Monday 23 June 2014

Revolutionary cars in Westcombe Hill

Our attention has been drawn to RALPH LUCAS, 24, Westcombe Terrace, Westcombe Hill, Blackheath, S.E.

Anyone know anything about him?? He lived there in the 1880s.

I always knew Greenwich was important in car invention - I've been going on about the two steam cars built on Enderby Wharf in the 1840s  - but this is yet another inventor.

He exhibited at Cordingley's Autocar and Motor Cycle Show at the Agricultural Hall, Islington held 3rd - 10th July 1899.
and they said that Mr. Lucas "introduces us to what is probably the most interesting exhibit in the show" 

This was a "graduating change-speed gear" with "a very pretty action".
 
Looking up Mr. Lucas on the net I find that the ever reliable Grace's Guide has a whole page of references to him and his gears plus some pictures.
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He also appears at the AGM and Dinner of the Blackheath Automobile Club in 1907 as a Committee member and where his address is given as Upper Siebert Road, Westcombe Park, SE. and he is described as the "Designer of the Valveless car"

Grace also has a page on North-Lucas which seems to be a manufacturing company he set up in Putney Vale with a Mr. Oliver North.  They made one 'revolutionary' car apparently.

So - what else do we know about this??

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Women gas workers in the Great War

 
 
 
 
SOME PICTURES OF WOMEN GAS WORKERS IN THE GREAT WAR