Veteran-Edwardian-Vintage, January 1961
A Section Devoted to Old-Car Matters
The V.S.C.C. Heston Driving Tests (December 11th 1960)
The Vintage S.C.C. held its usual driving test meeting last month at the mess that was once proud Heston Airport. They received the excellent entry of 45 vintage cars, proof that such motoring is an all-the-year round pursuit, backed up by 24 p.v.t.s, few of them distinguished. There were some non-arrivals, including John Grey’s 1928 14/45 Talbot which ate its differential gears near Maidenhead and Sir Ralph Millais’ “2.3” Alfa Romeo, which still believed itself to be a 1931 car.
Interesting entries included rare cars like Clarke’s 1923 o.h.v. Singer Ten tourer, on 700 X 80 tyres, and Beagles’ 1920 Angus-Sanderson, while notable Edwardians were Collings’ 1912 4.7-litre Zust and Cecil Bendall’s 1912 5.7-litre Austro-Daimler which was very quick in the ” wiggle-woggle ” test.
There was a good attendance of 30/98 Vauxhalls to warm secretary Tim Carson’s cockles, although he had come in his p.v.t. Bentley, and one of the nicest-looking competing cars was Lincoln’s 1929 O.M. The 12/50 Alvis contingent was also out in force, Berrisford’s shining aluminium 1925 duck’s back being supported by Blake’s seemingly even more original 1927 beetleback, also in polished aluminium, while Bennett’s Alvis had a stunted beetletail and was a sort of mobile Valspar advertisement, and Fletcher had a very nice 1926 tourer.
Monro’s 1935 Frazer Nash could seat three abreast, unusual, surely, for a chain-gangster, and Charnock produced another (1935) Alvis “racer,” while Barnett’s Lagonda Rapier had a very abbreviated but attractive two-seater sports body. Sqn. Ldr. Millar’s twin-cam Sunbeam being unfit he drove a 1930 Lea-Francis drop-head with triple modern spotlights and hooded headlamps—in readiness for The Measham Trial ?
Results were not to hand as we closed for press.
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Calling Owners of 22/90 Alfa-Romeos. An attempt is being made to list all the 22/90 push-rod six-cylinder Alfa-Romcos in the World. Owners are requested to send details of their cars either to Peter Hull, The Cottage, Finmere, Bucks, or to John K. Primm, 811, State Street, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, whichever is the nearer geographically.
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Those who are interested in the vintage Standard Nine will find an informative article on these cars in No. 11 of the StandardTriumph Review of last year.’
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In search of steam … The number of letters about steam wagons and traction engines arising out of the article under this heading in the November 1960 issue has been quite astonishing. Many readers informed us of Foden and Sentinel steam wagons which have been restored and which appear in appropriate rallies up and down the country. Perhaps even greater fascination is occasioned by the few steam wagons that are still in regular employment. For instance there is the tar-spraying Foden in Berkshire and another in Yorkshire, the Sentinels serving the United Africa Company in Liverpool, and now the Vintage Passenger Vehicle Society has kindly sent details of eleven old Sentinels still used at the Sheffield works of Brown Bayley Steels, Ltd. Nine of these are used only inside the works, but two are taxed, at £105 per annum, and have electric lighting. All possess splendid mechanical Klaxon horns. These Sentinels are reported to date from 1916 and are only taken out of service if their boilers become unsafe. They work night and day, six days of the week, and have the advantage over modern vehicles that their steel platform bodies can be loaded safely with red-hot billets of steel. Apparently these wagons weigh about 7 tons and an endearing feature is the large nut and split-pin which secures each wheel. We are indebted to R. W. Thomas of the V.P.V.S. for this information and the photograph on this page.
We also hear of a circa 1920 Super Sentinel employed regularly at Teignmouth Docks shunting railway trucks and maintained enthusiastically by its driver.
It is good to know that a few vintage steam wagons still lurk in our midst. Does anyone know of any more ?
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Cars discovered and data wanted. Information is sought about a 1923 Wolseley Sixteen saved from the gypsies. A 1920 Overland is rotting in Finchley, a 1929 Triumph two-seater in someone’s back garden, and some vintage wheels, Morris Bullnose parts and an International tractor lie off A 140, north of Ipswich. A 1928 Austin Twelve Windsor saloon, mileage 64,590, sound mechanically, is for sale cheaply in Co. Durham. A 1924 steam roller is in use in Rushmere, where a 1911 version lies derelict. A 1927/8 Morris Cowley two-seater shares a builder’s yard in Lincoln with an odd M.G. Special, both apparently derelict, and a 1929 Armstrong Siddeley truck is for sale in Hatfield Peverel, also some model-T headlamps. Data and a pair of lamps are wanted for a 1924 Austin Seven in process of restoration. Someone wants to form a club for Lago-Talbots. Letters can be forwarded.