Vickers, Bristow and Co
only known address is Norwich Union Building, London
See Laurence Vickers. A search of a 'Bristow' in the automobile industry at that time only shows Frederick George Bristow - so was he the other partner?
1912 November. Advertisement. 'VICKSTOW 14 hp. 4-cylinder, 2-seater complete with English body, hood, wind screen, lamps and kit took Painted green, grey, red. £125 Complete. Ready for the road.' Sold by Templemeads Motor Co.[1]
1913 '...revival of methods so well begun by Messrs. Vickers and Bristow, of London, who have succeeded in bringing us a step nearer to the hundred guinea car. The Vickstow, with English-built body, hood, screen, lamps, and tools, is listed at £125. The chassis is a combination Of approved British and American practice, we are told, and it appears to he quite a nice job at that - the finish, indeed, being decidedly superior. The engine is a four-cylinder monobloc of about 76mm. bore and 114 mm. stroke. The cylinder head is detachable to facilitate cleaning, and the large diameter valves are enclosed and provided with adjustable lappets. The crankshaft has a central bearing, and the cooling is by thermo-siphon to a tubular radiator of attractive design. A leather-faced cone clutch, three-speed gear-box, mounted on the rear end of the torque tube enclosing the propeller shaft, gate change, semi-floating type of back axle with bevel differential, worm and segment steering, are the other features of this interesting design, including Hyatt roller bearings used throughout and thrust bearing wherever necessary. For its power the Vickstow enjoys the distinction of being the cheapest four-cylinder car on the market, and it and the big 40-h.p. six-cylinder Mitchell at £375 complete arc the most important price propositions in the show.'[2]
c.1913 Vickers Cars Ltd. formed to acquire Vickers, Bristow and Co. Laurence Vickers is the engineer.
1913 January 'The 1913 Vickstow 14 h.p.. Two seater Car. The demonstration car is in Chesterfield this week-end giving Trial Runs'[3]
1913 January. 'The Vickstow has been delayed it, but is due in Edinburgh to-morrow'[4]
1914 January. Advertisement for Vickstow through agent.[5]
1913-1914 Listed as producing the 'Vickstow' car with a 1,959cc engine. No address.
See also article in SAHB Times Issue 115 (Winter 2023-24)
See Also
Sources of Information
- Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile