Crossley

GB, 1904 – 1937

(1) Crossley Brothers Ltd, Gorton, Manchester, 1904 – 1910

(2) Crossley Motors Ltd, Gorton, Manchester, 1910 – 1937

The name of Crossley was famous on engines before it was famous on cars; in fact the Crossley company was the first in Britain to make 4-stroke internal combustion engines on the Otto principle. Later, Daimler engines were made under licence. The first Crossley car for sale, a chain-driven 22hp 4-cylinder, appeared for the 1904 season. A Crossley 28hp and Crossley 40hp followed, all three cars being of normal design and foreign inspiration. Their designer was J.S. Critchley, formerly of Daimler. Shaft drive appeared in 1906, and late in 1909, some were fitted with Allen-Liveredge front-wheel brakes, but Crossley cars, though excellent machines, made little impression until after 1910. The 4-litre 20hp Crossley which then made its bow was a well-constructed, durable and very popular car. Designed by A.W. Reeves, it lived on in modified form until 1925. Crossley’s finest hour came in World War 1, when, as the Crossley 20/25hp it achieved fame as a staff car in the Royal Flying Corps, and as an ambulance and light truck. The Crossley model was extremely popular with the British Royal Family after the war in its 25/30hp version. In its early years, however, it was rivalled by the 15hp. The efficiency of the latter’s  otherwise conventional engine, a side-valve four like the rest, gave this Crossley a better performance than most cars in its class and encouraged the makers to offer a special sporting variant, the Crossley Shelsley.

The Crossley Fifteen was discontinued after 1914, but a new Crossley arrived for 1921. This Crossley 19.6hp was a rather more modern design, having a detachable cylinder head, and it was cheaper and lighter on fuel than its 25/30hp companion. The performance was about the same. It was also made in sporting form as the Crossley 20/70hp, but this model was heavy, like the ’Crossley 19.6’ itself, and the brakes were not good enough for the 75mph that was available. Crossley did not make a serious attempt to invade the middle-class market until 1923, when the Crossley 12/14hp, later called the Crossley Fourteen, was introduced. Like its brothers, this was a simple side-valve four, in this case of 2.4 litres, but was more modern, with its unit construction of engine and gearbox and central gear-change. The Crossley Fourteen was a very successful model, being flexile and, thanks to its light weight, both roomy and economical. It survived until 1927. By this time the two bigger Crossley cars were giving way to a much more up-to-date car; the Crossley company’s first six and its first overhead-valve machine. This Crossley 18/50hp model was a spacious, heavy 2.6-litre car with good brakes but somewhat lacking in power. Its engine was enlarged to 3.2-litres and 20.9hp for 1928. At the same time a new small Crossley of similar design, the 2-litre Crossley 15.7hp was introduced, to which a sporting alternative reviving the Shelsley name was  added in 1929. Lagonda’s 16/80 model used this engine later. The 6-cylinder Crossley 15.7hp continued until 1934 and the Crossley 20.9hp until 1937. Wilson pre-selector gearboxes were fitted from 1934.

In 1932, the Crossley company had introduced a light car, the Crossley Ten. This was an assembled vehicle powered by an 1100cc Coventry-Climax engine with overhead inlet valves. It was too heavy (a drawback compounded by the pre-selector gearbox), it was very low-geared and its brakes were mediocre. Another mistake was Crossley’s attempt to market the Burney rear-engined car with all-independent suspension. It was given a 15.7hp Crossley engine and a Wilson box, but it was too unconventional in appearance and handling. Very few were made. In 1935, Crossley introduced its new Regis range of small cars with handsome bodies styled by C.F. Beauvais. They consisted of the Crossley Ten and a new Crossley 1½-litre six of the same design also powered by Coventry-Climax, both with a new lowered frame. Both cars, together with the last Crossley 20.9s, disappeared after 1937.

Crossley assembled other people’s cars as well as making their own, beginning with the Willys-Overland Model 4 in 1920. The Gorton-produced Willys came to include more and more British-made parts, such as a Morris Oxford engine. A less likely diversion was an attempt of Crossley in 1921 to make the Type 22 Bugatti in England, but only a handful of these Crossley-Bugattis appeared. In 1922-1933 the Crossley factory made the AJS as well.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN

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Stanley

US, 1897 – 1927

(1) Stanley Dry Plate Co, Newton, Mass., 1897 – 1899

(2) Stanley Manufacturing Co, Lawrence, Mass., 1899 – 1901

(3) Stanley Motor Carriage Co, Newton, Mass., 1901 – 1924

(4) Steam Vehicle Corporation of America, Newton, Mass., 1924 – 1927

The Stanley twins, F.E. and F.O., were partners in a photographic dry plate business in Newton, where they produced their first light steam Stanley car in 1897. This Stanley car proved a great success, over 200 Stanley cars being sold in the first year of production. In 1898 a Stanley car was timed over a mile at Charles River Park at 27.40mph. Among the customers of the Stanley cars were A.L. Barber and J.B. Walker, who purchased the manufacturing rights of the Stanley car, and produced it as the Locomobile and Mobile respectively. In 1899 some Stanley cars were advertised by the Locomobile Co of America under the name Stanley-Locomobile. The Stanley cars proceeded to evolve an entirely new design, which appeared in 1902 with a simple non-condensing engine, driving directly on the rear axle. The boiler was mounted at the front of these Stanley cars, frames were of wood, and steering was by tiller. Locomobile went over to Petrol cars at the end of 1903, but the Stanley cars prospered, listing an 8hp Stanley car at $750, and selling their Stanley cars to police and fire departments. More powerful versions Stanley cars rated at 10 and 20hp were available by 1904, and by 1906 the Stanley car had assumed its characteristic appearance, with coffin-like bonnet concealing the boiler, and wheel steering. The Stanley car could out-accelerate petrol cars, and that year Frank Marriott was timed at 127.66mph on Daytona Beach with the streamlined Woggle-Bug. Marriott tried again the following year, but a spectacular crash at about 150mph destroyed the car. Stanley cars 1908 Gentleman’s Speedy Roadster was capable of 60mph, and would run over 50 miles on a filling of water. 1913 Stanley cars were electrically-lighted, and 1915 brought the introduction of steel framed and V-shaped frontal condensers on the Stanley cars on a 10ft 10in wheelbase chassis which lent itself to seven-seater coachwork. However, the advent of Cadillac’s electric self-starter in 1912 had signaled the end of the steamer , with its need for a long warm-up from dead cold. The 1920 Model 735 Stanley car resembled a conventional petrol car in outward appearance with a flat radiator of typically American aspect, but the boiler of the Stanley car was still under the bonnet, and the double-acting 2-cylinder engine still drove direct on the back axle. Acceleration was well above par for the standards of the day, and the Stanley car would cruise at 45mph, with more available. But at around the $2.600 mark sales were low (about 600 Stanley cars per annum), and the Stanley cars had retired from the company during World War 1. The Stanley car firm was reorganized in 1925, and the last Stanley cars had hydraulic front-wheel brakes and balloon tyres.

US, 1907 – 1910

(1) Stanley Automobile Manufacturing Co, Mooreland, Ind., 1907

(2) Troy Automobile & Buggy Co, Troy, Ohio, 1908 – 1910

This Stanley car was a five-seater touring car weighing 1.550lb. The Stanley car was powered by a 2-cylinder, water-cooled engine of 3.6-litres. A friction transmission was used, with a single-chain to drive the rear axle.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS, GMN

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com