Old motoring gadgets, accessories & garage equipment.

mechanic preparing to work on a 1920s Dodge

Since the dawn of motoring, enthusiastic drivers have sought to modify or accessorise their motor-car with some of the many 'useful' gadgets that were on the market. Equally, as the motor-car grew in popularity, engineering companies were quick to spot this lucrative new market, and came up with some weird and wonderful garage tools and workshop equipment.

Some of these accessories and period extras have been given a mention on the car accessories pages, and here I plan to feature some items from my own collection, and others I've read about in vintage sales literature over the years. Some are very useful, others distinctly less so! The one thing that the accessories all have in common is that they were aimed at the driver who felt that the basic car was lacking something, and more was needed to improve the car's efficiency, appearance, or go-faster appearance.

Some of the neat tools featured here were designed to make working on cars both quicker and easier, both important factors to consider if working on cars was your business. I plan to feature some of the tools and garage equipment that would have featured in workshops large and small, going back to the earliest days of motoring. If go-faster gadgets and accessories are of interest, the period engine tuning companies section may also be of interest.

From my own collection.
Various tools and accessories that I've picked up since I got into old cars & memorabilia.
	Ace chrome GB letters.
	Champion's "Plugometer".
	The Eversure Fillacan.
	John Bull bulb carrier.
	Telulog mpg calculator.

More vintage tools, accessories & gadgets from yesteryear.
Interesting tools for the DIY mechanic or professional motor-car repairer, found in old sales leaflets and promotional sheets, since the 1920s, plus a selection of handy accessories available to the keen motorist who wished to upgrade his or her 'horseless carriage'.
Commercial garage equipment.
	The ingenious "Weaver" automatic brake tester. An automatic drive-on brake testing machine, designed to be installed in garages and used either by mechanics, or the passing motorist.
	The AMLO automatic oil dispenser as offered in the late 1940s and early 1950s, as an efficient way to dispense motor lubricants in accurately measured quantities.
	The Morrisflex garage equipment, offering a flexible drive to power sanders, polishers, cutters and wire brushes.
	An interesting piston refurbishment machine used by AES in the 1950s, utilising the 'Koetherizing' method to breath new life into an engine's worn out pistons.
	A pressurised radiator cleaner, the Marquette, built in Minneapolis, USA, in the 1930s.
	The "SkyHi" Rotating Vehicle Lift. Again aimed at the commercial garage end of the market, a nifty rotating car and light van lift that could lift a vehicle of upto 3 tons in weight.
	The "Mason" Wheel Puller. A handy tool used to remove stubborn road wheels without damage, designed to be used on cars or lorries.
	The "Bontop" wing protector. A simple but very useful gadget, designed to protect a car's front wings while the engine was being worked upon.
More accessories to tempt the vintage motorist.
	Automatic windscreen wiper. A vacuum-operated automatic screen wiping device, from Jos. Lucas.
	Brake Efficiency Indicator. Manufactured in the 1930s by Tapley, for Ferodo, a dashboard-mounted brake testing device.
	Car Tent. Sold by James Grose Ltd of London, the Jagrose Car Tent for camper and car.
	Heaters. Aftermarket in-car heaters from the 1950s and 1960s, including those from Smiths, Tudor and K-L.
	Motorist's Dust Clothing. Various garments designed for the motorist, motorcyclist, cyclist and mechanic in the 1920s.
	Radiator Blinds & Muffs. Aid rapid engine warm-up by fitting either a Mory Radblind, or else a Duco radiator muff, to your motor vehicle.
	Radiator Lamp. Designed to keep the frost out from the engine bay, the "EVERWARM Radiator Lamp" engine heater.

More gadgets and accessories will be added here shortly. If you have something that would fit in well here, by all means get in touch. Advertisements for old automobile-related gadgets and tools can be found on these pages. Motoring memorabilia can be found in the collectibles section. Modifications designed to make a car go quicker can be found in the tuning company section.

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