Avro 15hp Aero Engine, 1911

This horizontally-opposed two-stroke engine uses the crankcase as a pump to draw in and partly compress the mixture. An unusual feature is the use of shallow grooves in the cylinder wall which act as transfer ports and pass the mixture to the combustion chamber via holes in the piston skirt.

One of these engines was supplied by A.V. Roe to Lillian Bland, the first woman to fly in Ireland. The engine appears to have been designed and manufactured by a Bolton engineer, HF Cowley

Sinking of the RMS Titanic, 1912

This week saw the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, a ship and event synonymous with the Edwardian era. Rather than repeat the well-known story, I thought I would instead post a few choice links of interest regarding the Titanic

BBC's Titanic 100th main page - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/17488357

Five Titanic myths spread by films - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17515305

Journey to the ocean floor - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17511820

Benzole Tank Wagon, 1917

With the increased use of petrol, oil, gas and other large quantities of liquids in the late 19th Century and Edwardian era, tank wagons such as this started to appear on the railways. This tank wagon with a capacity of 10 tons was built in 1917 for the Ministry of Munitions by Chas Roberts of Wakefield in 1917

High Force Waterfall

Wonders of nature such as waterfalls have always been of interest to the public - High Force, in Teesdale on the edge of County Durham, is one that would have been of interest in the Edwardian era, especially with the coming of the railway to the area in the 19th century and the growth in tourism in the late 19th and early 20th Century. This photograph was taken with my 1913 model Kodak No 2 Autographic Camera

Great Southern & Western Railway Poster, 1915

Great Southern & Western Railway poster from 1915 advertising Liverpool, especially the Liverpool Overhead Railway. A reproduction of this poster can be bought from - http://www.past-reflections.co.uk/copy_of__liverpool.html

Leon Peugeot Voituerette Racer, 1909

This unusual looking vehicle with it's high, narrow radiator and distinctive noisy engine was seen at the Edwardian Race at the VSCC Mallory Park Race Meeting in August 2011. It's a regular attendee at this annual race, and as it's a handicap race, actually won this year, putting in a very spirited performance (the first time I saw it, in around 2005, it broke down on one of the first laps). Driving back home later in the day, I passed it coming the other way, the driver with his head looking out of the side along the body of the Peugeot for better visibility - not often you see an Edwardian racer on the road, and a big well done to the driver.

You may be surprised to see it's made by such a well known manufacturer, however there were two Peugeot brothers who both made cars, Leon Peugeot making smaller Voiturettes similar to this one whilst the other Peugeot brother made larger, more 'normal' cars, however they joined forces before the First World War.

Daimler 12hp A12 Tourer, 1911

Daimler is Britain's earliest motor car manufacturer, and this is a typical late Edwardian car from them. It is fitted with Daimler's very successful 'Silent' Knight sleeve valve engine. The Knight sleeve valve engine was designed by Charles Knight, an American engineer, in the 1900's, and was quieter than a traditional engine as a sleeve was fitted between the piston and the cylinder wall.


The Daimler 12hp model was built in small quantities, as Daimlers of the time usually had a more powerful engine. This is believed to be the only surviving Daimler A12 12hp left in the world. The distinctive fluted top radiator is a Daimler trademark, and was still used by Jaguar when making Daimler badged cars in the 21st century

Horse Drawn Heavy Goods Dray, c1900

Designed for heavy and unusually shaped loads and hauled by two horses, this is a typical late Victorian/Edwardian heavy goods dray as used by various transport companies, in this case the Midland Railway Company

Watch 'Drat That Boy', 1904

An RW Paul from 1904 about an annoying child

De Dion Bouton 20hp, 1904

This large four cylinder 20hp De Dion Bouton towers over the more usual two cylinder De Dion Boutons also present at the 2011 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Concourse Event. De Dion Bouton was one of the largest early motor car manufacturers and still survive in large numbers to this day - in 2011's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, De Dion Boutons were the most prolific marque present.