 superb 1922 ' Martinsyde ' 500 cc. V-Twin ' Sport ' 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]

And finally, the ' Martinsyde ' motorcycle marque, with I am sure the ' winged ' mark representing Martinsyde's aviation heritage.

 

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.

[michaeldr]

It seems unusual to see that DFC ribbon, which was introduced in 1919, on the 'maternity' jacket. I see that Fysh was awarded his DFC in 1919, and that the Australian Flying Corps was still in being until 1920.

Uncle George,

Many thanks for the information, and here is a photograph of the AFC Service Dress jacket belonging to Lt. Wilmot Hudson Fysh, D.F.C., showing the Distinguished Flying Cross' first pattern ( 3rd June 1918 ) ribbon with the horizontal stripes, which on 24th July, 1919, were changed to diagonal stripes.

After WW1, W. H. Fysh, D.F.C., remained active in flying and in 1920 went on to be one of the founders of the Australian ' QANTAS ' airline , and by 1923 he was the airline's Managing Director and Chief Pilot.

LF

Fysh commenced his war service in the ranks of the infantry and later transferred, first to the Australian Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, and then to the AFC as an Observer (and machine-gunner). It was in this latter capacity that he was decorated. He qualified as a pilot after the armistice.

see https://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/fiftyaustralians/19.asp

regards

Michael

Edited 11 June , 2016 by michaeldr

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Fysh commenced his war service in the ranks of the infantry and later transferred, first to the Australian Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, and then to the AFC as an Observer (and machine-gunner). It was in this latter capacity that he was decorated. He qualified as a pilot after the armistice.

Michael,

Many thanks for the link to the excellent information, and a nice batch of ' Lt. Fysh ' photographs, I particularly liked his AFC items.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Crossley Motors Ltd.

 

As we have consistently seen throughout this Thread, those innovative companies producing motor vehicles during WW1, were often founded by ' Brothers ', as was the case with Crossley Motors Ltd.

 

In 1867, Francis William Crossley ( 1839 - 1897 ) and his younger brother William Crossley ( 1844 - 1911 ) purchased the engineering company John M. Dunlop & Co. who were in business at Greater Marlborough Street, in Manchester's city centre, manufacturing steam engines, pumps and presses, and the Crossley brothers formed a new business partnership with John M. Dunlop. However, that partnership with Dunlop was soon dissolved.

 

The Crossley brothers both had completed engineering apprenticeships, and in 1881, Francis and William Crossley formed a new engineering company, Crossley Brothers Ltd, and moved their company to larger premises in Pottery Lane, Openshaw, Manchester from where they successfully manufactured a range of industrial gas engines.

 

The Crossley brothers were devout Christians and being strictly teetotal and advocating Temperance, they refused to sell their products to companies involved in the sale of beer and or alcohol, such as Breweries, and interestingly, the Crossley brothers adopted the early Christian ' Coptic ' Cross as their trademark, which they later used as the marque for their motor vehicles.

 

In 1898, Crossley Bros. Ltd., expanded their business to include their first diesel engines, and later petrol engines, which were fitted in Leyland Buses.

 

By 1901, Crossley Bros. Ltd., were producing a full range of petrol engines many of which, were sold for use in motor vehicles, and with Francis and William Crossley becoming increasingly interested in the design and manufacture of their own motor vehicles, in 1904, Crossley Bros. Ltd., started designing and manufacturing their own motor vehicles, with the first Crossley vehicles being designed by their new chief engineer, James S. Critchley, who had previously worked for Daimler Motors.

 

In 1906, it was decided that with their expansion into motor vehicle manufacturing, a new separate company Crossley Motors Ltd., would be formed and located in a new purpose built ' state of the art ' factory at Napier Street, Gorton, Manchester, specifically designed and equipped with the latest equipment and machinery for the manufacturing of motor vehicles.

 

William Crossley died in 1911.

 

Following the outbreak of WW1, Crossley Motors saw a substantial increase in their motor vehicle production with large War Office contracts particularly for Crossley's 20/25 hp 4-litre Light Vans and Ambulances for the Royal Flying Corps.

Crossley's 20/25 hp vehicle, which became better known as the Crossley Tender, was fitted with a 20 hp 4.5 litre side-valve engine giving the Crossley Tender a top speed of 55 mph, making it one of the fastest WW1 military vehicles, with some 6,000 Crossley 20/25 vehicles being purchased by the War Department during WW1.

With this significant increase in production, Crossley's Gorton factory soon reached it's full production capacity, so in 1914 a new 48 acre site was purchased in Heaton Chapel, Stockport, which became the Crossley Motors' Erwood Park Works. Construction work on the new Crossley Motors Heaton Chapel, Stockport factory commenced in 1915, and on completion, was fully given over to production for the war effort.

 

In 1917, part of Crossley Motors' Heaton Chapel, Erwood Park Factory became the ' National Aircraft Factory No.2 ' which was also managed by Crossley Motors Ltd., and in 1917 was given a large War Department contract to manufacture 500 de Havilland DH.9 aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps.

 

Crossley Motors Ltd., continued to manufacture motor vehicles before, during and after WW2, and in 1948 was taken over by the Associated Equipment Company ( AEC ), and as a division of AEC, Crossley vehicles continued to be produced at their Stockport factory until 1952, with the Stockport factory finally closing in 1958.

AEC., was to eventually become part of British Leyland.

 

Attached is a copy of an 1884 Crossley Bros. Ltd. advertisement for their Gas Engines, which were manufactured at their Pottery Lane, Openshaw, Manchester Works.

 

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 recognition of their devout Christian beliefs, the Crossley brothers adopted the Christian ' Coptic Cross ' as their trademark logo, which they later used as the marque for their motor vehicles, and incorporated the Coptic Cross into their motor vehicles' radiator grille badge ( see attached ).

 

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 Crossley 1906 40 hp 4-cylinder rear wheel chain-drive motorcar.

 

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]

Here is the front view of a WW1 Crossley 20/25 ' Tender ' showing details of the distinctive WW1 period radiator grille with Crossley's ' Coptic Cross ' grille badge.

 

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]

Prior to the start of WW1, the Royal Flying Corps which had been formed on 13th May 1912, purchased 6 Crossley 20/25 vehicles in February 1913, and it was the successful use by the RFC of those Crossley vehicles which led to Crossley supplying substantial quantities of vehices, mainly the 20/25 Crossley Tenders, to the RFC during WW1.

Here is a superb 1912 Crossley 20/25 from the Shuttleworth Collection, which was used as an RFC Staff Car.

 

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 single ' Y ' number plate letter shown in the previous post, is an early Somerset registration, first used in 1903.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

New Crossley 20/25 RFC Staff Cars lined up at the Crossley factory ready for delivery.

 

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 nicely detailed photograph showing an RFC's Crossley 20/25 ' Tender ' along with 2 RFC motorcycles.

The motorcycle on the left is an ' Indian ' and the motorcycle on the right is a ' Phelon & Moore '.

The number plate letters ' AJ ' shown on both the Crossley and the Phelon & Moore, are for an early Middlesborough ( Yorkshire North Riding ), and the ' ES ' number plate letters on the ' Indian ' are for an early ' Dundee ' registration.

The RFC airmen are wearing the early ' Maternity ' style uniform jackets.

 

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 is my first look at the new GWF, so I do not know what has become of all the previous photographs I posted ?

Those smaller photographs still showing, can be enlarged by just ' clicking ' on them.

It will take time to become familiar with this new format, and hopefully, everything will return to normal.

 

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The Crossley 20/25 Light Van/Tender was very much the workhorse for RFC/RAF, and in this photograph an RAF Crossley 20/25 Tender is seen towing an RAF Trailer loaded with a badly damaged RAF Airco DH.9A aircraft somewhere in the Middle East.

The DH.9A's serial number is F1631.

 

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 AIRCO 9H.9A entered service with the RAF in July 1918, as a Light Bomber with a crew of 2.

The DH.9A's has a Length 30 ft 3 ins - Wing Span 46 ft - Height 11 ft 4 ins - Engine 1 x Liberty 12A 400 hp V-12 piston - Maximum Speed 123 mph - Service Ceiling 16,750 ft - Endurance 5 hrs 15 mins - Armament 1 x forward firing Vickers machine gun + 1/2 rear Lewis Guns mounted on a Scarff Ring - Bomb Load 740 lbs.

 

An AIRCO DH.9A in flight.

 

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]

An AIRCO DH.9A on the ground.

 

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]

I am pleased to see that all the photographs are now back in place, and with this new format a thumbnail image is shown attached to some of the posts, and to enlarge that image to full size, just click on the thumbnail.

 

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another nice example of the Royal Flying Corps' ' Crossley ' 20/25 Tender, alongside of which is an RFC Despatch Rider on a ' Phelon & Moore ' 498 cc motorcycle.

The RFC Airman sitting alongside the driver is wearing the early ' Maternity ' style uniform jacket.

 

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]

It is known that in addition to Crossley Motors supplying the completed vehicle, in some instances, they supplied just the chassis, and in this very interesting coloured photograph we see an RFC 20/25 ' Crossley Tender ' parked outside the LGOC works ( London General Omnibus Company ), where the vehicle has just had it's bodywork completed at the coachworks of the LGOC., who have also proudly displayed their trade advertisement against the completed vehicle. The LGOC operated London's largest passenger bus fleet.

This photograph also shows the seating in the rear of the RFC Tender, which allowed for up to 8 Airmen to sit facing each other ( 4 on each side ) in addition to the 2 Airman seated in the driver's front cab.

This photograph, provides excellent confirmation of LGOC's involvement in completing the bodywork on some of the RFC's Crossley 20/25 Tenders.

 

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.

 

[phil@basildon]

7 hours ago, Lancashire Fusilier said:

It is known that in addition to Crossley Motors supplying the completed vehicle, in some instances, they supplied just the chassis, and in this very interesting coloured photograph we see an RFC 20/25 ' Crossley Tender ' parked outside the LGOC works ( London General Omnibus Company ), where the vehicle has just had it's bodywork completed at the coachworks of the LGOC., who have also proudly displayed their trade advertisement against the completed vehicle. The LGOC operated London's largest passenger bus fleet.

This photograph also shows the seating in the rear of the RFC Tender, which allowed for up to 8 Airmen to sit facing each other ( 4 on each side ) in addition to the 2 Airman seated in the driver's front cab.

This photograph, provides excellent confirmation of LGOC's involvement in completing the bodywork on some of the RFC's Crossley 20/25 Tenders.

 

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.

 

This would be the Vanguard Works in Walthamstow.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

22 minutes ago, phil@basildon said:

This would be the Vanguard Works in Walthamstow.

 

Phil,

 

Thanks for the information, that would be the old ' Vanguard ' Bus Company's works between Hooker Road/Blackhorse Lane Walthamstow, which LGOC acquired when they purchased Vanguard in 1908.

 

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With this new Forum format, if you reply to a post by clicking on the ' quote ' tab, and that post contains a photograph, your reply also automatically attaches that same photograph again, as in Phil's post ( it also seems that the posts are no longer numbered ? ).

To avoid attaching the photograph for a second time, when your reply appears, click on the attached unwanted photograph, it will become highlighted and you can then click on ' Cut ' which will remove the photograph, yet retain the text of your reply, which can then be posted in the normal way minus the unwanted photograph.

 

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is a set of 9 photographs showing a nicely restored Crossley 20/25 ' Tender ' which was in service with the Australian Flying Corps.

What is particularly beneficial regarding these Australian War Memorial photographs, is that they give us a virtual 360 degree view of the WW1 Crossley 20/25 military vehicle.

 

The first photograph, shows the Crossley 20/25's side view facing right.

 

LF

 

 

AWM 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.