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Frank
Wellington 1868-1917 Frank Wellington lived in Danbury and as far as we know
never lived in Goldhanger, however he was related to several members the Page
family who were Goldhanger farmers. Frank’s wife, Ellen Maude Bailey, was Ethel
Beatrice Page’s sister, who lived at the Old Rectory, Goldhanger, with her
husband Charles Page. In his day Frank was a well
known automotive engineer, vehicle manufacturer, dealer and motor racing
enthusiast. Although he lived in Danbury and later in London, judging from
photographs available he was a frequent visitor to Goldhanger and is perhaps
best known in the village by a picture still hanging in the Chequers Inn and which has been there for many years…
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below are
extracts taken from many sources which effectively form a biography of Frank some
newspaper cuttings come from… www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk at the end of this page there is also a brief résumé of Frank’s
career based on this material |
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from… Grace’s Guide Frank Frederick Wellington (1868-1917) Motor Engineer and Employer. Born in Clifton (Bristol) in 1868, the son of James
Russell Wellington (1844-1907) a Timber Merchant and his wife Frances
Elizabeth Newcombe. from… Ten Years Of Motors And Motor Racing, by
Charles Jarrott (published autobiography) In 1890 ... the first
person I went to was Frank Wellington,
who had had some experience with motor-cars; in fact, he had already been
through one very bad smash, which had something to do, I believe, with
running into a brick wall in the middle of the night, at the full-speed
capacity of his car, somewhere about ten miles an hour. Wellington was an expert on ignition burners (so he informed me). He
proceeded to light the ignition lamps for the motor. His methods were
drastic, novel to me, and terrifying to the bystanders. There was rather a
big blaze, but, as he explained to me afterwards, that was a detail and it
really was not dangerous. Anyhow, when I
say that he turned on the petrol tap, flooded the whole of the engine with
petrol, turned the tap off, lit a match, dropped it inside the bonnet of the
motor and then ran away. One can imagine
that my criticism of his expertness was somewhat more forcible than my
expression of the word "primitive", and having assured the
bystanders that the aid of the fire brigade was not necessary and the flames
having subsided, we got the burners to work with the aid of some mentholated
spirit, and proceeded to start the motor. From… Essex Records
Office – T/P 507/1 A photograph with the “date of creation” of 1897 that has these words hand written on the original: “The first motor car run from D’Arcy to London on 30 March
1897” The text given as “Content” in ERO records: The driver was Frank Wellington and the three passengers were Eleanor Bailey, Charles Jacobs Page of Old Rectory, Goldhanger, and Ernest Page of Beckingham Hall, Tolleshunt Major. The car has been identified as a 1896 3½ hp Peugeot Double Phaeton. In 1998 Mrs Winsome Hopwood, Née Page, allowed members of the
Goldhanger History Group to copy this and several other photographs on this
webpage for potential use in the village Millennium calendar. She later
donated the originals to ERO.
From… Motor Sport magazine (in 1963) THE
SHUTTLEWORTH MUSEUM The 1899 Mors “Petit Duc” with air-cooled heads and
water-cooled barrels to its flat-twin engine, it was the former love of an Essex parson, whose friend Frank Wellington
imported it for him, and is reminiscent of the cars brought to
Biggleswade by Shuttleworth before the war by the young man whose memory the
Collection preserves.
a two seat 1899 Mors Petit Duc similar to the one in the
Shuttleworth Museum Could the “Essex parson”
friend of Frank Wellington be the Revd. Frederick
Gardner ? He was Goldhanger Rector from 1893
to 1936 and was known to have had several expensive cars in the same period
of time. from… Autocar magazine
17 June 1899 |
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CARS &c.,
FOR SALE AND WANTED WANTED to purchase
immediately, six Daimler cars to carry four to eight passengers; must be
cheap. WANTED, twelve
De Dion motor tricycles, 1¼ or 1¾ must be in perfect running order and good
condition. WERNER Motor
Bicycle to be sold, cheap, perfect order. ROOTS and
Venables’ latest paraffin car, hold two; to be sold, £100. MOTOR
Char-a-bane, by Daimler, or can be used as a lorry, will carry twenty persons
; to be sold cheap. ONE Daimler 5½
h.p. Delivery Van, fitted with spare
pleasure body, winner of silver medal Crystal Palace, new in August;
to be sold cheap. Apply:- FRANK
WELLINGTON 58 Roselyn Hill, N.W. |
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from… Grace’s Guide 1894
– May 24th. Frank
Wellington married Ellen Maude Bailey at Chiswick from… The Story of C.S. Rolls’ 8hp Panhard et Levassor – by Barre Funnel In May 1897 C S Rolls
hired his Panhard to Frank Wellington,
who claimed 12mph overall at 25 miles per gallon on a 300 mile run. Wellington later fell out with Rolls,
who went into print, trying to claim some credit for the exploit. From… The Automotor And Horseless Vehicle Journal
in May 1897 |
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PATENT 12360 Variable Gearing for a Vehicle
driven by Motive Power. Frank Frederick
Wellington of 100 Queen Victoria Street, and Edwin Percival Allan, 14 Hatton Gardens, June 1896 |
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This invention
refers to improved means
whereby the speed of a
motor-driven vehicle may be readily varied or regulated. |
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from… Bonhams Collectors’ Motor Cars And
Automobilia (in 2010) Lot 319 – 1898 PHEBUS 2¾HP MOTOR TRICYCLE, Sold for £31,050 French-built Aster proprietary engines were used to
power Phebus motor tricycles, one of which, ridden by the pioneering racing
motorist, Charles Jarrott, achieved the then astonishing speed of 39mph at
the Crystal Palace velodrome. Jarrott’s racing companion on the day was the UK’s
Phebus importer, F F Wellington…
2¾Hp
Phebus Motor Tricycle from… The Phebus-Aster Story Noe Boyer & Cie, from Suresnes, Paris, named
their 1899-1903 Automobilette after Phoebus, the Greek god who drove
the sun across the heavens each day. It was powered by a 3.5 hp Aster engine.
Charles Jarrott, partnered by F.F.
Wellington, achieved 38 mph at the Crystal Palace velodrome, establishing
Aster-engined Phebus tricycles as fast and powerful. Wellington was the English importer of Phebus tricycles. from… Wikipedia F. F. Wellington was a British manufacturer of automobiles. In
addition, vehicles were imported from Phebus. The London Company began in 1900 under the direction of Frank Wellington. The brand name was Wellington.
Production ended in 1901. The only model was a small voiturette – An air-cooled 2.5
horsepower single-cylinder engine mounted in the rear, propelling the rear
axle. from… The Eastern Evening News, 27 April 1900 NORWICH MAN'S SUCCESS WITH
THE MOTOR At the Motor
Car and Motor Cycle Race held at the Crystal Palace, Mr. F.F. Wellington, late of Norwich, was the winner of the solid
silver champion’s vase. This handsome vase, with other valuable prises, and
several gold and silver medals, were afterwards exhibited at Mr. Wellington's stand at the
Agricultural Hall, Islington, these having been won by him in London,
Paris, and elsewhere, with his motor car and cycles of French and English
make. from… The Hampstead & Highgate Express, 5 May
1900 Mr. Risling
has on view in his shop window, in the High Street, a number of handsome
prizes won recently at motorcar races. Amongst them is a beautiful solid
silver cup weighing over 460 ounces and standing 4ft.7inches in height,
presented by the Crystal Palace Company, and won on Easter Monday by Mr. F.F. Wellington, of St. George's
Square, Regent's Park. from… The Sporting Life, 30 May 1900 THE PALACE MOTOR BRASSARD The
Whitsuntide competition for the Palace Motor Brassard promises to be the most
interesting of the series decided, and if the usual jump in the distance is
forthcoming we shall probably see the English one hour motorcycle record put
up to forty miles. The present record stands at 38 miles 868 yards by C.
Jarrott, the bolder of the Brassard, and as he is to be opposed by the pick
of the English chauffeurs, including F.F.
Wellington, who has been driving well of late, winning the recent
motorcycle races at Catford and the Crystal Palace in good time. from… Autocar magazine, March 1900 THE MOTOR CAR
CLUB The Motor Car Club held their annual general meeting
at their club rooms on the 21st March. Under the chairmanship of Mr. F. F. Wellington. The business was
got through in an expeditious and unanimous manner. [In 1907 King
Edward VII gave the club a royal charter and it became the Royal Automobile
Club the RAC] From an advertisement in The Autocar. 10 March 1900... |
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TWO powerful
Benz Vans, newly painted, suitable for grocer, baker, or mineral water
manufacturer ; £76 and £125.—FRANK F. WELLINGTON, 36, St. George’s Square,
Regent’s Park, N.W. DAIMLER Lorry,
to carry 30 cwt., floor space 9ft. x 411. 6b2., can be made into char-a-bane
; L235.—Frank F. WELLINGTON, 36, St. George’s Square, Regent’s Park, N.W. BOLLEE, to
carry three, a really grand machine, equal
to new, perfect working order ; call and see it ; price £65.—FRANK F.
WELLINGTON, 36, St. George’s Square, Regent’s Park, N.W. PHEBUS-ASTER
motor tricycles, quadricycles, and auto-mobilettes, 1900 pattern, can now be
seen at the address of the London agent.—FRANK F. WELLINGTON, 36, St.
George’s Square, Regent’s Park Road, N.W. YOU should try
one.—Wellington’s sparking plugs, 4s. each ; anyone can refit them. Send P.O.
4s. 3d. for sample.—Fanix F. WrnixoTozi, 36, St. George’s Square, Regent’s
Park, London, N.W. WELLINGTON’S motor car register
and advertiser, posted free to any address.—Send postcard for copy to Frank
F. WELLINGTON, 36, St. George’s Square. Regent’s Park, N.W. |
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from an advertisement in 1900 ... |
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FRANK F.
WELLINGTON 36, St.
George’s Square, Regent’s Park, N.W. Sole Agent for
the PHEBUS – ASTER also 2½ h.p. tricycles, quadricycles, automobilettes, and Gladiator machines. Winner of the
Crystal Palace Brassard one hour race, 38 miles 868 yards, on Easter Monday,
beating all English records ; also first and second in all other races on the
same day. Winner of the
Two Miles Motor-tricycle Race at Catford on Saturday, May 5th.
Beating the English record by twenty-two seconds. |
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From… Autocar magazine
19 May 1900 |
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ONE hundred and
ten Motor Cars, Tricycles, and Ballées for immediate delivery; send
postcard for Wellington’s motor car register:- FRANK F WELLINGTON 36, St. George’s Square, Regent’s
Park,N.W. |
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From… Herbert Austin His Wolseley Years – by
Norman Painting and John Brindley Austin continued
work on his motor cars and in August 1900… In the same month a letter had been received from a
Mr F. F. Wellington who had bought a Wolseley “Voiturette”. It is
thought Mr Wellington was a member of the Committee of Management of the
Motor Users Defence Association, a body set up for the protection of
motorists against proceedings or legal actions, and he was probably the proprietor of Frank F.
Wellington Ltd., a motor dealership in St. George’s Square, Regents Park,
London. [The Motor Users Defence
Association merged with the Automobile Association (AA) in 1910] from… Autocar magazine 15 September 1900 Mr. Frank F. Wellington, the autocar
engineer, of 36, St. George’s Square, tells us he has been so busy for the
last two years that his staff has had to work from 8 a.m. till 9 p.m. daily.
He has been unable to obtain a sufficient number of good English repair men,
and has had to fall back upon French mechanics. This should be encouraging to
all young English apprentices and improvers, and should be taken to heart by
everyone engaged in the autocar industry. It cannot be
too strongly impressed on all who undertake the repair or manufacture of
these machines that there is no room for bad work or incompetent workmen in
connection with them. It should also be noted, too, that there are no really
good autocar mechanics in want of employment. Those who are not fully
qualified should either make themselves so or turn to some other branch of
engineering work where such exactness is not required. From… Autocar magazine15 December 1900 THE NEW
WELLINGTON CAR The New Wellington
car is of taking outline. This machine will take part in the 1,200 miles
run next year, and it is designed throughout with an idea of being suitable
for use in any weather, and on the worst roads, the gearing being most
carefully protected throughout.
from… Autocar magazine 22 December 1900 In our brief reference to the Wellington car last week we omitted to say that it was made by Messrs. F. F. Wellington, Ltd., 36,
St. George’s Square, Regent’s Park Road, N.W. from… The Beaulieu Encyclopaedia of the
Automobile, 1900 – 1901 Frank
Wellington built a very light voiturette
powered by a 2.5hp air-cooled single-cylinder engine. He presumably hoped to commercialise it but
apparently did not do so. He was an
agent for Phebus-Aster and other makes of car. From… Bonhams Veteran Motor Car auction, (in 2005) Lot 201 – 1900 3½ hp ‘Automobilette’ Taking its name
from Phoebus, the Greek god who drove the sun across the heavens each day,
the Phebus was built between 1899-1903 in the Parisian suburb of Suresnes by
Noe Boyer & Cie, who also marketed the Boyer car. Phebus was initially
known for its very powerful and fast Aster-engined tricycles, one of which
achieved the then breakneck speed of almost 39mph on the Crystal Palace
velodrome ridden by Charles Jarrott. His
racing companion on that occasion was
F.F.Wellington, who imported Phebus machines into England.
Frank
Wellington on a Phebus-Aster racing tricycle from… Grace’s Guide 1901 - Frank F. Wellington (age 31 born
Bristol), living at 36 Georges Square, London: Motor Car Engineer, with his wife Ellen M Wellington (age 29
born Leyton) and their son Roy H. Wellington (age 2 born Hampstead). Three
servants. from… The Electrical Engineer, Volume 27, 1901 Patent 3488 – Improvements in or connected with
electrical ignition apparatus particularly applicable to explosive engines
(sic). Frank Frederick Wellington,
33 Chancery lane, London. from… The East Anglian Daily Times, 5 January
1901 MOTOR-CAR
DRIVER FINED Frank F. Wellington, of London and Danbury, who drove with the defendant from Chelmsford,
deposed that they started from the White Hart Hotel, Chelmsford, at three o
clock, and arrived in Ingatestone at twenty minutes to four, so they covered
six miles in forty minutes. The witness, who had been a judge at all the
motor-car races in the country last the few years, knew it was absolutely
impossible for anyone to measure the speed of a motor-car by guesswork. from… The Chelmsford Chronicle, 11 July 1902 MESSRS KEMSLEY
LAND AGENTS & AUCTIONEERS Sale at Elm Green Farm, Danbury THE Well-made
household furniture, comprising walnut and ash bedroom suite, brass and iron
bedsteads, bedding, walnut sideboard, grand piano, antique carved oak and
other chairs, grandfather clock, mahogany and other tables, carpets,
pictures, bronzes, etc. Also breech-loading guns, garden tent and tools,
several bead of poultry and ducks, and numerous miscellaneous effects.
Messrs. Kemsley are instructed by F.F.
Wellington, Esq. who is leaving the neighbourhood, to sell the above by
auction, on the premises, on Thursday, July 17th, at one o'clock precisely. From an advertisements in 1902 ... |
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COMPETITION FRANK F.
WELLINGTON, Ltd. 30-37. St.
George’s Square. Regent’s Park. N.W. The prizes will
be awarded for the plugs that have travelled the greatest distance, and been
in use for the longest period. To participate in future competitions, buy the
wellington sparking plug, 4/3, post free with plate for BENZ CARS, 7/9, post
free. Wellington’s Motor Car Register
and Advertiser contains particulars of hundreds of Motor Bicycles, Trioycles,
Voiturettes, Cars, Vans, etc., monthly post free, 1/6 per annum. |
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SITUATIONS
VACANT FRANK F. WELLINGTON, Ltd., Motor
Car Engineers and Experts, 36 St. George’s-square, Regent’s-park. N.W., now
have a VACANCY for a Gentleman pupil. Fee 150 guineas. |
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NEW SPRAG provisionally
protected No car complete without one Send for full particular:- FRANK F.
WELLINGTON, Ltd. 36, St. George’s Square, Regent’s Park, |
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[ A Sprag was a
mechanical operated “chock” on rear wheels to prevent vehicles rolling
backwards on hills ] |
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from… The Surrey Mirror, 19 September 1902 MOTORISTS FINED Frank Frederick Wellington, St. George's Square. Regent's Park, London, was summoned
for driving his motor car at Leigh a greater speed than twelve miles per
hour. Inspector Collins stated that on August 2nd he timed the defendant
driving his motor car on a straight piece of road at over a tenth of mile
stretch. He covered the distance in 19 secs., equal a rate of 18 miles an
hour. The offences were committed on the day when the motor test trials took
place to Brighton and back. Mr. Llewellyn
Davies, solicitor, who appeared for defendant, stated that his client
contended that his machine would not travel at that rate. He was one of the
pioneers of the motor car business, and for a number of years past he had
driven on the Continent and also in England, and not a single complaint had
been made against him. The defendant, was very careful driver, and assured
him that at the time he was stopped, he could not possibly have been
travelling at the rate of 24 miles an hour as alleged. The defence had no
weight with the bench, and was fined £2 and costs. from… The East Anglian Daily Times, 27 March 1903
Only some of
best exhibits were alluded to preliminary notice of the Automobile show at
the Agricultural Hall, Islington, and a second visit enables one to draw
attention to other prominent cars of both English and foreign origin. Messrs
Brooke and Co., Ltd. of the Adrian Works, Lowestoft, have a spacious stand in
tha centre of hall, and their cars, which are neatly and effectively
decorated and finished, bear favourable comparison with those of any other
maker. It is noteworthy that the cars
are made exclusively at Lowestoft, the sole concessionary being Messrs. F.F.
Wellington, Ltd, of St. George's Square, Regents Park. from… The Yarmouth Independent, 18 April 1903 THE NEW NORFOLK AUTOMOBILE CLUB
AT YARMOUTH Parade, Procession, and Photography The Coming of the Motor Car The members of
the newly formed Norfolk Automobile and Lunch Club, had the very best of
reasons for the congratulations they expressed to a heartily Yarmouth on
Saturday afternoon, when they brought off their first parade... Mr.
Frank F. Wellington, of London, drove a smart 14 hp Brooks car. from… The Leeds Mercury, 14 May 1903 Considering the
number competitors and the trying nature of the day, the incidents on the
journey were comparatively few, and none were of really serious nature.
Probably the worst accident of the day was sustained by Mr. F.F. Wellington, who was driving 6- cylinder 14 BHP Brook
Tourneau car, though he managed the
journey. Mr. Wellington broke his
gear fork, so will not among the starters for the second portion of the
journey. from… The Belfast News Letter, 24 September 1903 The second
number of the "Car Magazine" contains the following articles... How to Buy a Second hand Car by Frank Wellington There are numerous illustrations from… The Automobile Club Journal, 19 November
1903 THE 100 MILES
TRIALS CERTIFICATES Messrs. Frank
F. Wellington, Ltd., 151 and 153,
Wardour-street, London. 6bhp Pick. Makers’ description: 2 cylinders, cooled by pump,
radiators and tank. Fixed electric ignition. Transmission: Chain from motor to gear, chain from
gear to wheels. Seats two. Speed on outward journey: Up to legal limit. Speed on
return journey:Up to legal limit. Hill-climb speeds: Aston Hill – took two passengers
all the way up in 8mins=12miles per hour. Observer, report: Stopped to replace four broken
sparking plugs.. No other trouble. |
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From an Autocar advertisement in 1903 ... |
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FRANK F.
WELLINGTON, Ltd., 36. St. George’s Square, Regent’s Park BROOKE CARS All British manufacture perfectly silent vibrationless hill climbing powers We shall Exhibit our new and
improved types at the AUTOMOBILE SHOW
– CRYSTAL PALACE Jan. 30th to Feb. 7th. STAND No. 98 |
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A
typical early 1900s Brook automobile |
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There were many other advertisements in the early 1900s, more examples are in… http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Frank_F._Wellington from… Grace’s Guide 1904 – WELLINGTON,
Frank F, 151 Wardour Street, London, Caswell House, London Road,
Iseworth. Car: Pick. Hobbies: Shooting, fishing. Commenced
motoring before the passing of the 1896 Act, and has handled over seven
hundred cars of different makes. Has won four gold, two silver, and two
bronze medals, and seven other prizes and certificates. Has built both
electric and petrol cars. Drove the first electric car one hundred miles on
one charge without a stop in 1898. Was judge of motor-racing for two years. The managing director of Frank F.
Wellington, Ltd., who are the agents for the Pick cars…
a
1902 6HP Pick Motors Voiturette from… The Automotor Journal, 9th December 1905 Mr F. F.
Wellington, representing the British Automobile Commercial Syndicate Limited, will be at the Paris Show on the stand of Messrs.
Spyker Brothers, of Holland. MAIDENHEAD DUST
TRIALS. Among the least
dusty of all the cars present were Mr. Wilson’s Spyker, Mr. F. Wellington’s 15-20hp Spyker. And Mr. R. C. H. Harrison’s
12hp Sunbeam. All these cars were noticeable for their high open build. The
Spyker cars are of the live-axle type and on the Sunbeam car the side-chains
were enclosed in cases. As a final test, the judges asked Mr. Wellington to remove the front
mud-guards from his car, and under this condition there was a noticeable
improvement in its performance. BRIGHTON MOTOR
MEETING. Another good race was that between Mr. F. F.
Wellington, on a 20hp Spyker, and Mr. Sharp, on a Thornycroft.
Could
it be Frank Wellington in the prominent positions in these Spyker cars in London and Brighton? From… Essex Records
Office – T/P 507/10 A photograph with the “date of creation” of 1906 and a title of: The Chequers Inn, Goldhanger showing Frank
Wellington in the motor car and William Page of Follyfaunts in the horse
and trap. The car has been
identified as a 1903 Pick Motors 6HP Voiturette. The Pick Motor Company produced
cars between 1898 and 1922 in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Frank F. Wellington,
Ltd., were the London agents for the Pick Motors. |
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This picture is perhaps best known in the village through
the large copy that has been hanging in the Chequers
Inn for many years. It was also issued as a postcard in several forms in
the past… |
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At around the same time a postcard was produced of the
Mill Beach Hotel which is just a mile from the centre of Goldhanger. The postcard shows a very similar, if not identical
car, which could have Frank Wellington in the driving seat…
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From… Essex Records
Office – T/P 507/9 A photograph with the “date of creation” of 1906 and a title of: Photograph
of Charles Jacobs Page of Goldhanger at the wheel of motor car F1658 These words given as “Content” in the ERO record: Register of motor cars
states this was a 6 HP “Orleans” motor car First registered on 2
February 1906 Charles Page was the
owner |
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The Orleans Motor Car Company Ltd. was based at the Orleans Works in
Orleans Road, Twickenham. They initially used a design and imported many of
the parts from a Belgium automotive company Ateliers Vivinus S.A. The
similarly between the two vehicles can be seen below.
The
Orleans is on the left - the Vivinus
is on the right The Orleans Motor Car Company was later re-named as The New Orleans
Motor Car Company Ltd. In 1998 Mrs Winsome Hopwood, Née Page, allowed members of the Goldhanger
History Group to copy this and other photographs for potential use in the
village Millennium calendar. She later donated the originals to ERO. The car was most
probably supplied by Frank Wellington, whose London based business were
agents for the Orleans Motor Car Company, and who was Charles Page’s
brother-in-law. From… Essex Records
Office – T/P 507/11 A photograph with the “date of creation” of 1906 and a title of: Photograph of Frank Wellington and Eleanor
Bailey in motor car
Eleanor Bailey was another Frank Wellington’s sisters-in-law. Mrs
Hopwood, Née Page, allowed members of the Goldhanger History Group to copy
this photograph before she donated the framed original to ERO. The picture is
not sufficiently clear to see the occupants in any detail, but the front of
the automobile and its radiator design is distinctive enough to identify it
as a 1903 12hp Gladiator. Advertisements that appeared in 1900(an example is shown above) for
Frank F. Wellington’s St. George’s Square business declared that he was the
“sole agent for Phebus-Aster and Gladiator machines”. Gladiator was a French
manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles and cars. In 1902-3 three quarters of
their vehicle production was sold in the UK. from… The London Evening Standard, 9 January 1906 Mr. F.F. Wellington, of the British Automobile
Commercial Syndicate, does not
mince matters in giving his views on the question: "Should foreign cars
taxed". His opinion of the
domestic product is far from flattering.
To the Editor, SIR, - I think
it would not be amiss to call the attention of your readers to the
advisability of paying special attention to the methods now universal in
driving cars with Cardan shafts. It has frequently come to my notice of late that
drivers and owners are ignorant of the fact that to use a foot-brake that is
connected to the propeller-shaft, or to the projecting shaft from the
gear-box, is disastrous and destroys more quickly than anything the life of
the small pinion. Yours faithfully, F. F. WELLINGTON from… The London Evening Standard, 1 May 1906 GRAPPLING WITH
THE SKIDDING PROBLEM Greasy pavement and slipping
wheels made the lot of motor omnibus drivers anything but pleasant one, not
speak of the feelings passengers and policemen. The matter has now become
serious that the police authorities have sent circular the leading members of
the motor-car trade, inviting suggestions for remedy. Already one answer has,
we are informed, been sent to Scotland-yard by Mr. F.F. Wellington, who has devised simple means to obviate
side-slip. This consists of a stout chain fastened around each rear wheel
between the double tread, the metal links of the chain protruding slightly
above the outer surface the solid tyre. To test its efficiency, the designer
will equip twenty motor omnibuses with the device on the condition that a
detailed report of any side-slip is made at the end day's run. A feature of
this simple solution is that it can be remover in dry weather, and when there
is no likelihood skidding, and moreover when one side of the chain wears
smooth it can reversed, so doubling the period of usefulness. from… The London Evening Standard. 18 July 1906 MOTOR BUS
PROBLEM - THIRD WITHIN A WEEK CARELESS
DRIVERS BLAMED FOR DEFECTS “Trace all these defects to their original
source" said Mr. F.F. Wellington,
of the British Automobile Commercial
Syndicate, one of the pioneers among motor engineers, "and you will
find it is carelessness the driver ninety-nine times out of one hundred. I
would rather have a good driver with inferior car than a good car with poor
driver. The fool driver will quickly spoil the best car ever made.”
from… Morning Post 3 October 1906 MOTORISTS EMANCIPATION DAY Mr. Charles and
Mr. O. McRobia Turrell convened a gathering of pioneer British motorists at
45, Great Marlborough-street yesterday afternoon with view to nominating a committee
and taking steps to celebrate November next as Motorists "Emancipation Day",
being the tenth anniversary of the 1896 Light Locomotives Act, when a band of
pioneers set forth for Brighton. The following committee was elected
undertake the necassary work of organisation : Messrs. G. McRobie, Charles
Jarrott... and Frank Wellington. from… The Pall Mall Gazette, 11 October 1906 INTERVIEW WITH
A PROMINENT MOTOR TRADER There are few men who possess a wider
experience of the motor trade than that pioneer of the industry, Mr. F.F. Wellington, the manager of the British Automobile
Commercial Syndicate, and to him, therefore, I went for enlightenment on
the agency scheme situation: “The agency
scheme of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders,” he explained, “is
an attempt to deal with a very difficult problem, but it is an impractical
attempt, because the evils it is supposed to correct are too deep-seated to
lend themselves to treatment on the lines suggested. It would be futile to
try to bind the agents. Agency districts are very clearly defined, and an
agent must be allowed within reasonable limits to do as he pleases in his own
district. It would be absurd to say, for example, that at the end of the
season he shall not, if he wishes it, be allowed to clear his stock at under
list prices. It should be understood, by the way, that the sphere of
influence of an agent is so well recognised that if the agent of one district
sells to person merely living in the district of another agent he must pay to
the second agent a commission on the sale.” from… The Pall Mall Gazette, 26 November 1906 CLOSE OF
OLYMPIA SHOW Prominent exhibitors express
their views... Mr. F.F. Wellington, that pioneer motorist who now has the British Automobile Commercial Syndicate in his charge and
handles the output for this country of Spyker Cars, he remarked: “The
arrangements for the show next year must be altered. The show now overcrowded
with sub-agents, with the consequence that many of the large manufacturers
are relegated to out-of-the-way corners”. Mr. Wellington suggested that the principal spaces in the
building should be reserved for the manufacturers and sole concessionaires
only, and that exhibits should be limited to four cars. “Olympia”, he said,
“is not big enough to allow carriage builders and small agents to exhibit
cars already shown elsewhere. Carriage builders already have their exhibits
on every stand, and the fact that there can be duplication has resulted in a
combination that has become an abuse”. In reply to my inquiry as to the
business done, Mr. Wellington
stated that his difficulty was to keep his agents supplied fast enough to
satisfy demands, and that in the matter private buyers he had no cause to
grumble. from… The Pall Mall Gazette, 23 May 1907 MOTORS AND
MOTORING - THE MEETING AT BEXHILL In the last few days I have had
particularly favourable opportunity of judging the merits the Spyker cars,
for thanks to Mr. F.F. Wellington,
I was a passenger both to and from Bexhill on one or other of those
comprising the team of five which competed with such success in the races
there. Perhaps the two points which struck me most about them were the
astonishing speed which even the smallest of them was able to attain (due,
doubtless, to carefully-studied timing, and the use of ball-bearing
crank-shafts), and the ability of the cars to take almost all the hills
without change of gear. On the return
journey a curious incident happened. We reached Tunbridge Wells in good time,
and had begun to calculate what hour should be in town, the cars following in
line behind the leading one. So interested were that we scarcely noticed that
the road Tonbridge was unusually long, when we ran into Uckfield, and found
that the leading driver, not knowing the country, had taken a wrong turning,
and was heading direct for the sea. An attempt was made to attract his
attention, with such little result that a little later, instead of being in
London, we were lunching the Old Ship at Brighton. from… The Preston Herald, Lancashire, 8 June 1907 Mr. F.F. Wellington, until recently manager of the British Automobile Commercial
Syndicate, has taken the management the Spyker business at Amsterdam,
Holland. The deserved popularity of the Spyker car throughout Great Britain
has been largely due to Mr.
Wellington’s personal efforts, and in his new capacity he will carry the
best wishes all users of the famous dustless car.
from… The Pall Mall Gazette, 10 October 1907 CANAL TRANSPORT
IN HOLLAND Intermittently one hears rumours
of attempts that are made to improve the transport facilities In this country
by development of our canal system, the principal item in the development
being the employment of motor vessels. Of course, there would be the
opposition of the railways to overcome, and one would imagine that this would
be the biggest difficulty in the way of the scheme. Mr. F.F. Wellington, now manager of the Spyker works in Holland,
who is over on a brief visit London, recently remarked: “You speak of
motor boats over here,” he said, but you if you came over to Holland I can
show you 5,000 motor-boats on the Dutch canals doing practically the whole
the transport work of the country. What is more, too, they use nothing but
paraffin fuel. Thanks to this water transport, I am able to deliver chassis
in London at £1 apiece, which is less than would cost to convey a chassis
from Coventry to London. Our works are
just twelve miles from Amsterdam, and I can transport a chassis by motor-boat
over the intervening distance at 1s a piece. Now you know one reason why it
is that I am able to bring four-cylinder Spyker cabs into London considerably
cheaper than anyone else is able to and even sell two-cylinder cabs.” Manchester Courier and
Lancashire General Advertiser, 18 October 1907 MOTORS AND
MOTORING. The popularity
of the Motor Cab, by J. P. Holland One of the most interesting
developments of the motor is the rapid displacement of the hansom cab by the
motor-cab in the streets of London... It goes without saying that the number
of motor-cabs will be enormously increased in London within the next twelve
months. Already there are a number of new models on the streets, one of these
a 10-12hp Spyker, afforded me a very serviceable object lesson in this method
of travel the other day. I had occasion to make a hurried trip to Crystal
Palace, and mentioned the fact to Mr.
F.F. Wellington, manager of the Spyker works. "You can have my car
for an hour," he said, “Vaughan will get you to Crystal Palace and be
back again by that time." It looked rather an absurd proposition, seeing
that the railway takes nearly forty minutes. But I accepted the offer, and we
set out from Piccadilly. Without exceeding the legal speed limit we reached
Crystal in ample time to allow the return journey being made under the hour.
from… www.ritzsite.nl/Spyker/04_spyker.htm In 1907 a 10/15HP Spyker
special model appeared with a completely new engine. It was purposeful
developed as a taxi for the English market. It was one of the few taxis on the
market at that time with a 4-cylinder engine, most had 2-cylinder engines.
This taxi became reasonably popular because of its well-built bodywork and
roomy passenger compartment that could seat four. from… Daily Telegraph & Courier, 16 November
1907 Mr.
F. F. Wellington,
one of the oldest motorists in England, lately left his position in this
country to take up the appointment as manager of Spyker Car in Holland. He
writes stating that up to the present he has not been installed there, owing
to the differences existing between the Debenture holders and Mr. Spyker. The
result that the business has been placed the hands of the Dutch Courts, and
the matter will not be adjusted until after Christmas. from… The Morning Post, 6 December 1907 ON MOTORING Mr. Frank Wellington states that Mr. J. Spyker has resigned his position as managing
director the firm at Trompenburg-by-Amsterdam, where the Spyker cars are
made. from… The London Evening Standard, 5 June 1908 TRADE NOTES Mr. F.F. Wellington, who has at last finally severed his connection with the
"Spyker” makers, will back in England at the end of the month. from… The Sphere magazine on Saturday 6 June 1908 THE MOTORISTS
NOTEBOOK We regret to hear that Mr. Frank Wellington has severed his connection with the Spyker
company. He made heroic efforts to restore the fortunes of that famous car in
the UK. from… The Preston Herald, 8 July 1908 MOTORING NOTES
by J P Holland Mr. F.F.
Wellington On returning
from the 2,000 miles trial one of the first men I met in town was Mr. F.F. Wellington, formerly manager
the B.A.C.S., and, exploiter in chief of the Spyker car. He has now returned
to London after year’s absence in Amsterdam, to be sales manager to the Suddautache
Automobilefabrik. of Gaggenau, Baden, who are opening a branch business at 14
Baker-street, W. It will not long before the Geggenau car will soon be
household word in motoring circles, especially the provinces, as Mr. Wellington was one of the first
to recognise the superiority the provincial press as a direct medium bring
before buyers the advantages of cars. The firm he represents is amalgamated
with the celebrated firm of Mannheim, Germany, the Benz being the most
successful of all cars produced the Fatherland. from… The Preston Herald, 14 November 1908 SPYKER CARS Owners of
Spyker Cars will be gratified to that the famous Dutch firm have now
surmounted their recent financial troubles and the introduction of fresh
capital the business has now been placed a sound, financial basis. A new
Board of Directors and a new Managing Director are at the head affairs and
Mr. Spyker is longer connected with the business. It is the intention the
Trompeoburg Works re-open business in England, the British Automobile
Commercial Syndicate being no longer their agents. For this purpose they have
taken temporary offices 64, Wellington-road, N.W, and Mr. F.F. Wellington, whose name has been so closely identified
with the success of Spyker Car in England for the past five years, will be at
the Spyker Stand, No. 135 in the Annex at Olympia. Mr. Wellington is one the most popular men the trade and has
hosts friends who will be sure to take this opportunity of welcoming him back
England. from… The Daily
Telegraph & Courier, 17 November 1908 The Great Exhibition of Motor
Cars at Olympia SPYKER In the Annex
under the charge Mr. Frank Wellington,
who has has been associated with Spyker Cars since their introduction into
this country, is a racy-looking little two-seater 10-15hp car, with a dickey
seat behind, that can be raised or shut up as required. Probably the
car that will attract most attention to visitors exhibited on the stand is
the 10-15hp single landaulette suitable as a taxi-cab. Londoners already have
four of these cabs running on the streets, which are remarkable for their
comfort and, having a four-cylinder motor, are rather more powerful than the
usual taxi. The vehicle makes a very handsome single brougham, fitted with a
speaking-tube and handsome cloth upholstering. It looks far too good for a
cab, and will no doubt, find many purchasers among doctors and business men
who require a convenient, fast, and economical carriage. from… The Army and
Navy Gazette, 26 November 1910 Mr. Frank Wellington in conjunction with Mr. Bowring, has just opened motor show
rooms in Great Portland Street, is one of the best known members of the
motoring industry. He commenced actual motoring before the passing of the Act
of 1896, and in his commercial capacity has handled over 700 cars of
different makes, both of the electric and petrol types. For many years he was manager of the British Automobile
Commercial Syndicate, Ltd., and general manager of Spyker's in Holland.
His wide practical experience should therefore prove invaluable in the
operations of his new company,Frank Wellington and Bowring, Ltd., which will
cover selling, exchanging, valuing, and expert advising in all branches of
the industry. The firm will not be bound to anyone make of car, but any make
or parts thereof will bo obtainable at the premises in Great Portland Street,
whilst repairs of all kinds will be carried out at works in Bolsover Street. from… The Northampton Mercury, 2 December 1910 A NEW FIRM An addition to
the list of motor firms which will welcomed by most of the old timers the
business is that of Messrs. Frank
Wellington and Limited, who have just opened a sales room at 62,
Bolsover-street. As the title of the firm would suggest, everyone speaks of
the head of the concern as Frank Wellington, just as in the old cycling days
it was Frank Wellington who
officiated as judge at race meetings, or was the arbitrator in disputes in
many ways, but always with a tact and discretion which made everybody his
friend. As the pioneer
advocate the provincial press for the exploitation of motor car business
against the exclusive use of the trade press, which previous to Mr. Wellington’s innovation had been
considered the only possible medium for advertising cars, he has certainly
deserved well the provincial agent who may thank him that his business now
exploited as should be, and where his customers may learn of it. The new venture
in which Mr. Wellington is engaged
has associated with him Mr. Bowring, who has been connected with the motor
trade for some eight years. The business of the new firm will consist at the
start in buying and selling cars, valuations and expert advice, but later on
they will take up the agency of a car or cars manufactured out of London. from… The Scotsman, 20 March 1911 VALUATION Mr Frank Wellington , M.I.A.E., of the firm of Messrs Wellington & Bowring,
Limited , of 220 Great Portland Street, the well known motor expert and
valuer, has valued the business a going concern at £40,000. This figure does
not include the value of the Foreign Patents, which he reports should yield a
considerable sum. from… Grace’s Guide 1911 – Frank Wellington living at 15 Cecil
House. High Street. St. Marylebone, with his wife Ellen Maude Wellington and
their son Roy Newcombe Wellington (age 11 born Hampstead). from… The Aberdeen Press and Journal, 14 November
1914 MOTOR NOTES MR F.F.
WELLINGTON The many
friends of F.F. Wellington will be pleased to know
that he has recovered from the long illness resulting from motor accident. He
was the first recognise the value the provincial press medium for selling
motor cars, the popularity of the old Spyker car some years ago being the
result of judgment in this respect. He has now severed his connection with
the firm Frank Wellington and Bowring
Limited, pending other association when the motor trade revives. from… Grace’s Guide 1917
– Frank Wellington died (age 49) from… Ebay.fr (in
2016), two advertisements from 1919
and 1920
from… The Times, 4 November 1919 |
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FRANK
WELLINGTON &.BOWRING, Ltd. 220, Great Portland Street Beg to announce that they have been appointed solo concessionaires
for the British Isles for the famous 25hp SPYKER CARS and would be
glad to answer enquiries. |
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from… The Western Times, 6 July 1920 VALUABLE
TORQUAY PROPERTY ... they decided
to resell the Backet Court, and accordingly they entered into a contract with
Messrs. Frank Wellington and Bowring,
Limited, motor engineers, for the sale to them of the premises for
£7,000. advertisements
for Frank Wellington & Bowring Ltd. continued to appear in the press until 1923 from… The London Gazette, 2 December, 1924 Notice is
hereby given, pursuant of the Companies Consolidation Act of 1908, that the
names of the under mentioned Companies have been this day struck off the
Register and the Companies are hereby dissolved… Frank
Wellington & Bowring Limited. from… The Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal, 3
April 1925 How Accidents
Happened The late Frank Wellington, who was one of the earliest and ablest mechanical experts in
the motor world, used to say: “Find the weak spot of your car and your repair
bill be out half”. It is only another version of the old adage of an ounce of
prevention being better than a pound cure, but it is not always easy to put
one's finger the weak spot of a car, at least until after that same weak spot
has disclosed itself by accident, after which it may serve as a guide against
future troubles. In 1953 the British
made film “Genevieve” used a 1905 Spyker car The
film, which was a comedy about the annual London to Brighton run, used a 1905
model Spyker car as one of the two main featured cars. As the main importer
of this make of car at the time, F. Wellington Cars Ltd probably originally
imported this car...
The
spyker car is on the left The same car last completed the London
to Brighton run in 2013 and it is now in the Louwman Museum in The Hague, Holland. Expensive sports
cars are still produced by Spyker in Holland today. |
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A
brief résumé of Frank Frederick Wellington’s career based on the
above extracts 1890 The first mention
of Frank Wellington in a newspaper: “he had already been through one very bad
smash” 1894
He married Ellen Maude Bailey at Chiswick 1897 Frank
Wellington was photographed in “the first car through Goldhanger” 1897 He
registered a patent for “Variable Gearing” for a motor vehicle 1898 He drove the
first electric car one hundred miles on one charge without a stop. 1899 First advert
in Autocar magazine for cars wanted 1900 He began
production of the “Wellington car” in
Regent’s Park Road, London 1900 Winner of
the Crystal Palace Brassard one hour race, beating all the English records 1900 Was the
winner of a solid silver champion’s vase at Crystal Palace 1900 The vase and
other prizes were exhibited at Wellington's stand in Islington Agricultural
Hall 1900 He became
agent for Phebus-Aster, Gladiators and other makes of cars and tricycles 1900 Mr. F. F.
Wellington chaired the annual Motor
Car Club meeting 1900 He was a
member of the Management of the “Motor Users Defence Association” 1900 There were
many Wellington adverts at this time 1901 Production
of the Wellington car ended 1901 He was
living at 36 Georges Square, London, with his wife Ellen,son Roy and 3
servants 1901 He
registered a patent for “improvements to electrical ignition apparatus” 1901 His private
addresses were given as of London and Danbury 1902 He sold Elm
Green Farm, Danbury and its contents at auction 1902 Many adverts
for Wellington’s sparking plugs and “hundreds of Motor Bicycles, Tricycles,
Voiturettes, etc.” 1902 adverts for
the “Sprag” mechanical operated “chock” on rear wheels 1902 Fined for
exceeding the 12mph speed limit on the London to Brighton run 1903 F.F.
Wellington of London was sole concessionary for Brooks Cars of Lowestoft 1903 He drove a 14
hp Brooks car in a Great Yarmouth auto show 1903 He published
a book entitles: “How to Buy a Second hand Car” 1903 F.Wellington
Ltd showed Brooke Cars at the Crystal Palace Automobile Show 1903 There were many
adverts for Brooke Cars for sale by F.Wellington Ltd 1904 “He built
both electric and petrol cars”. “He has been a judge of motor-racing for two
years”. 1904 Frank F.
Wellington, Ltd., “agents for Pick Motor Cars” 1905 F.
Wellington of British Automobile Commercial Syndicate was at the Paris Show
on the Spyker stand 1905 He raced
Spyker cars in the UK 1906 Several
letters/article from him appeared in newspapers at this time 1906 “Frank
Wellington has the British Automobile Commercial Syndicate (BACS) in his
charge” 1906 He was
photographed outside The Chequers Inn, Goldhanger in a Pick Motors Voiturette 1906 He was photographed with Eleanor
Bailey of
Tollesbury (his sister-law) in a 12hp Gladiator automobile 1907 Hendrik-Jan
Spijker was killed which led to the bankruptcy of the company 1907 “F.
Wellington, until recently manager of BACS, has taken management of Spyker
Cars in Amsterdam” 1908 He severed connection with Spyker. “He made
heroic efforts to restore the fortunes of the famous car”. 1908 He is in
London as sales manager of Suddautache Automobilefabrik, Gaggenau, after a
year in Amsterdam 1908 “F.
Wellington will be on the Spyker Stand, at Olympia” 1910 Fank
Wellington & Bowring Ltd, opened showrooms in Great Portland Street 1911 F.
Wellington, M.I.A.E., of F.Wellington & Bowring Ltd, valued the business
at £40,000. 1914 He recovered
from a long illness resulting from motor accident. 1917 Frank
Wellington died, aged 49 1920 Frank
Wellington and Bowring, Limited sold their Torquay property for £7,000. 1923
Advertisements for Frank Wellington & Bowring Ltd. continued in
the press up until this year 1924 Frank
Wellington & Bowring Limited was dissolved and struck off the Register of
Companies 1953 A 1905 model Spyker car was used in the film “Genevieve” _________________________ |
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