Chambers Motors
Founded | 1904 | (as Chambers & Co.)
---|---|
Defunct | 1929 |
Fate | Voluntarily wound up, 1929 |
Headquarters | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Key people | Jack Chambers (Founder), Charlie Chambers (Founder), Robert Chambers (Founder), Charles Hurst (Director) |
Products | Motor Cars, Utility Vehicles, Munitions, Bottling Machines |
Chambers Motors was the first
Origin
The founder, Jack Chambers, had earlier designed and constructed the first Vauxhall car in 1902-3 while Managing Director of the
Production
Production was undertaken in Cuba Street,
Closure
The production of munitions and aircraft components, equipment that Chambers was not properly equipped to carry out, resulted in much of its factory equipment becoming worn out.[1] In addition to these problems, two new engine prototype projects turned out to be failures, leaving the company with its ageing pre-war engine designs as its only viable products until 1925.[1] Expensive retooling, a growing reliance on other manufacturers for components and increasing competition from mass-produced cars eventually lead to the operation being voluntarily wound up in 1929.[1] Only four Chambers cars are known to exist today, including an 8 hp model from 1908 which is displayed in the Ulster Museum in Belfast.[5]
Specifications of Chambers cars
Chambers cars competed in many hill-climb, reliability, and time trials. In the Irish Reliability Trial of 1906 during non-stop runs an average petrol consumption of 43 mpg‑imp (6.6 L/100 km; 36 mpg‑US) was achieved.
Model | Years | Cylinders | Engine orientation | Bore | Stroke | Wheelbase | Track | Feature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 hp | 1904–1905 | Two | Horizontal | 3+1⁄8 in (79 mm) | 4+1⁄4 in (110 mm) | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | |
8 hp | 1905–1909 | Two | Horizontal | 3+1⁄8 in (79 mm) | 4+1⁄4 in (110 mm) | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | |
10 hp | 1906–1909 | Two | Horizontal | 3+3⁄4 in (95 mm) | 4+1⁄2 in (110 mm) | 7 ft (2.1 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | |
10-12 hp | 1908–1909 | Two | Horizontal | 4 in (100 mm) | 4+1⁄2 in (110 mm) | 7 ft (2.1 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | |
12-16 hp | 1907–1909 | Two | Horizontal | 3+3⁄8 in (86 mm) | 4+1⁄4 in (110 mm) | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | |
12-14 hp | 1909 | Four | Vertical | 85 mm | 4 in (100 mm) | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | |
12-16 hp | 1910–1924 | Four | Vertical | 3+3⁄8 in (86 mm) | 4 in (100 mm) | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) | 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) | |
11-15 hp | 1912–1924 | Four | Vertical | 3+1⁄8 in (79 mm) | 4 in (100 mm) | 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | |
11-15 hp | 1919–1924 | Four | Vertical | 3+1⁄3 in (85 mm) | 4 in (100 mm) | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | Sliding gear gearbox |
14/34 | 1925 | Four | Vertical | 2+15⁄16 in (75 mm) | 4 in (100 mm) | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) | 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) | Sliding gear gearbox |
18/48 | 1925–1929 | Six | Vertical | 2+11⁄16 in (68 mm) | 4 in (100 mm) | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) | 4 ft 8 in (1.42 m) |
See also
Further reading
- Moore, John S (2000). Chambers Motors 1904–1929. Ireland: Dreoilin Specialist Publications Limited. ISBN 1-902773-09-8.
References
- ^ ISBN 1-902773-09-8.
- ISBN 9781905172061.
- ^ "Past Imperfect - Chambers Motors". Irish Times. 5 July 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
Jack [Chambers] resigned as managing director of the Vauxhall Iron Works. He stayed in London designing a light van for Newington, but in May 1904 applied for a patent for the first Chambers car
- ^ a b "The Industrial Heritage of South Belfast". CultureNorthernIreland. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009.
- ^ "Chambers Car Returns to Ulster Museum". CultureNorthernIreland. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2009.