The Journal of the Wolseley Register

Issue 184 • NOVeMBeR / DeCeMBeR 2016

www.wolseleyregister.co.uk

CeleBRatINg 120 YeaRs OF WOlseleY CaRs (1895 - 2015)

aND 50 YeaRs OF tHe WOlseleY RegIsteR (1964 - 2014)

The Register caters for all Wolseley cars (1895-1975)

WORlD

I write this after spending a day at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC which was very busy and

successful for the Register. Reports will appear in the next issue of Wolseley World as it was too close to the print deadline for this edition.

I particularly enjoyed being amongst other Morris-related clubs as it was a chance to catch up with friends and discuss plans for the 2017 season. Of course the recently formed Morris Vehicles Association helps strengthen these partnerships and we are all working towards the same goals – keeping our cars on the road, raising the profile of the cars and sharing our enthusiasm for the classic car movement.

I hope many of you can find the time to reflect on 2016 by writing me a little something for the magazine and entering our competition for the most mileage covered – see page 16 for details. See you in the New Year!

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Front Cover: Wolseley Sixes belonging to David Dodd and Clive Button “before and after restoration” on display at Event City in September.

Printed by the lavenham Press ltd Web: www.lpl-uk.com Tel: 01787 247436

editor’s CornerAmy Egan, Editor [6547]

‘Wolseley Register’ and ‘Wolseley World’ are registered trademarks of the Wolseley Register. Copyright of all articles, pictures and other material in Wolseley World is with the named author of the material or by default the Wolseley Register. No unauthorised reproduction, in part or in whole, is permitted without express permission. Permission should be sought from the Editor in the first instance.

Deadline for next issue: 6 January 2017

Issue 184: NOV / DeC 2016

04 Chairman’s Jottings

05 Contact Details

08 Membership Matters

10 Letters and Emails

15 Management Committee

16 Alice: 80 years young

18 Event City show report

20 List of Recorded Vehicles

22 Profile: Paul Scotten

23 Messenger Miscellany 5

24 FBHVC Matters

25 Wolseley Regalia

30 Area Scene

32 Out and About

39 Six-Ninety Sagas

42 Classified Adverts

46 Pioneering front suspension

/wolseleyregister

My Wolseley 25HP is now back on the road after its brake overhaul. Thanks are

due to our Technical Advisers and other knowledgeable members who have guided me through the job and to the specialist suppliers (including Powertrack, who advertise in Wolseley World) who supplied parts and fitted stainless steel sleeves to the wheel cylinders. Keeping our cars on the road is a team effort and is the more enjoyable for that.

As you will see elsewhere, the 2017 National Rally is now confirmed for the weekend of 29-30 July 2017. On the Sunday we will be at the National Trust’s Belton House, near Grantham, in Lincolnshire. On the Saturday we hope to have a choice of road runs with one involving Lincolnshire’s WWII aviation heritage.

We have negotiated a special deal with the Belton Woods Hotel, which is immediately opposite Belton House and our members in the area are providing other recommendations for accommodation. Details will be on our website soon but, in the interim, do make a note of the dates in your 2017 diary. A notice is also on page 21.

You will find details on paegs 20-21 of how to access our List of Recorded Vehicles, a resource which has been fifty years in the making! I would like to thank Bob Langston for his tireless efforts over the last few years to make this available to members.

I am very much looking forward to reading Anders Clausager’s new book, Wolseley – a very British car, which was published in November. This is the first major, English language history of Wolseley to be published in over 60 years. It is available to members at a special price, from our Regalia Team. With Christmas coming, you could drop a few hints that this is a present you would like to receive or just treat yourself!

I guess that most of us routinely witness dismal standards of driving. Impatience, rudeness and a general lack of consideration which manifest themselves in so many aspects of life appear as excessive speed, fierce acceleration, harsh braking and ‘cutting-up’ other vehicles when behind the wheel.

In general, I don’t think today’s drivers are any more skilled than a generation ago but they ‘get away with it’ – most of the time – because even the most mundane modern vehicles have standards of performance, braking and handling that were the preserve of only the most exotic machines 50 years ago. Add in an almost total lack of knowledge of what is going on under the bonnet, little mechanical noise and a loud sound system and it is easy to see the toxic recipe.

The answer, in the view of your curmudgeonly Chairman: make everyone spend their first two years of driving in a car that is at least 50 years old!

Happy Motoring!

Chairman’s JottingsClive Button, Chairman [6257]

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letters & emails

Stereo doesn’t sound rightGary Wall [5300]

I write regarding the cutting on page 29 of Issue 182, ‘Fitting a new stereo’. Obviously the person writing the reply does not know which engine is fitted to the 4/44. He refers to the B series motor which is the Austin unit fitted to

the similar MG ZA Magnette.

The 4/44 uses the XPAW engine similar to those used in the postwar MG T type Midgets. I doubt if the MGB alternator would fit onto an XPAW engine without major alteration. One problem would be the wide fan belt as used on the XPAW engine.

Silver serviceAndrew Bull and Nelson Ferreira [6334]

On 12 October our two Wolseleys helped Lisa and Adrian Nelson celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The happy couple rode in Nelson’s 1935 New Fourteen to Holmbury Church to renew their vows with their

‘children’ followed in Andrew’s 1958 1500 MkI.

Despite an overcast start to the day, the sun shone thoroughout. Both cars performed their duties effortlessly and were very much admired by all the guests. It was a great day out especially to use the cars so late in the year but we just about got them back under cover before the rain came!

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Roof restoration

Charlie Cartwright [7041] provided a step-by-step commentary of the restoration of his Hornet Free Wheel Saloon’s roof. “Why did they have fabric roofs? It’s such a complicated structure. Hundreds of tacks for a

start! And four layers of material: Outer skin, wadding, hessian and finally on the inside the felt roof lining. All on a hard wood and metal frame. I’m going to use stainless steel staples on the rebuild once I’ve got all those rusty tacks out...”

/wolseleyregisterFacebook conversations

Pride and Joy

This Nine belongs to John Powell from Gloucester.

Law and order Down Under

Paul Collings spotted this Wolseley in a museum near Perth whilst visiting Australia.

E4s, E6s and A9sAndy Plummer [6947]

Firstly, it was nice to see Paul Shrouder’s photo of his E6 and Mick Mumford’s E4

together in the July/August issue, and I thank him for his welcoming words. I’m hoping to arrange a similar E4/E6 meeting here in the west country at some point fairly soon!

John Fletcher’s fine Limousine Landaulette, XP2315, is also pictured in the same issue. This is an A9 15, an OHC model built 1920-1925 with a variety of body styles, and there appear to be about 10 survivors. The 15 four-seat tourer in these photos is owned by a chap in Wiltshire whom I visited recently. The car left the factory on 24 November 1920, and is most likely the oldest surviving example. It’s a runner and in good original condition. It has plenty of company – vintage Austin, Rolls Royce, MG and BSA cars, and old tractors, plus 40 vintage motorbikes!

Contact for Wolseley manumatic partsMalcolm Boote [5525]

A piece of information that might be of some use to a Register member – recently the stator tube on my 15/50 broke and I searched around for a replacement. I found one from a ZB Magnette that was extremely close

to my original, not identical but close enough to use.

I obtained the part from a chap called Peter Wood and went to his premises near Buckingham to get it. He had a lot of BMC spares and in particular he had Wolseley manumatic parts which I would guess are few and far between... If anyone has a car with this transmission it would be worth giving him a call on 01296 730310. Hope this of some use to someone.

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An idiot and a WolseleyJohn Blackbourn [6786]

The idiot drives his barn find 4/44 into his grace and favour garage in November 2013. Owing to

a family bereavement and the foul weather that winter, nothing gets done until March the next year

When the idiot turns the ignition on, petrol gushes out of the carb overflow! He thinks the needle valve is stuck which proves to be the case. When he tries again there’s more petrol on the floor – top of carb not on properly. He tries again with the same result – more petrol on garage floor.

After the fifth attempt completely overlooking the fact it was running perfectly before, he decides the petrol pump is the wrong one. He changes it over with the same result. The light finally fights its way through the murk of his addled brain – he’s got the needle valve in the wrong way. The engine then runs perfectly!

2016 Restoration completed

The idiot is going to the South East rally in Singleton. The temperature is well up into the high 20s (yes summer was on 23 July this year) so rather than fight his way through the traffic in Maidstone he decides to chance the M20 for a short distance to the A20 junction. As he leaves the motorway he notices the temperature gauge is reading slightly high but puts it down to the fact it’s the first time the car has been over 40mph since 1990.

He then hits heavy traffic – the temperature gauge is fluctuating and he begins to think the illuminated badge on the grille is a sensor that changes every set of traffic lights to red just before he reaches them... Panic is setting in over the engine temperature.

Finally he gets clear of the traffic but as he does so the temperature gradually rises to the max. In panic, he pulls over and opens the bonnet, expecting to see clouds of steam but finds he can rest his hand on the radiator. After pushing the wire to the gauge sender on properly the temperature goes back to normal and stays there for the rest of the weekend. So the only thing that was getting hot and bothered was the idiot behind the wheel!

On a more serious note on the way home the gear lever became extremely stiff and on investigation I found it was the linkage where it joins the steering column. I just wondered if any other members have had this trouble with a column gearchange?

On reading the idiot’s guide to the 4/44 (workshop manual to anybody else) I found an exploded diagram explaining the linkage and at the particular spot that gave trouble. It said seal felt oil retaining (obviously this one didn’t). Reading that jargon took me back 50 odd years to my service in the Navy.

It can be put very succinctly to describe my car “WOLSELEY 4/44 IDIOT FOR THE USE OF!”

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Out and about in the Wolseley World

NORtH east RegION – YORksHIRe & tYNe teesGeoff Craggs [476], Peter Seaword [237] & Chris Cowell [5687]

Our ‘Beamish’ weekend last year was so successful that it was decided that we should repeat it... so we did! As ‘our’ hotel of 2015, the Derwent Manor, was fully booked, we cast around and found a hotel which turned

out to be even better, albeit a little farther away from Sunday’s rally venue at Beamish Museum; what could be more idyllic than a weekend in the erstwhile home of the Shafto family, with tame deer coming up to be fed – venison was NOT on the menu we noticed.

Over the weekend 24 members, spouses and friends stayed at the hotel, Whitworth Hall Country House Hotel, for either three, two or one nights and we could not have been better looked after.

Thanks to all who made the effort to join in the fun – six cars from the North West gang plus friends from the Midlands, Scotland and the Yorkshire and North East area. Three other parties didn’t stay in the hotel but joined in for all or part of our activities including Paul Champney and his cousin who drove from Otley and back just for

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the Sunday in the oldest Wolseley on parade – their very desirable 1934 Nine. A round trip of some 180 miles by my reckoning and proof indeed of how capable and reliable these older, smaller Wolseleys can be – I often wish I still had mine!

Saturday’s visit to ‘Locomotion’ was interesting and very entertaining – most of us had not encountered ‘Steampunk’ before, and I thoroughly recommend the experience to you all; I say no more, save to say that Goth weekend in Whitby pales into insignificance in comparison. Lovely people all on a level of magnificent eccentricity surpassing even the wildest Wolseley owner. We did look at some steam engines as well – honest.

Sunday at Beamish was enlivened by (I think) Durham County Council who decided in their infinite wisdom to close the minor road which all the rally vehicles normally take, causing a diversion through a newish housing estate... Oh joy, oh bliss for residents and rallyists alike, but somehow we got there, had an excellent day and found our way home or to Whitworth Hall. A good weekend? A great weekend... next year where and when ?

Christmas DinnerThe North East Group is having its post Christmas “gloom disperser” on Sunday 15 January 2017 at the Black Bull Inn in Boroughbridge, 12 noon for 12.30 lunch.

The Black Bull is a 13th century coaching inn with a great atmosphere and a large restaurant... and unbelievably reasonable prices for both food and drinks – how about £9.95 for two courses, £12.45 for three courses, including tea or coffee! The quality and quantity of the food is excellent, as can be confirmed by members who have had meals at the Bull.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Geoff Craggs for menu and further information on 01423 325488 or email gbcraggs@btinternet.com. Early booking recommended!

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NORtH West RegION Mike Stanley [1234]

Matters ‘Wolseley’ have continued apace with our members continuing to be very active across our area. Following the ‘high’ of the National Rally at Charlecote, our major event was the Footman James Manchester

Classic Car Show at Event City over the weekend of 17-18 September (please see separate report and pictures on pages 18-19).

Scarcely having time to regain breath, the following weekend saw some of us travelling up to the North East to join colleagues from other parts for another splendid weekend. For me, the journey gives the opportunity to explore en route, this time travelling the picturesque route via Settle, pausing at the Ribblehead railway viaduct, on to Hawes, Swaledale and Richmond before reaching our excellent hotel and joining fellow-members at Spennymoor.

While the weekend is more fully reported by Geoff Craggs on pages 32-33, suffice it to say that this was another very enjoyable weekend (probably helped in my case by managing to remain upright this time) – many thanks Geoff.

We managed to fit in another in our series of week-day ride-outs, albeit at short notice, on Friday 21 October – as reported by Bob Leyland:

There cannot be many classic car clubs that are able to chronicle an unbroken history of automotive manufacturing, coupled with the supply of construction industry equipment. The story of Wolseley cars is well documented, and Clive Button’s article in Wolseley World 183 provides an informative account of how strong the connection is. A combined narrative of 128 years is indeed remarkable.

A chance encounter with the driver of a Wolseley UK delivery van established the whereabouts of their local branch at Knowsley near to Liverpool. Some time later I visited the premises and made contact with several members of staff. It was known that Wolseley UK had a link to the British motor industry however

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there was no clear appreciation of that link, at least no at local level. Following further conversation is was agreed that members of the North West region would bring our cars to Wolseley UK.

Seven of our cars formed an impressive display outside the premises, parked appropriately with a Wolseley (actually Mercedes Benz) delivery van, bearing the company trade mark. We met several members of the company staff all of whom were appreciative of our visit. I am grateful to all members of the North West region who supported the event. We had a superb day, graced by perfect autumnal weather, and the satisfaction of furthering our liaison with Wolseley UK!

Now that the clocks have gone back and the nights are pulling in (though we are having a marvellous Autumn up here, with some glorious days), some of us are looking to completing the necessary tasks in tucking our cars away, and/or tackling the jobs that require attention. I know some of our members up here do use their cars year-round, and I hope they and those elsewhere travel safely during the Winter months.

Christmas DinnerOur Christmas meal has been booked for 4 December at the Ribchester Arms. While we have a high number of places already booked, there is still the opportunity for more to join us; please contact Colin Briggs.

All that remains is for me, on behalf of us all in the North West, to wish all our fellow-members, wherever, the compliments of the season. May you have a splendid Christmas-time, and we look forward to meeting up with you again in the New Year.

sOutH east RegION Alan Simmonds [571]

Christmas lunch

Our Christmas lunch will be held on Sunday 11 December at 12.30 for 1pm at the Kingswood Arms, Waterhouse Lane, Kingswood, Surrey KT20 6EB. We have sole use of their best room ‘The Study’, providing

we have sufficient numbers. Please let John Blackbourn know how many seats to reserve by 30 November (call 07958 400980). This lunch replaces our meeting on Monday 12 December.

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sCOttIsH RegION Mark McCafferty [3489]

The Scottish Group held their AGM on 6 November, with 10 members in attendance. Chairman John McCombie got proceedings underway before Treasurer Mike Schilling gave an account of our current financial

standing and, as ever, he had done a sterling job in ‘balancing the books’. Andy Wells then gave us an update on the spares situation. Sales have been steady and with help from Bob Langston, he and John had spent a couple of days cataloguing/photographing the items (>500!) – no mean feat as anyone who has visited our store in Methil will confirm!

The election of the Committee was next on the agenda – no-one will be surprised to learn that the present incumbents were returned unopposed! It was agreed unanimously that our Friendship Shield should go to the McCafferty family this year in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Group, virtually since its inception.

Our first outing of 2017 will be our ‘Drive-it Day’ pilgrimage to Coatbridge on 23 April. Joe Kelly and his extended family have done a fantastic job in organising this event over the last seven years, raising a great deal of funds for CHAS. Joe indicated that he was going to have to take a back seat in proceedings after 2017, and the call is out for volunteers to enter the fray.

We are also looking at a 3-4 day stay in the beautiful Borders early in June, culminating in a Group attendance at a major rally at Thirlestane Castle, and Group stands will be booked at Bridge of Allan in May, Moffat in June, and Biggar in August. As ever, a goodly number of members will be in attendance at a town fair in Kirkcudbright in late August, and our season will come to an end on Sunday 17 September, with a charity (classic) car boot sale at Gartcosh.

east aNglIa RegION Chris Arnold [6441]

We have begun to discuss possible outings for 2017. Crowland show, Holt Railway Station, Museum of Technology and a road run were all mentioned along with a combined meeting (Sunday lunch?) with

one of the Register groups that abut our area. Ideas for Drive it Day are also welcomed. If YOU have any event or outing for us to consider please contact Chris or turn up to one of our monthly meetings at Guyhirn to discuss.

Christmas Dinner Our Christmas meal will be held, instead of our usual meeting, on Tuesday 13 December at The Oliver Twist in Guyhirn. Please call Chris on 01945 587004 to book a place and give your menu choices.

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MIDlaNDs RegION Graham Ryder [4746]

Several members supported the popular Bonded Warehouse Open Weekend in Stourbridge on one or both days during the weekend of 15-16 October. On Saturday members brought their other marque vehicles but

on Sunday a selection of Wolseleys was in attendance.

A club stand at Stoneleigh’s Restoration Show on 23 October displayed three cars including Graham Ryder’s current restoration project of a Mk I 1500. John Underhill’s beautifully restored 1934 Hornet and Robert Hogg’s1965 Australian Wolseley 24/80 were also on show. Club displays were in the newly refurbished Hall 3 which included a Live Restoration Stage. Register members and visitors from as far apart as Cornwall, Anglesey and Germany were welcomed to the stand which attracted much interest.

Christmas DinnerThursday 15 December, 7.30pm at The Royal Oak, 41 Barley Mow Lane, Catshill, Bromsgrove B60 0LU. Christmas Fayre menu available from Graham Ryder. Two courses £13.95; Three courses £15.95. Menu choices and £5 deposit per person required by 8 December at the very latest.

Looking ahead to 2017 a visit to Tettenhall Transport Heritage Centre is planned for Sunday 15 January in place of our usual evening meeting for the month. It is an opportunity to visit this new facility which is open from 10am until 4pm. Contact Robert Hogg on 07484 116994 rhogg71@gmail.com for details of the arrangements which could include a pub meal if participants wish. The full address is Meadow View, off Henwood Drive, off the A41, Wolverhampton WV5 9HR.

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east MIDlaNDs – lINCOlN gROuP Stuart Nell [743]

Several members went to the VSCC Race Meeting at Mallory Park near Leicester

on 24 September. Competing in the race for Edwardian cars was Roger Twelvetrees in his Wolseley 16/20. Built up from parts from three Wolseley 16/20s and four photos, the car is a replica of an almost forgotten factory produced project car. In 1911 Wolseley attempted a motoring milestone at Brooklands with the car. The aim was for it to be the first car to travel at 100mph.

On 30 October, 19 members met for a delicious Sunday lunch at the Welby Arms in Allington – a venue that has become very popular amongst members.

Christmas DinnerOur Christmas Dinner will be held on Monday 12 December at The Woodcocks, Burton Water, near Lincoln.

For further information on this and any other Lincoln group meetings or events please contact Stuart Nell on 01949 844870 or Nev Holmes on 01522 703454.

Please contact Graham and Jenny Ryder on 0121 445 1872 or email midlands@thewolseleyregister.com for further details about all other Midlands events and meetings.