The Newsletter of the Trojan Owners` Club

The Newsletter of the Trojan Owners` Club
September - October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
The 100th Anniversary Rally
The Trojan Apprentices!
Mike Reid
John Sweet
Dennis Norris
Graham Goodman
Ray Driscoll
Missing - Roly Finn
Issue No. 242
www.trojanownersclub.co.uk
Editorial Comment!
Fine Dining on the Croydon Rally !
You may wonder how difficult it is to compose and send to us articles or
a few lines for the newsletter, well nowadays even I can do it—so even if
It is a few lines - email us at; [email protected]
An article can simply be a word attachement. Pictures can be any normal
Image format JPEG etc.. If you are not using a computer please post the
Articles to us. Be careful with original valuable material which probably
should only come to us by hand, please ring me on 07970 452747 (Carl)
if you have anything to come in this way.
Contributions may be submitted in the following format(s) ;
Text / Words
Microsoft Word or plain text or simply in the body of an
email
Pictures
Any common image format—JPEG, TIF, BMP,PNG, etc
Please send these individually as attachments to your
email.
Non Electronic Given the age of the marque, many pieces of the
Information , articles and original photographs which
would be of interest to members are likely to be
a nonelectronic form, in which case please arrange to get the
item(s), by hand directly to us. We would not recom
mend these sorts of things are sent through the post,
especially if they are, in any sense valuable.
Handwritten
Can be accommodated with the aid of a friendly typistthese materials can be posted to us.
Receiving your submissions in this way gives the most flexibility over the
placement, sizing and presentation of the materials.
Newsletter Editor
Club Officers & Committee
(elected at the AGM 20.04.13)
ROLE
NAME
EMAIL
TELEPHONE
ADDRESS
President
Derrick Grahamt
[email protected]
01737 763643
Troylands, 10 St Johns, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 6QF
Vice President
Graham Hocking
[email protected]
00613 9727 3797
3,Carolanne Court, Mooroolbank, Victoria 3138, Australia
Chairman
John Wilton
[email protected]
02392 613490
103 The Crossway, Portchester, Hampshire, PO16 8NP
Secretary
Chris Tordoff
[email protected]
01763 852016
Grove House, 11 The Green, Steeple Morden, Herts, SG8 0NA
Treasurer/Membership
Steve Potter
[email protected]
01329 233615
Belvoir House, 23 Gosport Road, Fareham, Hants, PO16 0PH
Newsletter Editor
Carl Tantum
[email protected]
01428 609552
13 Grovers Manor, Wood Road, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6JP
Events Secretary
Committee
Spares Secretary
David Vincent
[email protected]
01963 365770
15 Bakers Field, Stalbridge, Dorset, DT102FB
Archivist
Roly & Pam Finn
[email protected]
01353 778725
The Horse & Gate, Witcham Toll, Ely,Rd, Ely, Cambs. CB6 2AA
Development Officer
Committee
Committee member
Richard Franklin
[email protected]
01933 868242
Briar Cottage, 25 High Street, Finstock, Oxon OX7 3DA
Committee member
John Wilton
[email protected]
02392 613490
103 The Crossway, Portchester, Hampshire. PO16 8NP
Committee member
Frazer Sloan
[email protected]
Club Register
Richard Potter
[email protected]
02392 712363
25 Rodney Close, Rowner, Gosport, Hampshire. PO13 8EJ
Ex-Officio Trojan Trust
David Hambleton
[email protected]
01865 390124
www.trojanmuseumtrust.org
56 Brampton Close, Wellingborough, Northants. NN8 5XG
Museum Representative
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.2
100th Anniversary Celebration rally at Croydon
- three iconic pictures
In this issue
The 100th. Anniversary Rally plus the Trojan Apprentices.
Front
Editorial + Club Officers & Fine Dining at Croydon Airport Hotel
2
100th.
Anniversary pictures. Contents,FBHVC
3
100th.
Anniversary. Reports by President, Chairman and Secretary 4
Editors Jottings.
5
The Grayshott Social + Map
6
Brake Judder Part 2 by Don Williams
7
The Commercial Trojan World Article by Leo Pratt.
8
The Leslie Hounsfield letter of 1921 courtesy Jim Stone
9
The No 1 Factory at Clapham by Chris Tordoff
10
The Automobile Initiative for the manufacture of Solids
11
Robin Batchelor article and Richard Franklin letter
12
‘Evergreeen Memories’ Gerry Michelmore and the Automobile
13
Late Maurice Luscott-Evans by John Amor.
14
Tale of Two Cycle Motors
.
15
Richard Franklin Letter
16
Note from Phil Heading
17
The Missing Apprentice
18
100th.
Anniversary Pictures. Courtesy Charles Hosea
19
Trojan for Sale and ‘The Spares Situation’
Back Page
Photos courtesy of Charles Hosea Photography.
Really interesting articles on www.fbhvc.co.uk
We receive the newsletters but too much to reprint.
Federation of British Historic Vehicle
Clubs
(TOC is a member of
this organisation)
The FBHVC exists to uphold the freedom to use old
vehicles on the road. It does this by representing the
interests of owners of such vehicles to poloticians,
government officials, and legislators both in Uk and
(through membership of Federation Internationale des
Vehicules Anciens) in Europe.
FBHVC is a company limited by guarantee, registered
number 3842316, and was founded in 1988.
There are nearly 500 subscriber organisations representing a total membership of over 250,000 in addition
to individual and trade supporters, Details can be
found at www.fbhvc.co.uk or sent on application to the
secretary.
Secretary, FBHVC Stonewold, Berrick Salome
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.3
100th Anniversary Rally Croydon 18th August 2013
Centenary Celebration of the Registration of Trojan No.1
Secretary’s Address
The Secretary welcomed members of the Trojan Owners Club and their guests to Croydon to the Croydon Airport Visitor Centre and the Rayon d’Or Restaurant. To comply with Health and Safety requirements he pointed out the location of the toilets,
wash rooms and emergency exits. He suggested that in the event of a fire alarm those present should abandon lunch and go
and save their Trojans in the car park. Finally they should not leave before parting with £16 for lunch and their guided tour.
He thanked Croydon Airport Society, Rayon d’Or and Toys R Us for entertaining us and explained that when planning the event
he had hoped to organise a tour of Trojan sites but on reconnoitring he had found that very little remains of the manufacturing
or service facilities. In Clapham the site of the garage (Polygon Works) where Trojan No1 was assembled is now occupied by a
block of modern flats constructed around a courtyard containing a water feature. Similar situations arise at Vicarage Road and
at Trojan Way where none of the original buildings survive. So plans were revised and a visit to the Croydon Airport Centre
seemed appropriate as the buildings are contemporary with Trojan activities in the area.
Perhaps the important fact is that an unconventional and rugged vehicle has inspired us to gather today to celebrate the Centenary of its first Registration.
He then invited the President to say a few words.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
The President, Derrick Graham, said that it is 50 years since the last Rally at the Airport Hotel in Croydon. He then recounted
the story of Jo- Jo Sousa, a member of the Temperance Seven Band, who invented the Sousaphone. This instrument emitted a
very deep bass sound and was extremely large having to be carried wearing a harness. Jo-Jo also doubled up as a Clarinet
player in the Band and lived in his Trojan Van. He was at the Rally in Croydon in 1960 with Graham Hocking the two had met
through the Taxi Club. Graham was driving the Brougham, and was there with his first wife Marian and his stepbrother, who
was an ex. Guardsman and beautifully turned out in Bowler and pinstripe suit. Jo-Jo and the Stepbrother were an unlikely combination and the two were paired up as Driver and Navigator. During the Rally, the Trojan Van would not start so Jo-Jo resorted
to the ultimate last resort solution of the setting a lighted match to the plughole with the spark plug removed which normally
works. However, on this occasion, there was so much rubbish in the punt of the Van that it all caught fire and Jo-Jo, amongst
other methods, used the Stepbrothers pristine Bowler Hat to extinguish the flames. Rumour has it that the Stepbrother
screamed at his sister-in-law on arriving at the finish that ‘ I never want to see you again’ ! Jo-Jo suffered from Diabetes and
sold the Van to Rev. Martin Atkinson for £7 10 sh. Derrick says he can still recall the iconic sound of the Sousaphone today !
Ed. Note – I know a current Member of the Temperance seven and I will ask him about Jo-Jo ! Watch this space !
CHAIRMANS ADDRESS
The Chairman, John Wilton, in thanking the President, applauded the initiative shown all those years ago in starting the Club
and all the hard work since that time on behalf of Members.
Thanks to Chris also for the excellent organisation today.
Thanks to everyone else form making such a determined effort to attend a dozen or so Vehicles, some 30 Members including a
number of ex. Trojan Apprentices.
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.4
Editor`s Jottings
Editors Jottings.
‘Trojanitis ‘– according to Michael Rabiger – the correct definition is …’ where you lose the skin off your knuckles and learn to breathe
blue smoke. Very serious and incurable !’. I would add, development of muscles in extraordinary places due to much pushing of Trojans over the years !
I am starting this quite early in June ! This is because Trojan news keeps popping up and I need to record every item I can for your
edification !
For example a warm welcome back to the fold to Ian Thompson. I am hoping Ian will write a note of his involvement with Trojans and
himself so we can all share it – confession is good for the soul !
Then in this month’s Automobile (July issue) Marcus Croome has put in a letter about learning to drive in a Trojan and a photo. See
also the Letters page. That followed on from Gerry Michelmore’s article in ‘Starting Handle’ which I missed unfortunately. However
have now retrieved and should be able to include this in your new magazine.
Then as I write this arrangements are being made with two motoring journalists to record the Croydon Centenary and also to do a
major article on the Trojan marque and the engine. This is at a time when there is renewed interest in all things ‘Trojan’ and prices for
the scarce vehicles continue to creep upwards. It is amazing that EV99 has been with Denis Digby all these years and that he has now
decided to sell it along with its valuable number. Michael Rabiger who previously owned this car was ecstatic when we told him. EV99
is that rare car the only survivor of a vehicle which could be used as a van during the week and then had a tourer body which slipped
over it to create a car for the weekends. Amazing and a very early attempt at a ‘Crossover’ Vehicle.
The new arrangements for the printing of the magazine and the layout which is the difficult bit seem to have been resolved with the
help of Roger Drake at Ritetime Publishing. Although Nigel Welch has been thanked before I need to record his excellent work which
created the benchmark in quality and presentation. Nigel is still involved with the Website of course and helps in innumerable other
ways. The website update has been done and Nigel has uploaded it. Some of the 100 th. Anniversary photos by Charles Hosea are just
about to go on as a slideshow.
More Trojan news in the Automobile this month including a leader article that involved their Trojan tyre unravelling – see also the
letters. Robin Batchelor is off to the Isle of Man with his Trojan (the ex. Richard Franklin car) this weekend (14.07), and talking of the
14th. drinks are on me that day ! Another year older !
At Ham Common, Dave Vincent kindly bought in the back of the Brougham the cut-away engine. It has a handle on it that turns the
conrods and enables all to see clearly how this magic engine works. Listening to Jim Stone I was struck by how little I knew and how I
had been giving the wrong explanation over many years ! In the early 1980’s my son Paul was an apprentice at the Royal Aircraft Establishment and Dr. Iuean Thomas who was in charge of some 60 Apprentices and their programmes agreed to create this engine
from a defunct one in our stores. I can just remember Derrick Graham and I think Pat Stocken among others attending a hand-over
ceremony. Since then our Chairman John Wilton has tidied it up. I am hoping it may be at Croydon shortly.
I have received from Roly and Pam Finn a very nice photo of the recent marriage of their son Aggy getting married in Genevieve – it
reminded me of the last frame of ‘Can you afford to Walk’ where the happy honeymoon couple go off Into the sunset except in that
case there were clouds of cigarette smoke ! Well done to John Wilton, Steve Potter and Richard Potter who prepared the car for the
marriage.
Welcome to David Curl who has bought David Jockel’s car. David we hope to see you about in the car at Club events particularly the
Social in November and perhaps Croydon this coming Sunday !
David lives in Lowestoft if anyone is that way who is mechanically minded so far as Trojans are concerned ! David has been in touch
and he has more information on the Roger Casement story and I hope to produce this in an Editor’s footnote in the next issue. The
car is running but it had not been used for some time.
Croydon was excellent from my point of view and reports are elsewhere. Tony Tantum and I left at 0815 hours with an easy run until
we got to the centre of Croydon by mistake and went head to head with a tram – not a sensible thing to do ! The Achilles although
looking tired body wise (who is not after 85 years !), was firing on all cylinders and did really well as we came back on the M25 and
A3. Leaving at 1600 hrs. we were back by 1745hrs., and I then had to drive to Bournemouth. I was en route to Torquay to stay at the
Palace Hotel which was started by Mr. Hands of Calthorpe fame c. 1928. The story was, first revealed in the Automobile, that he was
paid twice by the MOD for his War efforts during the first World War, and that enabled him to buy the Palace Hotel !
Congratulations to long-time Member Roger Armstrong who has acquired ‘Tillie’ (ex. Peter Redman car) from Frazer Sloan. See his
life story in this or the next Edition – fascinating. The Gentleman who bought Bob Adam’s car is seeking to sell on apparently . So we
may hear more in due course. The Trojan Wagonette that I last saw at Syon Park in the late 1980’s may have surfaced again and
more on this one when we know. This was a vehicle designed to carry beaters on a large estate a complete one-off. Thanks to Roly
and Pam who sold two mini-motor engines and Power Pak that the Club had surplus to new owners in Belgium, good prices through
Ebay at Auction. See article in the Newsletter. See also their Trojan in action at their son’s wedding recently.
Watch Practical Classics in the coming months as there is a major feature on Trojans coming up. It will cause quite a stir. As I end I am
looking forward to Wimbledon this weekend which will be a similar outing to the one at Ham Common.
Happy Trojanning and have a good read ! Carl Tantum Newsletter Editor.
NB. David Curl’s and Roger Armstrong’s articles are held over until the next issue. The letter from America/Chicago courtesy of Michael Rabiger will feature in the next edition.
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.5
GRAYSHOTT SOCIAL TROJAN OWNERS CLUB
30th. November 2013
Dear All
It is that time of the year again and you are invited to join Club Members at the Winter Social on the 30th. November 2013.
Please meet at the Fox and Pelican Public House in Headley Road Grayshott (GU26 6LG) for Lunch at 12 noon. The cost has
been negotiated down to £13.50 for a choice of one of two Roasts + a sweet. For this establishment this is a very reasonable
price. There is ample parking in their car park or in the free public car park next door.
At 1400hrs we move up to the other end of the Village to the Village Hall (just beyond the gateway) for a Phil Potter Master
Mind Quiz and some tea. Tony Stephens, President of the VSCC and enthusiastic Trojan Owner will be there to give us a short
talk with some slides/Film. The Hall hire may be covered by a small raffle as before. Please bring a tea offering.
So if coming from the A3 come off just after the Hindhead Tunnel going South and turn right into Grayshott and turn left just
before the tunnel if coming up from the South and turn left for the Village. Hope to reserve 4/5 places at the Hall for Vintage
Cars. There is a Craft Show on all day there as well so it will be busy !
Please let Carl Tantum know if you can come.
[email protected] or 07970 452747 or 01428 609552.
RSVP
I confirm I can attend and I need [
] lunches @ the Fox and Pelican (12 noon onwards), and please
indicate with a 'V' how many of these need to be Vegetarian.
Name Rank and Number Please [
]
Please return (or email me), to Carl Tantum 13 Grovers Manor Wood Road. Hindhead. GU26 6JP
‘Editors Note – on the day of
our Social there is a Craft Fair
in the main hall downstairs at
GrayshottVillage Hall.
(Something for all of us to enjoy !) I will try and reserve
some parking but there is a car
park adjacent to the Fox and
Pelican and another one- two
roads up lhs. (Glen Road) and
the Hall itself has a large Car
Park and that is the one that
may be full. ‘
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.6
Missing 2nd page from Don Williams article!
‘ Editors Note. I am sure that Don will not mind my saying that Don has been in hospital but
thankfully out now and on the mend, all the best to you Don and thanks for Page 2 !’
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.7
Commercial World
Commercial World - the first of a series of reprints on Trojan Commercial vehicles courtesy of Leo Pratt, Esq.,
Leo was for many years the driving force and inspiration to many pre and post war commercial vehicle owners.
1957 and I.F.S.
“The First British One Ton Vehicle with Independant Front Suspension” said the Trojan advert in Fridays “Commercial Motor for
November 8th 1957. Another “first” from Trojan and according to the article published in “Commercial Vehicles” and the answer to a lot of problems.
But was it the answer or the start of many more problems?
The unusual design certainly looked robust enough to stand up to daily pressures, but in the writers' experience, in practice,
this proved otherwise. Regular maintenance was essential and attention to bushes on the trailing arm, and greasing etc. vital.
Also vehicle tracking and king pin wear needed checking regularly.
But one problem that did not, and could not, show itself on new vehicles was the chassis fatigue which only seemed to appear
after a few years service. Again, in the writers experience, this took the form of cracking around the I.F.S.anchor points, at the
front extremities of the chassis. This could result in a complete chassis failure as in two cases seen, cracks also appeared
around the radiator mounting gussets and on one vehicle a vertical crack right through the chassis below the steering column
anchor point.
It needs little imagination to consider a vehicle given poor maintenance, running on bad roads and carrying a full load and with
its front suspension bottoming on the chassis bump rubbers, that with the suspension anchor points twisting the front end of
the chassis – sooner or later something had to go – hence the chassis cracks. Also, on a later 25cwt forward control van a nearside stub axle shaft sheared completely. It was heard that some enterprising individuals attempted to reverttheir vehicles back
to solid beam type front axles, and semi-eliptical road springs, though the writer never saw any such conversions. On the other
hand, the above could have been isolated cases as it must be agreed that in a well maintained condition the L.F.S. Trojan gave
a much superior ride to its predecessors.
This article was written by Leo R Pratt for the magazine in 1980. Roly was involved in testing the vehicle at MIRA and has the
following observations to make.
I was involved in testing the vehicle at the Motor Industries Research Association at Nuneaton in 1957 or '58 in the preproduction phase. The Service Engineer,, Stan Hogg and I took two vehicles to the testing ground in November for a
2,000mile test. It was a trangular course of severely rutted pave on two sides and railway sleepers embedded in concrete on
the third side. The course was so severe that it was only possible to complete two circuits before changing drivers – and we
were fit young men at the time! MIRA claimed at the time that the 2,000 miles on the track was equivalent to 200,000 miles
on the road. We did have to replace 43 shock absorbers during the test and the cab mountings sheared off the chassis causing
an incredibly difficult drive back to Croydon.
At the completion of the test, we hadn't caused any damage to the independent front suspension units. However, the pivot
bearings were screwed phosphor bronze bushes and when the first production vehicles went into service there was a major
problem with these bearings seizing up because they weren't flexing as much as they had been on test. They were all changed
for needle roller bearings which proved more reliable.
I finished my apprenticeship in November 1959 and at that time I was not aware of any major problems, although of course,
these may have occurred later,.
I saw the Emblings coach at Wisbech about 15years ago and called in to ask them about the independent suspension as I had
had no connection with Trojans since I left in 1960. They reported that there had been trouble with the suspension and had
had to replace the front axle with a Morris Commercial beam axle.
Ed. Grateful acknowledgement to Leo Pratt and to Roly and Pam Finn for reproduction of this article.
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.8
What a Find!
‘Extraordinary original letter which has come into Jim
Stone’s hands concerning an
accident with Leslie Hounsfield dated 1921 possibly involving an early Trojan prototype’
Stowmarket Sept. 1st. 1921
Dear Leslie,
You may be interested to know that about five weeks ago I was called to an accident just outside Stowmarket at
10 o’clock at night.
On arrival I found a lad,with a severe fracture of the thigh bone lying in the grass in a low meadow, of course
almost immediately it became quite dark. So I took the Trojan through a cottage garden, through a gap in the
hedge into the meadow and turned the car round on rather rough ground so that light of the car enabled me to
render first aid, after which the lad was lifted into the Trojan arranged into a stretcher position and with the District Nurse at his side I drove him to Ipswich Hospital about 13 miles
Everything was most satisfactory, the boy said that he experienced no discomfort at all and allowed me to drive
practically full speed, funnily enough he had previously been taken to hospital with same trouble some three
months earlier in a properly equipped motor ambulance in which he experienced much more vibration.
I am afraid the House Surgeons were more interested in the stretcher equipment than the patient
Yours LC Hounsfield
Ed, So what was this vehicle in 1921 and did it have a let- down back similar to Don William’s car ?
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.9
The original Premises where No.1 was built at Clapham –
story by Chris Tordoff’
The Origins of Trojan No.1
In preparing for the Trojan Centenary Event I visited Clapham where Trojan No1 was constructed at the Polygon
Works, a garage at 65a Old Town in the staggeringly short period of 12 months. Very little now remains of the
buildings portrayed in “The History of the Hounsfield Trojan” and much of the area has been rebuilt since the
Second World War. The Polygon roundabout though remains just off Clapham Common where North Side and the
Pavement converge. The Sun public house and Clapham Municipal Library (now a technical college) provide pointers to the location of the Works from where Trojan No1 emerged on 28th August 1913 to visit the weighbridge for
Registration.
The Polygon, Clapham Old Town
14 Orlando Road Clapham >
While engaged on the construction of Trojan No1 LH lived close by at 14
Orlando Road which unlike the Polygon Works survives today as an attractive Victorian semi in a quiet side street just off the main thorough fare.
Little else remains to provide evidence of Trojan occupation but what does
survive is the engineering brilliance of Leslie Hounsfield and his unconventional robust cars which are preserved so fondly by the members of the
Trojan Owners’ Club.
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.10
Initiative by the Automobile to order
28 x 2 Solids for Trojans
Solid Tyres for Trojans
Leslie Hounsfield designed his extraordinary car to run on solid tyres, eliminating the nuisance of frequent punctures. The softness of the 'Wondersprings' made pneumatic tyres unnecessary.
Many of the early cars and vans were fitted with solid tyres and their appearance contributed greatly to the character of
the Trojan. To modern eyes, these tyres are sensational.
Modern tyre technology has pretty well eliminated the 'no punctures' advantage of solids but the original appearance and very
entertaining handling characteristics (described in the October edition of The Automobile) make them well worthwhile. There is
a disadvantage in the increased braking distance and that does require a modified driving style.
No new solid tyres were made after the war. So, when enthusiasts started getting their Trojans going, dustbin lid wheels
were shoved in the back of garages and replaced with discs and 'puffed up' tyres.
Over the years, there have been several attempts to make new solids using bonding or laminating techniques. All have
failed. The original method of manufacture involved a two-part mould turned from steel billet. The cost of making a mould,
particularly in relation to the value of the car, has been a deterrent.
The Automobile's very original Utility has shown that solid tyres from 1925, even with a paltry mileage, are so perished
that they are apt to disintegrate in use. We are keen to have new ones made and are prepared to finance the making of the mould,
sharing the cost, pro rata, with all who would like to join in.
We have obtained a quotation from The Reliant Rubber Company for making the mould at £3300. We have used the
Mackintosh Trojan Tyre 28 by 2½in, with canvas lining for the inner contact area, as a pattern. The cost of making each tyre is
£290, including delivery (UK) by courier. This is a labour-intensive process and there is no cost advantage in numbers, except
that the more we make, the more the capital cost of the mould is shared.
Potentially, there are a dozen or so owners who like to order a set of tyres. The more participants, the cheaper the cost per
tyre. Thus:
For 4 sets, the cost per tyre would be:
4 x 4 x 290 = 4640 + 3300 = 7940 ÷ 16 = £496.25
For 8 sets:
8 x 4 x 290 = 9280 + 3300 = 12,580 ÷ 32 = £393.12
For 12 sets:
12 x 4 x 290 = 13,920 + 3300 = 17,220 ÷ 48 = £358.75
Would you please let us know as soon as possible if you would be interested in ordering some tyres on this basis? We
will then let you know how many are in the syndicate and what the price will be. We are keen to get this underway and propose
a cut-off date of 1st October for orders. An order will require a deposit of £100.
This will be a one-off, non-profit making opportunity. We propose that the mould be sold (if possible) to a tyre company
to the benefit of the syndicate, and that future orders would be on a commercial basis.
Jonathan Rishton
The Automobile, PO Box 153, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8ZL
Telephone: 01483 268818
Email: [email protected]
Editors Note:- A once only opportunity!
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.11
Our active Member Robin Batchelor with the ex
Richard Franklin car following a 4 day trip to the Isle of Man
Carl, ,Thank you for the newsletter, and I did enjoy meeting you at my first Trojan event at Ham Common.
Everyone was very welcoming and I look forward to the next gathering because I now know what questions to ask.
By that, I mean I now need help with a few details because last weekend I took The Duckling to the VSCC Light Car rally in Salisbury... and broke it. Here's a picture of Jonathan Rishton & I preparing our steeds....
Photo by Peter McFadyen who attends lots of vintage events and displays his
work HERE.
He produces a jolly good photo book at the close of each year... see his website. Anyway - Jonathan and I departed the start in different directions on the
navigation rally which demonstrates the fierce independent thinking of Trojan owners. We soon met up at a time control and enjoyed many miles in
glorious scenery on white roads. Then a hill appeared, a steep one, and I was
in front. I whispered sweet honeyed words into my car's engine but Jonathan
sailed past in top as I slowed to engage low gear.
The sanctimonious grin on his face was a picture!
But not so fast... aboyt an hour later I was puttering round a corner and there was Jonathan waving me down. One of his solid
tyres had disintegrated and he had no spare. So the grin changed faces as he and his navigator climbed into my back seat and
off we went. The old car performed well 4-up for many a mile, but later she started making clattering noises beneath my bum.
Transmission department. So I lift the seat and try tightening the lovely big wing nuts in a vain attempt to keep the bands in
position. Off we go and all's well, until smoke emerges from within. Bands too tight. So I loosen them and start off again gingerly. Before long there was an almighty mechanical banging and clattering which felt as though something might break
through the plywood and threaten my wedding tackle! I switch the engine off and we all climb out.
The reverse gear bands have broken loose and are lying unharmed in the punt. Along with
one transmission spring detached from the flywheel. Also the horrid modern jubilee clips
which tried to anchor the pivot ends of the band castings were also scattered about the
place in various states of destruction. Gerry Michelmore stopped in his Carden and offered
sound engineering advice, but we accepted a tow from a passing Dodge to the lunch stop 4
miles away.
Back in its garage, the Trojan is ready for me to reassemble the gear bands with a better means of locating the ends of the
castings on their fulcrum shaft. I don't know whether the movement in the planet wheel drum bearings is correct or not. I
need to attend another gathering and look beneath a few more Trojan skirts.
But on a brighter note, the Trojan behaved perfectly in the recent cavalcade of old
cars for Thame carnival.
Boiling merrily the whole time, the car was met with approval by all, especially the
children.
Here's a picture of me following 'NP' up Wick Hill during Ham festival.
PS. The VSCC President Tony Stephens owns an ERA as well as his Trojan.
Perhaps that goes some way towards explaining the Blockley tyres and balance weights on his wheel - seen
at the Light Car Rally.
PPS. I have made a good friend in previous owner Richard Franklin who makes a lovely cuppa tea, and has
lent me back numbers of the Trojan newsletters to help me understand!
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.12
Starting Handle
Evergreen memories
Kit Foster, TheAutomobile 's man in America, was very excited when he heard that the 1925 Trojan Utility had joined the Oily
Rag Collection. His mother-in-law, Madge Hooper, passed her driving test in an identical car in 1936 and has
hardly stopped talking about it ever since. Kit asked: 'Would it be possible, do you think, for the Trojan to visit her?'
In fact it was easy, because I was taking it to the VSCC Light Car Welsh Weekend in April and her home in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, was not far off the route.
In 1936, Madge Hooper was a young lass training to be a herb grower on a farm in rural Kent. She took her driving test on the
farm runabout -a solid-tyred Trojan that went by the name of Jose ph. It was a very happy time for her, learning the joys of
cultivating a herb garden, and it was where she met her future husband. Later, they established the world -renowned garden at
Stoke
Lacy. Madge went on to become a teacher and lectured in America and New Zealand. She was involved in the early days of
broadcasting on radio and television, spreading the word about home-grown herbs.
Anyone who has driven a Trojan will attest to its ability to make an impression, but in Madge's case the impression was very
deep -perhaps because it was associated with the swirling pleasures of youth.
To say that she was delighted to see it would be a silly understatement. Her mind is bright as a button, her charm and wit shining through. But her body, at 98 years old, is pretty much worn out, her mobility severely hampered by arthritis.
It is many years since she last held a driving licence but , because of the unique controls of a Trojan, I felt sure she would be
able to drive it. We lifted her in and she controlled steering and accelerator while I walked beside the car, handling the gear
lever as we manoeuvred around her drive (the epicyclic gears need no clutch , of course). She was thrilled. In her words: "For
two hours, I was 22 years old again ."
To see her life story, search online for 'Madge Hooper, like topsy it just growed '.
Gerry Michelmore
www.theautomobile.co.uk
Editor:- Grateful thanks to Gerry Michelmore and The Automobile for this article.
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.13
John Amor article on late Maurice Luscott-Evans.
David Hambleton is aware and given permission !
Maurice Luscott-Evans. An Appreciation by John Amor.
After Christmas I received this letter and card from Maurice, not knowing that he had died. I have minimized and abridged
it from his thoughtfully written large typescript omitting personal details but recounting the Lea Francis. Both of us had Lea
F's and I show below his Christmas card with his Leaf and Bean. Don't LeaF's look similar to Trojans?
Maurice asked after both Flo Payne and Eric Rance with whom I too had lost touch.
Eric's address is:
Flat 35, Abbeyfield, Grove House, 12 Ridding Road, llkley, LS29 9BF.
THOMAS BLOUNT COITAGE
HURCOIT VJLJ..AGE
KIDDERMINSTER OYl 0 3PG
01562747922
Dear John,
Thanks ever so for your card and note, and the TOC Magazine. I'm so sorry to read your eyesight is not so good. I
hope this large typeface will help. I find a good stiff gin
useful.
It's good to see the TOC is very alive and well and that
the Trust has received all that archive stuff from Peter
Agg. It would appear that my misgivings years ago-about
Hambedon' s intentions were misplaced - but please don't
Despite his request, I have shown this to David
Hambleton as I think Maurice would not have
wanted to take to the grave any misplaced
misgivings. I guess that had it not been for his
untimely death he would have congratulated
David personally, as I do.
Maurice was a good friend and a fine Club
member.
tell him !!!
And because I don't have a garage here at home I have to
wait for some decent long-term weather. Don't you just
love the good old English climate!!
Any road up ......
Take the greatest of care
EDITOR`S NOTE:
Please see the tribute also to Maurice,
page 92 of the VScc Bulletin
Maurice
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.14
Roly & Pam Finn
A Tale of Two Cycle Motors
The Club was given two motors, a Trojan Mini motor and a Power Pak cycle motor and Roly was asked to sell them on
behalf of the Club. The Mini Motor had been advertised in several issues of the magazine but there did not seem to be
any interest. We were told there was someone interested in buying them and contacted him, telling him that as it was
our responsibility to obtain the best possible price for the Club we would be advertising them for sale on E-Bay and he
could bid with anyone else.
We had what appeared to be a complete Mini Motor and a complete Power Pak with a collection of parts which we
thought would provide spares and so sold as one lot. We took photos of the two motors and wrote an advert for each.
This was a rather long winded affair as it was a long time since we had done it. We put a reserve of £99 on each motor,
put it up for sale and waited.
We certainly didn't expect to have interest from abroad. We had an enquiry from Sweden, two from France and one
from Belgium as well as the expected “watchers” from the UK. The price went up steadily in the few hours before the
auction ended and then, just at the last minute Greet Quirynen near Antwerp in Belgium put the final bid in for both motors. Luckily, we had put enough on for carriage to cover the costs – a useful lesson to learn! We decided that we needed to pack it very securely for the journey and found two substantial fruit crates. We packed the Trojan motor in one
crate, and the Power Pak and parts in the other with plenty of polystyrene to ensure it didn't move. Roly then cut a piece
of plywood to fix on the top for extra security. We selected Interlink Express / DVD as the carrier and downloaded two
labels for each case. We fixed the labels to the top and side of each box, cheerfully handed them over to the driver,told
ourselves it was a job well done and notified Greet that it was on its way.
After 3days we expected to hear from Greet that he had received the parcels but he reported that they had not arrived.
We tried to check on the tracking system and found nothing. We spoke to the local agent who said they had been sent
to Birmingham. We could only communicate with this depot by email and the messages went back and forth a number
of times until Roly had the bright idea of talking to Cambridge depot. They found the parcels had been returned to them
from Birmingham because they were not wrapped in the correct way and had been put on one side. The company
doesn't like wooden crates. Given an incentive to get on with the job the Cambridge depot wrapped the wooden crates
in cardboard so that the crates were hidden and sent them on their way. We notified Greet and three days later we received confirmation from a happy customer that they had arrived. If anyone has any more cycle motors he would like
them!
The breakdown of the sales is as follows:Mini Motor sold
£165
Cases & packing
£30
Power Pak sold
£205
Courier charge
£63
Ebay charges insertion £2
Carriage @£60/box
£120
advance listing £1.81
final sales fee £36.97
sub total
Income
£490
Expenditure
£40.78
£133.78
Profit for TOC £356.22 which has been paid into their account.
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.15
Richard Franklin
Letter from Richard mourning the loss of a greatly loved and obviously frustrating friend ! The TOC often gets pilloried for doing the same old things in other words the Rally programme is almost unaltered over the years although
3 years at Gaydon for a National Two-stroke Rally was out of our comfort zone but successful !
Richard – the Cotswold Rally was discussed at the Committee meeting – see Item 3.5 in the Minutes’
Dear Carl, Here's a few lines on the sale of The Duckling YL3979.
The following could hardly be described as fawning adulation so you may not want to print it!!
It was really very sad to part with the Trojan after almost 20 years. I really did not know and was very much surprised at how much it would be missed, thats why I enquired about a replacement Trojan almost as soon as it
went!
The reason for selling it was simply that it failed to start just one time too many.
There was a very embarrassing moment outside a rather "posh" pub with lots of customers in new expensive and
very pretentious plastic German cars (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi etc) Have you noticed how drivers of those cars
catch the German Arrogance? A German rally driver once told me that some years ago, He said" Zat iss how ve are,
zat iss vy vee vinn!"
And so the Trojan failed to start (naturally) Most embarrassing as usual, it required the usual push to get it going,
and the people there were not ready to help! As everyone knows Trojans are notoriously difficult to start when
hot/warm/or when some other unknown reason occurs.
The restarting problem was discussed several times by Trojan Ltd, and at boardroom level during 1930's with no
answer. Hounsfield was told "
its a good car if you can sort out the starting problem" and this was before they were put into production! So that is
how Trojans work, rather an animal in nature as Nigel Arnold-Forster put it. A most enjoyable car really and probably one of the most fascinating cars ever built if sometimes frustrating.
Its really been fun having YL for all those years, however, life moves on and the car was getting very little use. A
reason for that is we no longer have the rallies such as we did previously. We used to go to interesting places and
perhaps it was better, or seemed so, because it was all new in those days. Now we go to latch on to events which
are already happening and thats all very well but its just an easy way of doing something with very little effort.
The events also seem to be on Saturdays, which may be a very good idea and if others want that then it will be
good for the club and one hopes that such events will be enjoyed and will continue, I however, like to work on Saturdays so I miss the committee meetings as well as the events. Thats another reason the Trojan would go nowhere
(not that it would get back if it went there ) So it seems the Club is doing very little for its members at this time and
as a committee member myself that is also my responsibility. A Cotswold rally was offered a year ago (2012) but
only two people responded so that was cancelled.
As a member of the committee I have to take much of the responsibility, as I said before. We have to provide
something for the members to do and I feel I singularly failed in that regard, being unable to attend meetings or
arrange a rally thats wanted. The Cotwold rally does not appear to be favoured, although offered again this year.
No reply has yet been recieved, rather a contemtuous silence instead...........
The newsletter, when it comes out, is as good as any, with the exeption of my articles of course.
You may get the impresion from the above that I'm fed up with Trojans, that would be the correct way to approach
Trojans. ( If you give up all hope you won't be let down.) Still looking for a Trojan...........
Richard Franklin
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.16
Phil Heading
Out &
About
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.17
“The missing Apprentice
Croydon -tall good-looking
guy is Roly Finn!”
Wanted
Trojan. Body style not important. Non- running or abandoned would
be great. Must be of the underfloor engine variety. WHY? Any help
would be really appreciated.
Frazer Sloan
[email protected]
EDITOR`S NOTE
Please see the definitive Trojan 3 page article starting on page 45 in this months Automobile
- well done Gerry Michelmore
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.18
ANNIVERSARY PICTURES
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
Issue No. 242
Page No.19
The Back Page
FOR SALE
For Sale, Dennis Digby`s EV99
£10.000
Enquiries via Newsletter Editor please as Derrick is away currently
The Spares Situation.
The club stores have a good range of pre-war and some post-war
spares.
Future Club Dates
19th October
Committee Meeting
Venue - Chris Tordoff`s House
30th November
Club Social, Lunch at Fox & Pelican, Grayshott
Quiz and talk by Phil Potter and
Tony Stephens respectively
New pre-war include: petrol filler caps(for car and van), ignition
keys, mixture quadrants, TOC badges, hub felts, sets of track rod end
and fly wheel springs, drive chains and sprockets, silencers, distributor
caps, sets of points, top gear bands, one PH and one XL big ends, fly
wheel bearing, various pistons and rings etc. Second hand pre-war
include: a pair of wheels fitted with Dunlop sports tyres, radiator
(needs repair), Trojan amp meters,3 speed gear box, steering boxes,
and most shafts, brackets, hangers, clips and springs that make up a
pre-war Trojan. Post-war include: second hand gear boxes, radiators,
front grill, windscreen, Trojan name scripts (new), manufacturers
name plates, chassis plates etc. etc. Items that are not mentioned can
often be sourced from club members. The stores are situated at Henstridge Airfield on the Somerset/Dorset border and David Vincent is
happy to meet members by appointment or post spares at any time.
Our Rallies are the ‘essence’ of what
we do - please try to support them
September-October 2013 Edition - 100th Anniversary Year
David Vincent.
Issue No. 242
The Back Page