Vulcan

GB, 1902 – 1928

(1) Vulcan Motor Manufacturing and Engineering Co Ltd, Southport, Lancs., 1902 – 1906

(2) Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co Ltd, Southport, Lancs., 1906 – 1928

The Vulcan car firm was better known for commercial vehicles. Private Vulcan cars stemmed from experiments conducted in the 1897-1899 period by the brothers Thomas and Joseph Hampson. A belt-driven single-cylinder voiturette Vulcan car with lateral radiators was shown in 1902, being replaced a year later by a 6hp Vulcan car with armoured wood frame, mechanically-operated inlet valves, and shaft drive. This Vulcan car was listed at only £105, and this Vulcan car was soon followed by a 10hp twin, also T-headed but with a steel frame, selling for £200. 4-cylinder Vulcan cars of 12 and 16hp, still modestly priced, were available in 1905, while the biggest 1906 Vulcan cars, with capacities of 3.1- and 5.2-litres, had gate change. No 2-cylinder Vulcan cars were catalogued after 1908, but a year previously Vulcan cars had joined the ranks of 6-cylinder manufacturers with a 4.8-litre T-headed machine featuring dual ignition and cone clutch, at £600 for a Vulcan car chassis. Unlike other makers, Vulcan cars retained their interest in this type, which Vulcan car had acquired a 4-speed box and had grown to 6-litres by 1908, and the 1909 Vulcan car range consisted of four 4-cylinder cars and the six, all shaft-driven and still with T-heads; the smallest Vulcan car, rated at 12hp, had a 3-speed gearbox and worm drive. A new 3.6-litre six Vulcan car with unit gearbox and worm drive followed in 1911, along with an L-head 2.4-litre fifteen. Worm drive was standardized on the 1912 Vulcan cars, when the bigger Vulcan cars had T-heads, and a 1.8-litre, 2-cylinder with an Aster engine was offered. All but the smallest Vulcan car had detachable wheels as standard in 1913, and by the outbreak of World War 1 the Vulcan car company was well established with a range of solidly-built Vulcan cars: a 2.4-litre 10/15, a 2.6-litre 15.9, and a 3-litre monobloc 15/20 Vulcan car at £375. All these Vulcan cars had L-heads and bull-nose radiators, though the similarly styled six retained the older Vulcan car configuration. A 1½-litre Vulcanette with a 3-speed rear-axle gearbox and full electrical equipment was announced for 1915 but the war intervened.

After 1918 the Vulcan car company concentrated increasingly on trucks, and a brief association with the Harper Bean Group (1919-1920) did no good to finances. Some odd experiments by Vulcan cars included a worm-drive 3½-litre V8 tourer Vulcan car intended to sell for £625 (1919), and two Vulcan cars in 1922 with Howard sleeve-valve engines, a big 3.6-litre sports-touring four Vulcan car and a 10hp 1.4-litre flat-twin listed at £315. However, none of these Vulcan cars reached the public, the regular Vulcan car lines being a 1.8-litre ohv 12 and a 2.6-litre sv 16/20, both with Dorman engines. There was also a conservative 20hp Vulcan carmodel with the Vulcan car company’s own 3.3-litre sv fixed-head engine and 4-speed separate gearbox, this Vulcan car was selling for £850 in 1921; by this time flat radiators were again being used on Vulcan cars. The Vulcan 20 was available to military order with full wireless equipment in 1923, in which year C.B. Wardman effected a liaison of Vulcan cars and Lea-Francis. The two companies pooled their dealer network, Vulcan cars became responsible for certain Lea-Francis power units and bodies, and Lea-Francis made gear and steering boxes for Vulcan cars. A 1½-litre sv Dorman-engined Vulcan 12 was listed at £295 in 1925, followed a year later by an ohv worm-driven derivative, also with Dorman engine, and looking very like a Lea-Francis. 4-wheel brakes were available on Vulcan cars in 1925 and standardized in 1926. Last of the line Vulcan cars were the 14/40 and 16/60, with the disastrous twin ohc 6-cylinder engines of their own make. Short-chassis Vulcan cars were worm-driven, but bevel drive was adopted for long-chassis versions. Vulcan cars wore artillery wheels, but were otherwise identical to their Lea-Francis counterparts which Vulcan cars were made alongside them at Southport. Not many of these Vulcan cars were made, and after 1928 only commercial vehicles were produced. The Vulcan car firm subsequently amalgamated with Tilling-Stevens and thus were abrorbed into the Rootes Group after World War 2. Truck production ceased in 1953.

US, 1913 – 1914

(1) Vulcan Motor Car Co, Painesville, Ohio, 1913

(2) Vulcan Manufacturing Co, Painesville, Ohio, 1913 – 1914

This Vulcan car was a cleanly-designed light car with a 27hp 4-cylinder engine. A two-seater speedster Vulcan car on an 8ft 9in wheelbase with electric lights sold for $750. A five-seater version of this Vulcan car with the same engine, but on a longer wheelbase, cost $850.

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

Wanderer

D, 1911 – 1939

(1) Wanderer Fahrradwerke vorm. Winkelhofer & Jaenicke AG, Schönau, 1911 – 1917

(2) Wanderer-Werke AG, Siegmar, 1917 – 1939

The Wanderer firm – like many others – started with bicycle manufacture; motor cycles followed and led the way to Wanderer cars. Extensive experiments with Wanderer cars were undertaken. In 1905 the 2-cylinder Wanderermobil was ready, but this Wanderer car remained a prototype. Another Wanderer car – which is still in existence – is claimed to date from 1904.

It is reported by some sources that Ettore Bugatti offered a small car design to Wanderer in 1910 before starting manufacturing on his own. But Wanderer cars did not take over the Bugatti car, as their own Wanderer car designs were ready and they started production of these Wanderer cars in 1911. Their first production Wanderer car had a 4-cylinder 1.150cc, 5/12PS engine and a two-seater tandem body. This Wanderer car was popularly known as the Püppchen (doll). Engine capacity was increased to 1.220cc in 1914 and the output raised to 5/15PS. Three- and four-seater Wanderer cars were also available and this model Wanderer carwas listed until 1922. Some 4-cylinder models Wanderer car in the 1½- and 2-litre range followed udring the 1920s. A 6-cylinder Wanderer car (the W11) with a 2.540cc 50bhp engine was built under licence by Martini of Switzerland. The W11 was also available in a sports version of 2.995cc and 65bhp. In addition to 4-cylinder Wanderer cars, a range of 6-cylinder cars was built during the 1930s which were based on a Porsche design. These Wanderer cars had push-rod ohv engines, and later cars had swing-axle rear suspension.

A very sporty looking Wanderer car appeared in 1936, the W25K (K for Kompressor). The 1.936cc engine with blower developed 85bhp and the Wanderer car easily reached 93mph. However, this Wanderer car did not figure much in competitions and was produced in limited numbers only. After 1932 Wanderer was a member of the Auto Union. Their cars had a reputation for quality, finish and good performance although they were intended for workaday use. In the Auto Union catalogues they represented the ‘upper middle-class’. Wanderer car production ceased at the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939, by which time two sv models, with all-round independent suspension, a 1.8-litre four and a 2.6-litre six, were being offered.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; HON  

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