Straker-Squire
Encyclopedia
Straker-Squire was a British automobile manufacturer based in Bristol
, and later Edmonton
in North London
.
The company was formed in 1893 at St Philips, Bristol, as Brazil, Straker & Co by the Irish Engineer J.P. Brazil and the London motor agent Sidney StrakerBristol Aeroplane Company Ltd Retrieved on 2007-11-26.. In 1899 Sidney Straker joined forces with Edward Bayley and went into production of steam wagon
s, joining in partnership with L.R.L. Squire in 1904 and production reached 200 steam wagons by 1906Motormarques: Straker-Squire Retrieved on 2007-11-28..
In 1907 the company moved into a new factory on Lodge Causeway
, Fishponds, at first to manufacture commercial vehicles, including large numbers of early London Buses
, and a French car design under licence. The company also produced and successfully raced a number of its own car designs.
When World War I
started Sir Roy Fedden
, their chief designer, convinced the company to take on aircraft engine repair and manufacture, and that arm of the company was taken over by Cosmos Engineering
in 1918. The company built staff cars and lorries during the war, and afterwards all production moved to Edmonton in North London in 1919. Car production continued until 1926 and Sidney Straker was killed in a hunting accident not long afterwards.
s. A "Bayley" undertype wagon, fitted with a Straker engine and De Dion
boiler took part in the Second Liverpool Steam Wagon Trials 0f 1899.
By 1901 Straker were building an entire wagon This exchanged the previous gear drive to the rear axle with a chain drive
. Although other steam wagons used chain drives, this was the first to use a single chain, with the differential mounted on the axle rather than the chassis, and with a chain to each wheel. The rear wheels were large in diameter and constructed on the traction engine
pattern, with two rows of narrow built-up spokes. As these wheels were too large to fit under the load deck of the wagon, they were mounted outboard of it, requiring an extra-long axle. These wagons were sold by the 'Straker Steam Vehicle Co' with offices at 9 Bush Lane, London and the works in Bristol.
They took part in the War Office
Trials at Aldershot
of 1901, where they were awarded £100, and 1902 By 1902 the rear wheels had been reduced in diameter and now had six broader spokes from a flat sheet: a single sheet for the 2 ton, doubled for the 5 and 7 ton models. The steam engine itself was a two-cylinder compound, with cylinders of 7" stroke and 4" and 7" diameter. The transmission was relatively crude, using open gears rather than the enclosed oil-bath that was in use amongst other makers, and indeed used for the high-speed engine of their 2 ton light tractor. Two gears were provided, but one was only intended for hill-climbing and could only be selected from alongside the engine, not from the driver's cab.
The boiler was Straker's own development of the original De Dion. It was a vertical water-tube boiler
, constructed from four concentric tubes. The inner and outer pairs of tubes were joined to form two double-walled water jackets. Between these jackets ran numerous short, straight watertubes, sloping up slightly towards the centre. The central waterspace was higher than the outer space, acting as a steam dome. This also made the boiler's water level less sensitive to tilting when hill climbing, a great concern for many wagon makes. The boiler was fired by dropping fuel, usually gasworks coke
, down a central firing chute. For cleaning every few months, the outer shell could be removed entirely.
In many ways the boiler was similar to, and a precursor of, the Sentinel
of 1905. It did however require more labour to manufacture four shells rather than two, with considerably more tubes. The work of removing the boiler shell was also greater for the Straker, as it required the pipework and external fittings to first be removed.
For 1905, inspired by the new regulations, an almost completely new design was produced. This was a conventional traction engine
-style overtype with a locomotive boiler.
No Straker steam wagons are known to have survived today.
including the Flying Mile in 1910 at 95.54 mi/h (21 hp class), and the same year saw class wins at the Aston Clinton, Caerphilly, Pateley Bridge and Saltburn Hill Climbs. 1914 saw similar success including 4th in the TT.
Production of the 15 hp was revived after World War I, which was joined by the large 6cyl 20/25, 24/80 and 24/90 models. The 24/90 was light, quick and noisy, it was guaranteed to meet 70 mi/h and was priced at the 1919 Olympia
Motor Show initially at £1,600. Straker's nephew H "Bertie" Kensington Moir of Aston Martin
fame tested the prototype at Brooklands and set a class record lap at 103.76 mph. The final cars built by Straker-Squire were the lighter 4cyl 10/20 and 12/20 models.
The full list of Straker-Squire models are:Culshaw, David & Horrobin, Peter The Complete Catalogue of British Cars Veloce 1997 ISBN 0-9541-0639-3 p380.:
before expanding rapidly to cater for the London Bus market. In 1905 work included the bus chassis used for Royal Army Medical Corps
ambulancesSteam Traction: Days of Steam Retrieved on 2007-11-28. and they manufactured 50 omnibus
chassis and engines for London buses20th Century London: LGOC Retrieved on 2007-11-29.. By 1909 Straker-Squire dominated the market and the factory in Fishponds supplied 70% of London's busesBartlett, John Images of England, Fishponds Tempus 2004 ISBN 0-7524-3315-6 p117. Great Eastern of London took delivery of another 22 in bright yellow chrome livery in 1911. Post war the A-type bus in chassis and/or body form sold very well.
2cyl trucks under licence from 1906.
Truck models includedAutoLemon: Truck Straker-Squire Retrieved on 2007-11-29. :
Commercial vehicle production moved to Twickenham
during the war. After car production ended in 1926 a limited number of bus and truck chassis and Straker-Clough trolley buses were also built.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and later Edmonton
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
in North London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The company was formed in 1893 at St Philips, Bristol, as Brazil, Straker & Co by the Irish Engineer J.P. Brazil and the London motor agent Sidney StrakerBristol Aeroplane Company Ltd Retrieved on 2007-11-26.. In 1899 Sidney Straker joined forces with Edward Bayley and went into production of steam wagon
Steam wagon
A steam wagon is a steam-powered road vehicle for carrying freight. It was the earliest form of lorry and came in two basic forms: overtype and undertype – the distinction being the position of the engine relative to the boiler...
s, joining in partnership with L.R.L. Squire in 1904 and production reached 200 steam wagons by 1906Motormarques: Straker-Squire Retrieved on 2007-11-28..
In 1907 the company moved into a new factory on Lodge Causeway
Lodge Causeway
Lodge Causeway is an ancient passage through the former Royal Forest of Kingswood and now the main road between Fishponds and Kingswood in Bristol, England...
, Fishponds, at first to manufacture commercial vehicles, including large numbers of early London Buses
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
, and a French car design under licence. The company also produced and successfully raced a number of its own car designs.
When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started Sir Roy Fedden
Roy Fedden
Sir Alfred Hubert Roy Fedden MBE was an engineer who designed most of Bristol Engine Company's successful aircraft engine designs.-Early life:...
, their chief designer, convinced the company to take on aircraft engine repair and manufacture, and that arm of the company was taken over by Cosmos Engineering
Cosmos Engineering
Cosmos Engineering was a company that manufactured aero-engines in a factory in Fishponds, Bristol during World War I. Sir Roy Fedden, the company's principal designer, developed the 14-cylinder radial Mercury engine during this period...
in 1918. The company built staff cars and lorries during the war, and afterwards all production moved to Edmonton in North London in 1919. Car production continued until 1926 and Sidney Straker was killed in a hunting accident not long afterwards.
Steam wagons
Straker began by building engines for steam wagonSteam wagon
A steam wagon is a steam-powered road vehicle for carrying freight. It was the earliest form of lorry and came in two basic forms: overtype and undertype – the distinction being the position of the engine relative to the boiler...
s. A "Bayley" undertype wagon, fitted with a Straker engine and De Dion
De Dion
De Dion may refer to:* Jules-Albert de Dion , automobile pioneer* de Dion-Bouton, automobile manufacturer* de Dion tube, automobile suspension...
boiler took part in the Second Liverpool Steam Wagon Trials 0f 1899.
By 1901 Straker were building an entire wagon This exchanged the previous gear drive to the rear axle with a chain drive
Chain drive
Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles...
. Although other steam wagons used chain drives, this was the first to use a single chain, with the differential mounted on the axle rather than the chassis, and with a chain to each wheel. The rear wheels were large in diameter and constructed on the traction engine
Traction engine
A traction engine is a self-propelled steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin tractus, meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any traction engine is to draw a load behind it...
pattern, with two rows of narrow built-up spokes. As these wheels were too large to fit under the load deck of the wagon, they were mounted outboard of it, requiring an extra-long axle. These wagons were sold by the 'Straker Steam Vehicle Co' with offices at 9 Bush Lane, London and the works in Bristol.
They took part in the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
Trials at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
of 1901, where they were awarded £100, and 1902 By 1902 the rear wheels had been reduced in diameter and now had six broader spokes from a flat sheet: a single sheet for the 2 ton, doubled for the 5 and 7 ton models. The steam engine itself was a two-cylinder compound, with cylinders of 7" stroke and 4" and 7" diameter. The transmission was relatively crude, using open gears rather than the enclosed oil-bath that was in use amongst other makers, and indeed used for the high-speed engine of their 2 ton light tractor. Two gears were provided, but one was only intended for hill-climbing and could only be selected from alongside the engine, not from the driver's cab.
The boiler was Straker's own development of the original De Dion. It was a vertical water-tube boiler
Water-tube boiler
A water tube boiler is a type of boiler in which water circulates in tubes heated externally by the fire. Fuel is burned inside the furnace, creating hot gas which heats water in the steam-generating tubes...
, constructed from four concentric tubes. The inner and outer pairs of tubes were joined to form two double-walled water jackets. Between these jackets ran numerous short, straight watertubes, sloping up slightly towards the centre. The central waterspace was higher than the outer space, acting as a steam dome. This also made the boiler's water level less sensitive to tilting when hill climbing, a great concern for many wagon makes. The boiler was fired by dropping fuel, usually gasworks coke
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
, down a central firing chute. For cleaning every few months, the outer shell could be removed entirely.
In many ways the boiler was similar to, and a precursor of, the Sentinel
Sentinel boiler
The Sentinel boiler was a design of vertical boiler, fitted to the numerous steam waggons built by the Sentinel Waggon Works.The boiler was carefully designed for use in a steam wagon: it was compact, easy to handle whilst driving, and its maintenance features recognised the problems of poor...
of 1905. It did however require more labour to manufacture four shells rather than two, with considerably more tubes. The work of removing the boiler shell was also greater for the Straker, as it required the pipework and external fittings to first be removed.
For 1905, inspired by the new regulations, an almost completely new design was produced. This was a conventional traction engine
Traction engine
A traction engine is a self-propelled steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin tractus, meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any traction engine is to draw a load behind it...
-style overtype with a locomotive boiler.
No Straker steam wagons are known to have survived today.
Car models
The first pre-war models consisted of the Straker-Squire 16/20 and 12/14 Shamrock. Next, Fedden designed the 15 hp model in three versions, which were more conventional than later designs influenced by the company's experience in aeroengines. These 4-seater 15-20 hp models were developed over 6 years and in advertising were described as the best medium powered cars on the world market. A specially prepared 15 hp driven by Witchell took several records at BrooklandsBrooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
including the Flying Mile in 1910 at 95.54 mi/h (21 hp class), and the same year saw class wins at the Aston Clinton, Caerphilly, Pateley Bridge and Saltburn Hill Climbs. 1914 saw similar success including 4th in the TT.
Production of the 15 hp was revived after World War I, which was joined by the large 6cyl 20/25, 24/80 and 24/90 models. The 24/90 was light, quick and noisy, it was guaranteed to meet 70 mi/h and was priced at the 1919 Olympia
Olympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
Motor Show initially at £1,600. Straker's nephew H "Bertie" Kensington Moir of Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
fame tested the prototype at Brooklands and set a class record lap at 103.76 mph. The final cars built by Straker-Squire were the lighter 4cyl 10/20 and 12/20 models.
The full list of Straker-Squire models are:Culshaw, David & Horrobin, Peter The Complete Catalogue of British Cars Veloce 1997 ISBN 0-9541-0639-3 p380.:
- CSB. 1906. 25 hp 4900 cc T-head engine. Imported French Cornilleau-Ste Beuve model. Competed in 1907 the Heavy-Car Tourist Trophy.
- 16/20. 1907, 4cyl 2919 cc engine.
- 12/14 Shamrock. 1907, 20 hp 4cyl 2069 cc water-cooled engine, 10 ft (3.048 m) in length.
- 14/16. 1909, 4cyl 2022 cc 15 hp engine, 12 in 6 in (3.81 m) in length. Completed in the RACRAC-Companies:* Rent-A-Center, an American public furniture and electronics rent to own company* Royal Automobile Club, a private club in Pall Mall, London* RAC plc, a breakdown company in the United Kingdom...
2,000 Miles Trial and was placed 3rd in class. - 15 hp Mark 1. 1910 model, 4cyl 2851 cc 5-valve engine, 12 in 6 in (3.81 m) in length.
- 15 hp Mark 2. 1911-13 model. As above but heavier and 13 foot in length.
- 15 hp Mark 3. 1914-22 model. Improved 4cyl 3054 cc side-valve engine and 13 in 7 in (4.14 m) in length.
- 20/25. 1920-25, 6cyl 3920 cc engine with overhead cam, 70 bhp at 2400 rpm, 14 in 2 in (4.32 m) in length. 75 mi/h in normal spec.
- 24/80. 1920-25. As 20/25 but with longer wheelbase.
- 24/90. 1921. 6cyl 4962 cc overhead valve engine. 67 built.
- 10/20. 1923-25. 4cyl 1460 cc overhead valve engine, a lighter car of various bodywork length between 12 in 6 in (3.81 m) and 13 in 4 in (4.06 m) 92+ built.
- 11/28. 1926. 4cyl 1460 cc overhead valve engine, 30 bhp, 12 in 6 in (3.81 m) in length.
- 12/20. 1926. As above but with wider track.
Bus manufacturing
Straker-Squire began by supplying a small number of buses to GWR road motor servicesGWR road motor services
The Great Western Railway road motor services operated from 1903 to 1933, both as a feeder to their train services, and as a cheaper alternative to building new railways in rural areas...
before expanding rapidly to cater for the London Bus market. In 1905 work included the bus chassis used for Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
ambulancesSteam Traction: Days of Steam Retrieved on 2007-11-28. and they manufactured 50 omnibus
London General Omnibus Company
The London General Omnibus Company or LGOC, was the principal bus operator in London between 1855 and 1933. It was also, for a short period between 1909 and 1912, a motor bus manufacturer.- Overview :...
chassis and engines for London buses20th Century London: LGOC Retrieved on 2007-11-29.. By 1909 Straker-Squire dominated the market and the factory in Fishponds supplied 70% of London's busesBartlett, John Images of England, Fishponds Tempus 2004 ISBN 0-7524-3315-6 p117. Great Eastern of London took delivery of another 22 in bright yellow chrome livery in 1911. Post war the A-type bus in chassis and/or body form sold very well.
Truck models
The first trucks built were German designed BüssingBüssing
Büssing was a German bus and truck manufacturer established by Heinrich Büssing at Braunschweig in 1903. Büssing's first truck was a 2 ton payload machine powered by a 2-cylinder gasoline engine and featuring worm drive...
2cyl trucks under licence from 1906.
Truck models includedAutoLemon: Truck Straker-Squire Retrieved on 2007-11-29. :
- Büssing 3-ton. 1906-09. 4cyl worm drive gasoline engine. German design built under licence.
- Colonial 5-ton. 1910.
- Military 3/4-ton. 1913-18. Built in large numbers for the British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. - A type 5-ton. 1919. Semi-forward-control, 4cyl worm drive engine.
Commercial vehicle production moved to Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
during the war. After car production ended in 1926 a limited number of bus and truck chassis and Straker-Clough trolley buses were also built.