The museum’s vehicle collection, and Vehicle Restoration Group

The Black Country Living Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Black Country-made vehicles, which are lovingly cared-for, and restored by the museum’s Vehicle Restoration Group.

Ian Walden and Ray Jones.

The collection was purchased from the Marston Wolverhampton Heritage Trust.

Ian realised that in order to run some of the vehicles around the museum site, they would need proper attention, and so the Vehicle Restoration Group was formed.

The group of volunteers was originally led by the museum’s Honorary Curator of Vehicles, Ray Jones, who has an in-depth knowledge of everything to do with locally made vehicles, from the manufacturers and their various models, to engines and mechanical intricacies.

Ray and the group were also involved in several projects at the museum. The first project was the building of a replica of Conway Garage, which was run by ex-Sunbeam racing mechanic Alec Broome, at Fighting Cocks, Wolverhampton. It opened in July 2008 and is an impressive exhibit. A typical Black Country garage of its time. It houses several of the vehicles from the collection.

The motorcycle Shop.

The Museum’s Briton 10/12 car

The Briton Car Company was founded in Wolverhampton in 1909 as a subsidiary of the Star Engineering Company, which produced vehicles under the Star name. In 1913 Briton moved to a new purpose-built factory in Lower Walsall Street, Wolverhampton, where the museum’s Briton car was built. The car, a 1914 Briton 10/12 hp. 4-cylinder, Special Car, with a streamlined body, is the only known survivor of its type. As far as is known only 12 Briton cars survive, six in the UK, and six in Australia and New Zealand.

Brian Rollings at the wheel of the Briton car.

From the 1914 Briton catalogue.

Throughout the First World War Briton made many military vehicles. During restoration, a W.D. sign was found on the crank case, so the car could originally have been a military staff car.

The car was purchased at auction by Marstons around thirty years ago. It is believed that the previous owner lived in London.

Some work was done on the car during its time at Marstons, but when it was acquired by the museum, it was partly disassembled, and many parts were missing. This led to a challenging restoration.

The restoration

Several members of the Vehicle Restoration Group were involved in the restoration. They are David Beere, Ray Jones, Ken Norton, Brian Rollings, Ray Salisbury, John Vincent, and Malcolm Webster.

Missing parts included the running boards and mudguards, and so Brian Rollings produced drawings based on the catalogue image.

He also produced a drawing of a scuttle-mounted petrol tank, after discovering that a replacement was necessary.

The front of the car before restoration began.

Mechanical overhaul and rebuild

Luckily the group includes several extremely skilled engineers, who were able to construct the missing parts, and adapt other parts to fit. The chassis was in good condition, and some work had previously been carried out on the engine, including a rebore, and new pistons.

Awaiting restoration in the Bradburn and Wedge garage.

The crankshaft had been reground, and the bearings re-metalled, but new valves had to be found, ground-in, and fitted. The water jackets also had to be assembled. Most of the work on the engine, gearbox, clutch, rear axle, and brakes was carried out by Brian Rollings and Ray Salisbury.

Unfortunately the timing gear was missing, but luckily David Beere, an exceptionally skilled engineer, was able to make a replacement. Another missing part was the magneto. A suitable one was found, and David adapted it to do the job.

It was found that the rear axle had previously been taken apart, and assembled back to front. So this had to be taken apart and correctly assembled.

New thrust bearings, and withdrawal mechanism were made for the clutch, the gearbox was fitted, and the oil pump completely rebuilt. A new silencer was made by Malcolm Webster and fitted by Ken Norton.

Bodywork

One of the group members, Malcolm Webster, is an exceedingly skilled metalworker. He carried out a lot of work on the body, including fabricating new mud guards, fitting new running boards, restoring the side panels, and the bonnet, and re-skinning the doors. The missing woodwork was made by Ken Norton, and a missing door was made by Ray Jones.

John Vincent at work on the nearly finished car.

All-in-all it was a fantastic team effort. When everything had been done, the car was towed for 10 yards, and it started first time. This was the group’s first complete car restoration at the museum. They are an extremely enthusiastic and versatile team, who will no doubt continue to ensure that the museum’s unique vehicle collection will be well-cared for, in years to come.

Current members of the volunteer group are Roger Marks, Ken Norton, Keith Peckmore, Brian Rollings, Ray Salisbury, Audrey Spencer, Derek Spencer, John Vincent, and Malcolm Webster.