ARGYLL
MOTORS MESSAGE BOARD
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ARGYLL SLEEVE VALVE ENGINE
October 12, 2006
Just to let you know that a new article on the Argyll/Burt sleeve-valve aero-engines has just been published in the Journal of the Aircraft Engine Historical Society.
It covers the development of the 1913 Argyll 6-cylinder aero-engine and also the 12-cylinder engine that was produced by Peter Burt after the Argyll factory had gone into liquidation.
The article is also on the AEHS website at www.enginehistory.org Go to the Home Page and scroll down until "Change History" is reached - it is listed there.
If anyone would like a copy of the issue that contains the article, please contact the AEHS editor. Address is on the website.
Cheers, Jerry Wells, Trentham, Australia.
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INFORMATION WANTED ON 1906 ARGYLL
July 18 , 2006
We have this week received a letter from a lady in Devon whose GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER (Mrs Julia Boucher Age 65) was killed in a 1906 Argyll in August 1906 and with the centenary of this accident coming up she is trying to find as much information as possible about this model.
The accident happened just outside Bristol when the car rounded a corner at a stone railway bridge and the front wheel hit the stone of the bridge and her Grandmother was thrown out of the front passenger seat and fell over the bridge and onto the railway line below and was killed. This lady has sent us the Coroner's report.
She came across us as we have a 1902 Argyll on our History page which took part in our Belfast - Portrush run in 1974 (see attached). This was owned by Geoff McCrea.
Would any records survive of who the cars were sold to in 1906? If the accident happened in August 1906 and the car was referred to in the Coroner's report as a "new Argyll car" it must have been a 1906 model.
Any help you can give would be very much appreciated.
Trevor Mitchell
Hon. Secretary.
www.aovc.co.uk
secretary@aovc.co.uk
The Association of Old Vehicle Clubs in Northern Ireland
ANY BOOKS ON ARGYLL?
January 14, 2006 Hi from Australia I have been watchful for any book that may have been produced with the history of Argyll cars, but to date have not found any. Is there such a thing?
My great uncle owned an Argyll c1906/7 period here in Sydney, Australia. I have a quite delightful period photo of the car which appears to be almost new at the time of the photo. If there is an archive accumulating Argyll photos, I'd be happy to send or email a copy of this photo. (Editor's note - we have asked for a copy which will be published here when received.
Hope to hear from someone soon.
Cheers from Down Under
Ian Irwin
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ARGYLL MOTORS MAGAZINE
January 23, 2006
I am trying to locate copies of the Argyll Motors magazine published between 1906 and 1909 Does anyone have any of these,Please contact me at stephenmccann@georgedavies.co.uk if you have any info Stephen
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ARGYLL BUTTONHOLE BADGE
December 23, 2005
I was recently going through my fathers belongings and found this "Argyll - Glasgow" Button hole badge (photo Attached). I was considering putting it for sale on E-bay and wondered if there was any society or other organisation who may be interested in buying it.
Could you give me any information regarding the badge please?
Jack Lumb
Denbigh
North wales |
LONGGUEMARE CARBURETTOR INFO NEEDED
December 15, 2005
I am restoring a scarce Thomas Melvin - Glasgow, Scotland stationary engine
that was once a Producer Gas Plant engine and at some point converted to
low-tension magneto, ignitor and carburetor. The carb being built by the
French firm of Longuemare; the same as used in the famous Argyll
automobiles.
The carb is in dire need of a full mechanical restoration and is beyond my
scope of knowledge.
Can anyone recommend a professional willing to handle this job ? Anyone with
a parts drawing, actual photographs, and/or the knowledge to assist me.
Thank you.
Dusty M. Erickson
Scottsdale, Arizona.
TOKYO ARGYLL EARTHQUAKE ARGYLL
November 26, 2005
I recently visited Tokyo, and outside a museum dedicated to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 saw the preserved fire damaged chassis of what on closer examination turned out to be an Argyll car or truck.
There was a circular plate on the side of the engine with "Argyll Motors Alexandria" and a number, but this was not legible. The wheel hubs indicated artillery wheels. The chassis was generally intact although the engine had fallen off it bearers. Various steering and brake mechanism remained as well as the massive foot pedals. There were steps at each rear end of the chassis members, and two loose L section beams were lying on top of the chassis.The metal was obviously very corroded but the museum had coated it in some preservative compound to halt further deterioration.
Other preserved items included two printing presses, an electric motor and a torpedo!
P Laskey
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The fire-damaged Argyll chassis in Tokyo at the Great Kanto Earthquake Museum.
© Both pictures copyright P Laskey publshed with permission.
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A circular plaque on the side of the engine confirmed Argyll Motors, Alexandria. |
ACME GAS ENGINE AND ARGYLL
September 8, 2005
G'day, Nyal Chivell here from Australia.
We've got an Acme gas engine in our collection of 250 old engines and after much research it appears to be the only one in the country. With the help of our friend, the late Jim Dancer of England he too tried to find out information about it. He was unsuccessful.
After reading about the Argyll company I noticed a reference to the Acme company of 1881 in your history. Our engine is a good runner, of about 3 hp, single flywheel, open crank, tank cooled and fitted with an up-draught carby. If you have any info on the company or know where we could look it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Nyal Chivell
ARGYLL RESTORATION IN CHESHIRE
August 30, 2005
My name is Sara Dines. I was looking for some help and advice. My Mother in Spain has a friend who bought one of the Argyll cars some time ago and has had it in storage for sometime. We now have this car sat on our driveway, it is not beyond repair but was wondering if you could advise me of any locations in the Cheshire region that would store the car to enable the gentleman to start his renovations.
Any help or advice that you can give me would be much appreciated, i know it will one day be a magnificent car but for now is just a heap with plants growing from the roof.
We have managed to find a local Farmer who is willing to store the car for free. However any help or advice on where he can start would be a huge help parts etc. My main concern was that with it being kept in the open didn't want it to start to rust as we live in a Salt mining town and the air and rain can sometimes make things dusty and prone to rust easier than in most areas.
If you could post it on your website it would be a huge help. The car will eventually be auctioned for charity, so hopefully we can restore it to it's former glory.
Just out of curiosity are there many left in this country. I had never seen one before and would be interested to know
Sara Dines
GEORGE AND JOBLING AND ARGYLL
January 15, 2005
I
understand that the above gentlemen had some dealings with the
firm. Who are they, my interest lies in the fact that my grandfather
took an apprenticeship with Shorts of Belfast making the Wright
Bros aicraft but later he worked with the Hon Rolls with cars
and aircraft. I would appreciate any infoemation anyone may
have.
Hugh
Jobling
RE: GEORGE AND JOBLING AND ARGYLL
June 28, 2006
In reply to Hugh Jobling, while I have little information about the connection with Argyll other than that on this website, if he contacts me I can let him have what information I have about the firm. Believe me, it is a VERY interesting tale and something that I am continuing research into so if there is anyone else out there with information, please get in touch. I will gladly share anything I have on the firm and its principals.
Please feel free to contact me via e-mail: dennish@stephensoncoll.ac.uk
Dennis Hill
ANOTHER "A" OF SCOTTISH MOTOR INDUSTRY
I
was brought up in Dumfries, and at my present age of 57, I am
fascinated by the background of the Arrol Aster factory in Heathall,
near Dumfries. The Americans took over the factory when I was
a young man, and the factory was always a 'closed book' to younger
people.
I
left the town 40 years ago and I have no idea how the factory
ended up, although I believe it became a simple tyre factory.
Since
a car crash 18 months ago typing is still difficult but I managed
to struggle through with the help of my wife.
Any
information on how things worked out for Heathall?
Brian
Cullinan
WHERE IN BRIDGETON WAS ARGYLL?
I
wonder if anyone can tell me where in Bridgeton the company
was sited after
the move from Alexandria?
Ron
Bagnall
Re: Where in Bridgeton was Argyll?
Ron,
After the second liquidation in 1914, The then works manager bought the original workshops at Hozier Street in Brigeton, Glasgow.
Even during the time the Alexandria factory was operating, The Hozier Street workshops continued in use as a service depot (and storage facility).
I suggest you take a look at www.argyll-enthusiast.co.uk for more information.
Cheers
Derek
ARGYLL BUSES TO CANADA
Could
anyone please refer me to any information on a fleet of Argyll
buses reportedly exported to Canada in 1913?
I
would love to know how many vehicles were involved, their specifications,
and who was the purchaser/operator?
David
Tremaine
Vancouver Island
Canada
Re: Argyll buses to Canada
David,
I have done a huge amount of research into the history of Argyll Motors and have located some of the company records.
However, I cannot find any details of the number or Operator in Canada.
In the in-house magazine produced there is mention of a large order for buses from Canada but no other mention.
The Argyll publicity machine was good at "building things up" , sometimes with little substance behind the announcements.
They did however dispatch a batch of 50 taxis to an operator in NY City
May I suggest you take a look at www.argyll-enthusiast.co.uk for further information
Cheers
Derek
ARGYLL SINGLE SLEEVE VALVE AERO ENGINE
I
am very keen to obtain some details of the Argyll sleeve-valve
aero-engine that was built in 1914 to compete in the Farnborough
competition of the same year.
The
engine was a six-cylinder type of about 12 litres. There
are one or two photos in some books but I'm more interested in
drawings which show internal detail. I'm hoping there is
an archive somewhere that still contains these.
Any
help would be much appreciated.
Jerry
Wells, Trentham, Australia.
Re: Argyll sleeve-valve aero engine
Jerry,
If you go to www.argyll-enthusiast.co.uk and open the first article , you will find towards the end of the story, who bought which patents after the final liquidation.
The aero engine was finally developed further and used in fighter bombers of WW11
I'm sure you might find something more if you were to contact the company which is still in existence
Best of luck
Derek Smith
MEMORIES OF THE ARGYLL FACTORY
Dear
John,
I
enjoyed your history of the Argyll factory. My father worked in
it when it was the RNTF as a turner in the 40s and 50s untill
he sadly died when I was nine and we left for Birmingham, where
my mother was born.
I
have always been fastinated with the biulding and was delighted
when once on another holiday with my family in Scotland I discovered
it had been re opened as a retail outlet and I was actually able
to go into it and walk the stairs that my father had done when
he worked there.
Thanks
for the story. Mine is on www.jamesofalexandria.bravehost.com
Sincerely.
Jim Hamilton
ARGYLL MOTOR AND ENGINEERING COMPANY HORNSEY
In
the early 1930s my father was apprenticed to the Argyll
Motor and Engineering Company in Hornsey, Prior Park (I think)
which was/is between Enfield and north London.
Can
you provide, or direct me to, information on this engineering
works? Are there any photographs available for the cars
produced in this factory in the 1930s, or similar Argyll cars
produced anywhere at this time. I am ultimately seeking
records of his working life and I would be grateful if you could
let me know if any such records remain.
Yours,
b Cumming