WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[patrick Eggs]

Again ,well done LF and many thanks for details of the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry and the the details regarding Isotta-Fraschini.

The 1908/1910 Isotta - Fraschini Voiturette, with the 4 cylinder OHV engine( photo attached) as you say the starting point which formed the basis for Aston Martin in 1913, it is amazing the backgound that springs out of one small photo of the armoured car of the Yeomanry.

Another name that appears regarding the design of the 1908 car 1208cc Voiturette is the designer named Ettore Bugatti , before the set up of his own Factory. in those earlier days he Free- Lanced and one of his clients was DeDietrich, and DeDietrich in turn had a financial interest in Isotta -Fraschini.

It is also amazing of all the now famous names , linked in so many ways in the past.

Crimson Rambler.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another name that appears regarding the design of the 1908 car 1208cc Voiturette is the designer named Ettore Bugatti , before the set up of his own Factory. in those earlier days he Free- Lanced and one of his clients was DeDietrich, and DeDietrich in turn had a financial interest in Isotta -Fraschini.

It is also amazing of all the now famous names , linked in so many ways in the past.

Thanks for the nice photo of the Isotta-Fraschini Voiturette, and yes Milan, Italy, the birthplace of so many great cars, must have been a very interesting place with so many talented and innovative designers all working in close proximity to each other. Ettore Bugatti, who was accused of copying design ideas from the Isotta-Fraschini Voiturette, was friends with De Dietrich, and was also a friend of the owner of one of the largest Isotta-Fraschini Agencies, so Bugatti certainly would have had access to information on the Isotta-Fraschini designs. As well as being a talented motorcar designer, Bugatti was also a skilled racing driver.

Not only is there a link to Isotta-Fraschini and Aston Martin, but also to Maserati, as one of Isotta-Fraschini's top Voiturette racing drivers was a Alfieri Maserati, who along with his brother Ernesto Maserati, went on to found the Maserati motor company.

LF

[patrick Eggs]

Another Armoured Car.

A Seabrook of C Section, number 5 Squadran,with two of the seven crew manniing a 3 pdr.The sides dropped to form a platform for the main armament and four macine-guns. All RNAS armoured crews were enlisted as Petty Officers.

Crimson Rambler.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Alfieri Maserati at the wheel of an Isotta-Fraschini 1500 Voiturette, Alfieri along with his brother Ernesto, went on to found their own ' Maserati ' motor company.

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 Armoured Car.

A Seabrook of C Section, number 5 Squadran,with two of the seven crew manniing a 3 pdr.The sides dropped to form a platform for the main armament and four macine-guns. All RNAS armoured crews were enlisted as Petty Officers.

Crimson Rambler.

Once again, we see brothers, this time Percy and Herbert Seabrook, starting out in the bicycle business and then expanding into motorcars and trucks.

The Seabrook brothers established their company ( Seabrook Brothers ) in 1896 to manufacture parts for the cycle industry, which was very successful and enabled them to open branches overseas, and by 1901 they had branches in Berlin and New York.

With the Seabrooks continuing success, they were also able to further expand their business to include motorcars, and from 1911 to 1915 the Seabrook brothers imported the American ' Regal ' motorcar, built in Detroit, Michigan and marketed it in England as the RMC ( Regal Motor Car Company ) or the Seabrook-RMC from their premises at 57 Great Eastern Street, London EC2.

During WW1, the Seabrook brothers joined the war effort by importing American trucks made by the Napoleon Motors Company, Michigan and Standard Motor Truck Company, Detroit and marketed them as ' Seabrook ' trucks, which they supplied to the War Department. Seabrooks also supplied truck bodies to the RNAS, for use as large Armoured Cars.

The ' Seabrook ' Armoured Car, as used by the RNAS., was in reality an Armoured Lorry built on an American 5 ton truck chassis, probably made by the Standard Motor Truck Company of Detroit, Michigan. The large and formidable Seabrook Armoured Car, was armed with both a Naval 3 pdr Gun and four Vickers-Maxim machine guns, and was designed to support other smaller RNAS Armoured Cars armed only with machine guns.

The ' Seabrook ' Armoured Car was powered by a 4 cylinder, 32.2 hp Continental engine and was protected by 8 mm armoured plating, with the sides of the Armoured Car being able to be let down to form a platform for the crew working the 3 pdr Gun, which enabled the gun to traverse 360 degrees. The RNAS Armoured Cars with their Naval crew of 7 men, had many of the attributes of a Naval gunship, including a mast at the back

( stern ) of the Armoured Car which flew the Navy's White Ensign.

Only some 25-30 of these ' Seabrook ' Armoured Cars were built, and although Seabrook provided the chassis and truck bodywork, the armour plating, armaments and all the Armoured Car fitting was undertaken and completed by the Portholme Aerodrome Company in Huntingdon, under the supervision of Lieutenant Walter Wilson ( a pre-war motor engineer ). Lieutenant Wilson subsequently joined the RNAS, and due to his excellent experience operating and designing Armoured Cars for the RNAS., was later to be a key member of the British ' Landship ' project which ultimately led to the invention of the British ' Tank ', and so we have a direct link between the Seabrook Armoured Car and the invention of the Tank.

The first batch of completed ' Seabrook ' Armoured Cars were delivered by the Portholme Aerodrome Company on 5th February, 1915, and were originally distributed 3 per squadron to the RNAS Armoured Car Squadrons already equipped with the smaller Rolls-Royce or Lanchester Armoured Cars.

Some of these large ' Seabrook ' Armoured Cars saw service in Ypres, where they were considered highly effective, however due to their 10 ton gross weight, their use was severely restricted to roads in a good condition, and they were unable to traverse unmade roads or even a small ditch.

In May 1915, the Seabrook Armoured Cars were organized into ' heavy ' squadrons of 6 Seabrooks each, but by the end of 1915, they had been withdrawn from France as being obsolete for the trench warfare conditions on the Western Front, and were sent to join the Western Frontier Force in Egypt.

The attached photo shows the RNAS ' Seabrook ' Armoured Car with its sides lowered to form the 3 pdr Gun firing platform.

Some information c/o British Tanks and Fighting Vehicles 1914-45 - by B.T. White

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]

The RNAS ' Seabrook ' Armoured 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]

Seabrook ' RMC ' motorcar 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]

The Seabrook brothers, Percy and Herbert, started in business supplying parts and accessories to the bicycle trade.

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]

Seabrook's first motorcar venture, was to import the American ' Regal ' motorcar into Britain which Seabrook marketed as the ' Seabrook - RMC '.

The American Regal Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, 1913 advertisement and logo.

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]

Seabrook's imported 1914 ' Regal ' Tourer - sold by Seabrook as the ' Seabrook - RMC ' Tourer.

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 post # 1380 we can clearly see the ' Seabrook's ' crew wearing the RNAS Armoured Car Squadron's 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]

The Seabrook Armoured Car shown flying the Navy's White Ensign.

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]

Lt. Walter Wilson, designed and then supervised the Portholme Aerodrome Company's construction of the RNAS ' Seabrook ' Armoured Car.

Lt. Wilson subsequently went on to become a key member of the British ' Landship ' project, which resulted in the development and production of the first British ' Tank '.

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.

[ifanlloyd]

Fascinating,do you know of any plans/scale drawings of the Seabrook A/C ???

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Fascinating,do you know of any plans/scale drawings of the Seabrook A/C ???

I am pleased that you are finding the Thread interesting, and I shall look for any plans or drawings of the Seabrook Armoured Car.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Two completed ' Seabrook ' Armoured Cars are seen leaving the Portholme workshops in Huntingdon, where the American Standard truck chassis imported by the Seabrook brothers, were converted into Armoured Cars for use by the RNAS under the supervision of Lt. Walter Wilson.

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.

[patrick Eggs]

many thanks LF, I had a feeling that the Seabrook, had more to it than the odd armoured vehicle and Lft. Wilson went on to many more design and development of our tanks,and I believe he was promoted to the rank of Major.

As always another name turns up ,of a Mr.W .O.Bentley who had the first design of aluminium pistons. around 1913. with considerable competition success.

While working at the Admiralty as a newly joined Lieutenant R.N.V.R. in 1914,he was the first to introduce the aluminium piston to the Btitish manufacturers as a means of finding more power.

When in 1917 Daimler were pressed for more from their 105 hp engine, they used Lieutenant Bentley's aluminium pistons to make it deliver 125hp.The last 200 Mark IV tanks built had these engines.

But I think another armoured car from a well known name today of Leyland

Crimson Rambler..

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Mr.W .O.Bentley who had the first design of aluminium pistons. around 1913. with considerable competition success.

Crimson Rambler..

Before WW1, Walter Bentley had been a successful racing driver, and during WW1 he served in the RNAS., and after the war, he and his brother founded The Bentley Motor Company, and made one of the best cars in the world.

Walter Bentley shown here in 1914 at the wheel of his 12.1 horsepower DFP racing car, having broken all the speed records in the B Class at the Brooklands race track.

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 Seabrook brothers imported the American ' Standard ' truck made in Detroit, Michigan and assembled them at their Great Eastern Street work in East London.

The completed trucks were then marketed by Seabrooks as the ' Seabrook-Standard ' lorry, and during WW1 were supplied by Seabrooks to the War Department for use as a 3-ton general purpose lorry, and some 25-30 of the Seabrook-Standard chassis were also supplied to the R.N.A.S. for conversion to the ' Seabrook ' Armoured Car.

The Seabrook-Standard 3-ton lorry was powered by a 32.2 hp ' Continental ' engine, with chain drive to the rear wheels.

Clear detailed photographs of the Seabrook-Standard lorry are somewhat scarce, and attached are 2 photographs showing good clear details of the Seabrook-Standard 3-ton lorry as was supplied to the War Department.

The first photograph shows an Army Service Corps ( A.S.C. ) Seabrook-Standard 3-ton lorry transporting troops, one of whom is a Piper. Also shown, are the ASC crew.

The ' AF ' letters painted on the radiator, refer to ' Anti-Freeze ' having been added.

The second photograph shows several Seabrook-Standard 3-ton lorries parked, and with the bonnet up, we can catch a glimpse of the Seabrook-Standard lorry's Continental engine.

The A.S.C. soldier in the rear of the lorry, is armed with a Lee-Enfield .303 rifle.

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]

The photograph shows several Seabrook-Standard 3-ton lorries parked, and with the bonnet up, we can catch a glimpse of the Seabrook-Standard lorry's Continental engine, we can also see details of the lorry's chain drive.

The A.S.C. soldier in the rear of the lorry, is armed with a Lee-Enfield .303 rifle.

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.

[johnboy]

Second picture?

Posts crossed!

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Second picture?

Posts crossed!

Now attached.

[johnboy]

Percy and Herbert Seabrook established their company (Seabrook Brothers) in 1896 to manufacture parts for the cycle industry and by 1901 had branches in Berlin and New York. From 1911 to 1915 they imported the Regal, built in Detroit, and marketed it in England as the RMC (Regal Motor Car Company) or the Seabrook-RMC from their premises at 57 Great Eastern Street, London EC2. The Regal ceased production in 1920.

During the Great War they imported lorries made by the Napoleon Motors Company, Michigan and Standard Motor Truck Company, Detroit and marketed them as

From Landships Forum. The link to the original is out of date.

It is very possible that Standard Motors chassis were imported and Seabrooks added a body .

[Lancashire Fusilier]

It is very possible that Standard Motors chassis were imported and Seabrooks added a body .

To date, I have seen no reference or records showing what exactly Seabrooks imported from America by way of trucks or truck parts. The American Standard Truck Company produced complete trucks, and looking at the photographs of the ' Seabrook-Standard ' lorries, they look to be complete Standard trucks, so apart from the odd items of WD equipment and possibly the wooden planking and the metal canvas frames used on the lorry, I would say that majority of the ' Seabrook-Standard ' lorry came from America and was assembled at Seabrook's East London works.

Also, the manufacturing of all the lorry's bodywork would have been quite an undertaking and it would have been easier for Seabrook to have imported and assembled the complete truck rather than set up all the machinery necessary to manufacture bodywork for possibly no more than 100-150 lorries, which was probably the total number of Seabrook-Standard lorries supplied to the WD.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The 11th hand-coloured photograph from the ' Dennis ' 1913 Motor Fire Engine Catalogue -

A Croydon Fire Brigade Fire 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.