A surprise visit from a descendant of Charles Thomas Crowden

Members of Coventry Transport Museum's team of curatorial and archive staff are often called into the museum to meet visitors who have specific questions about the collection, items they wish to donate, or things that they would like to discuss about Coventry's motoring heritage.  Below, Curator Damien Kimberley describes one of his most recent calls:

A call from front of house staff last week turned out to be a nice suprise - that of meeting a descendant of one of Coventry's motoring pioneers!

 I found Martin Tapsfield standing by our 1898 Crowden motor carriage, and he soon revealed himself as the maker's great grandson! The car, and descendant, related to Charles Thomas Crowden (1859-1922), who arrived in Coventry around 1896 to work for both the Humber Cycle Company, and Great Horseless Carriage Company at the newly opened 'Motor Mills'. Crowden was first works manager at the GHCC, but from 1898 started up alone at Leamington as a motor manufacturer.

Since meeting Martin, he emailed through this lovely sepia print of the Crowden family in a GHCC model - Martin told me that one of the young girls is his grandmother.

The photograph below is one that we already had in the archive - as you can see, Crowden is again the driver, in perhaps the very same vehicle?

 
To find out more about the Great Horseless Carriage Company, the Motor Mills and many more of Coventry's pioneering transport companies, visit the Coventry Transport Museum Wiki.

1960 Hillman Minx Rescue

On a sunny Sunday at the end of February 2012, Coventry Transport Museum staff Andrew Thomas and Christiaan van Schaardenburgh went to collect this 1960 Hillman Minx from a house in Coventry.

The owner, Irene Taylor, had used the car as her daily car until an engine problem stopped her in 1994, and the car has been stored in a garage in her garden ever since. Now she is moving house and the car had to be removed from the garage, otherwise it would have been scrapped. We are delighted to have been able to save the car from the scrapyard, because the Minx is a very significant car for Coventry, it was really the Ford Focus or VW Golf of its day, and many people would have owned one. This particular Minx is rather rare because it has the ‘Easidrive’ automatic gearbox system. We have five other Minx cars in our collection: the number one Minx from 1931, a 1934 Minx (which is now part of the running collection), a 1935 Aero Minx with special streamlined body, a 1952 Minx mark V and a 1967 Super Minx Estate.


Initially we hope to display the car ‘as found’ and then subsequently we will give it the necessary conservation treatment. Irene’s Minx will be joining her late husband’s 1967 Hillman Super Minx Estate which was donated to the museum by the Taylor family in 1991.

Work on 1934 Hillman Minx

We employ two full time historic vehicle technicians here at the Museum, who in conjunction with our Curator of Vehicles are tasked with the mammoth job of maintaining the hundreds of vehicles in the collection. As part of this work, from time to time certain vehicles are taken into the Museum's workshop to be paid some special attention - one such vehicle is our 1934 Hillman Minx, which, although it was running, recently needed a thorough 'going over' to get it ready for its MOT.



Technician Chris Strawbridge was given the job - and here's what he did:

The entire cooling system was cleaned out and the hoses replaced. All other engine fluids have been replaced. A new battery was installed and all four tyres have been replaced. All moving parts were cleaned and lubricated with copper-grease, reassembled and adjusted. All the brakes were inspected and adjusted where needed. The centre cross-member was removed from the chassis because it had serious corrosion damage. A decision was made to fabricate a new item from scratch, starting with a channel section folded to the correct dimensions using the correct thickness of steel sheet. An exact copy was then produced by accurately cutting and welding using the old one as a pattern. Stabilising of the chassis and running boards was also carried out at the same time to treat areas of surface corrosion.












The exhaust was repaired by replacing part of rear section (welded in) and silencer was altered and moved to give better chassis clearance. The wiring harness was falling to pieces, and after careful examination it was confirmed that replacement of the entire wiring harness was the only possible solution. After many enquiries the decision was made to entrust the work of remanufacturing a replacement harness to Autosparks (Notts). The harness was removed and sent as a pattern and for electrical analysis. The harness was installed throughout to the original method using 'p' clips and using protective covers where it passes through holes in the chassis.

We are now waiting for a few axle straps before the car can be tested for MOT.

Object of the Fortnight - 1958 Beauty Parade Article

The days of Coventry being a city brimming with rival motor companies are sadly long gone. The rivalry back then however did not simply stop at car manufacture, but extended in so many other ways, particularly in competitive sports including football, cricket, rugby and so much more. Even the odd beauty parade occurred from time to time it would seem, as testified by this Coventry Telegraph news story from 1958 concerning a Premium Bonds draw held at Coventry’s landmark store, Owen & Owen in the town centre.

Nine girls working at Coventry motor firms would ultimately be chosen to participate, yet at the time this story broke, only eight had so far been confirmed and featured– representing the well-known companies of Alvis, Armstrong-Siddeley, Daimler, Hillman, Humber, Standard, Sunbeam, and Triumph.

Jaguar it would seem were keeping their cards close to their chest, and stated that they would announce their female representative at a later time.

The article which would announce the outcome of the parade, is one that we would not appear to have, so if anyone knows the result, or even took part, then we’d love to hear from you - you can leave your memories of this event on the Coventry Memories website.

If you click on the picture you will be able to see a bigger version, but the text of the article reads as follows:

Beauty Parade in Cars Will Herald Premium Draw

Most of Coventry's major car companies have already chosen a pretty girl to represent them in the Premium Bond parade through the city next week.

Chosen for their good looks, poise, and personality, the nine girls will be driven in style in the latest of the company's cars from the city boundary to the city centre.

At Owen Owen's store Mike Hawthorn, the racing driver, will drive a vintage car across the first floor to the button he will press to start the October Premium Bond draw by "Ernie" at Lytham St. Annes.

The girls will be Miss Alvis, Miss Armstrong Siddeley, Miss Daimler, Miss Hillman, Miss Humber, Miss Jaguar, Miss Standard, Miss Sunbeam and Miss Triumph.

On the platform during rhe ceremony, the publicity girls will have a special job to do. Each will walk on carrying the letter or number making up the first winning number - worth £1000. The Lord Mayor of Coventry Alderman H. H. K. Winslow, will accompany Mike Hawthorn as he heads the big parade from Ryton in a Jaguar sports car. With him also will be actor Hubert Gregg and his wife, Pat Kirkwood.

Afterwards, it is expected that the cars taking place in the parade will be on show in the nearby car park. A tour of inspection by the Lord Mayor and his party is being arranged. All but one of the companies have made their choice. Jaguars say they will announce their publicity girl on Monday.

**
MISS ALVIS: Judged to hold the title out of a line-up of 17 girls was Miss Catherine Mary Kelly, aged 20. A newcomer to the firm - Miss Kelly joined two months ago - she works in the aero section of the production control department. Her home is at 74, Winsford Avenue, Coventry.

**

MISS DAIMLER: The 22 years old wife of a former Daimler apprentice, Mrs Rita Hollingworth, of 124 Paynes Lane, Coventry, has been with the firm for five years. She works as the secretary of the Chief Inspector, Mr. S Brown, and was chosen from 13 applicants for the title.

**
MISS ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY: Chosen this year is Miss Judy Clinch, the 19 years old assistant to the chief photographer. Miss Clinch, who lives at 39, Walsgrave Road, Coventry, has been with the company four years.

**
MISS STANDARD: Holding the title is Miss Cynthia Gray, of 8 Charter Avenue, Canley, Coventry. Aged 22, Mrs Gray is a comptometer operator.

**

MISS TRIUMPH: Seventeen years old Miss Pauline Cranford, of the postal department, was chosen. She lives at 108, Prior Deram Walk, Canley, Coventry.

**

MISS HILLMAN: Riding in the Hillman car will be Miss Hazel Butcher, of 464 Binley Road, Coventry. She works in the production department.

**
MISS HUMBER: A girl on the secretarial side, Miss Audrey Moore, of 101 Fir Tree Aveneue, Broad Lane, Coventry, will wear the 'Miss Humber' title.

**
MISS SUNBEAM: Miss Jane Curtis, employed in the Sunbeam sales department, lives at Leamington Road, Long Itchington.

Eric Meredith visit Wednesday 13th April

On Wednesday 13th April, we had a special guest visit the museum – 97 year old Eric Meredith from Warwick who is a goldmine of historical fact about the automotive history of the Standard Motor Company in Coventry and the Avon Coach Building Company in Warwick. Together the two companies made Standard-Avon Cars, these were very distinctive because of their beautiful sweeping lines and bodywork.

Eric started his working life in 1927 when he was 14 years of age, as a woodworker and progressed to a fully qualified coachbuilder with the Avon Coachbuilding Company and eventually becoming the Managing Director of the company. During his engineering career, Eric was an integral part of designing and building Spitfire fighter aircraft and Wellington Bombers in Derby for the second World War. He went on to design and build a specially adapted car for RAF Hero Douglas Barder, amongst many other projects.

Eric will be coming back to the Museum after Easter to spend another day with us so that we can film and record his amazing life achievements for everyone to enjoy.

*Photo courtesy of Jim Balfour/Coventry Telegraph.

Morris Engines - Handover of Standard to CTM

At lunchtime today over 20 standard bearers came to the museum to officially hand over a Morris Engines standard (or flag). The museum was contacted a few months ago by the Vice Chairman of Coventry Branch No.1 of The Royal British Legion as they believed that Coventry Transport Museum would be a good permanent home for the standard.

Local press and our in–house photographer were there to capture the handover, as were quite a few visitors to the museum. We don’t have a definite date for the standard yet but as I type research is being undertaken by members of the organization to try and find it out. Soon the standard will go on display in the museum – a new home has been allocated in our Boomtown gallery, on the wall above a Morris engine already on display.

Lizzie Hazlehurst
Curator - Archive & Small Objects

CTM has over the last few months delivered several vehicles to Museum of Museums in Manchester. The museum is located next to the Trafford Centre. The Museum of Museums is bringing objects and displays together from other museum and/or private collections. It officially opens on the 9th September.

Click here for more information

We have taken the following vehicles to Manchester:

1910 Humber Landaulette EH 225

1923 Humber Chummy XN 2972

1936 Armstrong Siddeley 14HP BKV 552

1955 Standard 10 PKV 81

1960 Sunbeam Rapier 7523 IJ

1977 Jaguar XJ-S VGW 777S

Premier Safety Cycle c1920

1929 Triumph CSD Combination 550cc motorcycle

56” High Wheeler Cycle

Dursley Pederson Safety Cycle

Velocipede with Phantom Wheels

Sinclair C5

Coventry Transport Museum is always looking to improve its collection with significant vehicles built in Coventry. The following is a list of items the museum would like to acquire to make the collection even more representative of vehicles built in and around the city.

• Daimler SP 250 (Dart)
• Triumph TR3
• Triumph TR4
• Triumph TR5
• Pre WW2 Triumph Dolomite

Please contact the Museum via email collection@transport-museum.co.uk if you have information on the list above.

Well known TV presenter Jason Dawe will be part of the Festival of Motoring event for 2010. Keep up to date with all the information on this years festival
www.festival-of-motoring.co.uk

1971 Rover P5B

A 1971 Rover P5B has been offered to Coventry Transport Museum. We have accepted the offer and will add the car to our collection early next year.

The car was built in Solihull (the current Land Rover factory) and was bought at a dealership in Coventry. The gentlemen who will donate the car to us has been the only owner and it has always been based in Coventry.

Click here to see photos of the Rover

We have a Rover P4 and Rover P6, so it fills a gap in our collection.

New Gallery

We are clearing out the Icons gallery to make room for the new 80’s, 90’s and today gallery. This will open early in the new year, the building of it has to be finished before Christmas though. Basically we have cleared the ‘row of old cars’ in front of the ‘old café area’ and the icons area and temporary moved these cars into store or into the current 80’s 90’s and today gallery (next to the offices).

Most of the cars have been removed and we are currently removing the ramps and other equipment.