Austin 10/4 saloon in a parade.
This first photo was amongst a set I bought a while back, it shows a chrome-rad Austin 10/4 saloon taking part in what looks like a parade of some kind. The photo wasn't particularly well framed, so it has been cropped down to show the most interesting bit - ie the Austin (some might argue that the bus in the background is more interesting though). A young lady is behind the 10/4's wheel, with three other characters stood looking out of the Austin's open sunroof. The lad on the left is wearing a mask, perhaps he was Dick Turpin in a previous life? The Austin is sporting an AA badge on the radiator, and an attachment on the n/s/f wing, to help with parking. |
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The "chrome-rad" Austin 10/4s were built between 1932 and 1934, after which the revised Austin 10 Lichfield, with it's painted radiator shell and other detail changes, took over. The 10/4 was available as a four door saloon (as on this page), a 2 seater tourer, a 3-position 4 seater cabriolet, a sporting Ripley tourer, and also a 10hp light van.
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2. Another Austin 10 of 1932-1934.
This second period photo shows a beaming gent stood alongside his trusty Austin 10/4 saloon, registration AXO 641. The AXO registration series ran in the London area, from March 1934 onwards. A note on the rear of this photo advises that it was taken in Dymchurch, 1934, so the car must have been just a few months old when captured on film. No wonder he's so pleased, out and about in his brand new Austin motor-car. The open screen suggests a warm time of year, yet no T-shirt or ill-fitting summer garments to be found on this Austin's owner.
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3. 1930s Austin, 1930s home.
This photograph, black and white, and printed on Velox photographic paper, is a scene typical of fairly well-to-do suburbia, 1930s style. The car is an Austin Ten-Four, probably a narrow-bodied saloon (the bodyshell on later as opposed to earlier 10/4s was slightly wider). The registration AMB 66 confirms a Cheshire registration, of August/September 1933. Coincidentally, on this page in the collectables section, I have a receipt for an identical car (albeit with different registration), that was sold at a garage near Northwich, Cheshire, in 1939.
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The detached house is probably similar in age to the Austin. Note how the garage is integrated into the building, rather than being a standalone add-on as was the case with many garages in the 1930s. Chimney pots are a reminder of how solid fuel was the most common form of heating in those days, un-cluttered by drooping television aerials or satellite dishes. No double glazed windows either, just single-pane glass incorporating leaded sections to the upper, opening, panes. Also note the pebbledash finish, popular in the pre-war and immediate post-war eras, but much less so now.
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4. A tired 10/4 saloon.
Interesting vehicles from Austin and Morris dominate this 1950's photograph of the yard and workshop, located behind Wadham's in Waterlooville, Hampshire. To the left is a signwritten Morris J van, and an early Morris Minor van (note the small windows in the rear doors, compared to later versions). I can't quite make out the breakdown vehicle parked alongside the four-door Minor saloon, but of more interest is the somewhat dishevelled Austin 10/4 saloon, half hidden by a brick wall. The paint has long since lost its lustre, and the chrome-plated parts are looking dull and forlorn. From this angle it looks like the driver's side door glass has slipped in its guides, and the ageing Austin appears to have a distinct lean to port. My thanks to Stephen for providing the photo.
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A closer look at the early-1930's Austin 10.
The '10' was next up the size ladder from the ever-popular Austin 7, offering a slightly larger cabin to those with a growing family, to whom a 7 was just not viable. Overall, the car measured 11ft 7in in length and weighed in at 15.5cwt. The engine was a four cylinder all-iron sidevalve unit of 1125cc, producing a leisurely 20bhp at 2,600rpm. Transmission to the rear wheels was via a four speed gearbox, with floor change and synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The 6 gallon fuel tank was mounted at the rear of the chassis, supplying a mechanical fuel pump and single U-type Zenith carburetter. According to the handbook for the 1933 year (publication ref 1020B), the car came as standard with 19in spoked wheels fitted with 4.00-19 Dunlop tyres. The 10/4 De Luxe models had 18in wheels, fitted with 4.50-18 tyres (as fitted to my example).
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The coachwork of the saloon was an all-steel affair, finished in cellulose, and fitted to a separate chassis. It was well specified too, it came with a sliding sunshine roof as standard, along with chrome plated bumpers fore and aft, interior sun visors (De Luxe model), clock, Lucas Trafficators, licence holder, rear view driving mirror, electric windscreen wiper & horn, full kit of tools (including an "Enots" Autolub grease gun), Andre Silentbloc shock absorbers, and Triplex glass. Austins could even arrange your motor insurance, at a cost of 11. 0s. 0d, or 12. 0s. 0d if you lived close to a major town or city.
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Interestingly, while general problems with the Austin could be directed to the manufacturer, if there were problems with bought-in components used during assembly, the buyer was directed to take up their problem(s) with these outside firms, rather than Austin themselves. In the factory handbook, a list of contact details is given for these outside suppliers. They add: "Austin Motor Co. Ltd. accept no liability under the terms of their Warranty for Tyres, Speedometers, or Electrical Equipment, or other goods, including Coachwork not of it's own manufacture. All claims relating to any of these parts or fittings or orders for repairs to them, should be addressed to their manufacturers".
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This list of parts and suppliers runs to two pages, and includes many well-known component manufacturers...
- Batteries (Joseph Lucas Ltd.)
- Carburetters (Zenith Carburetter Co. Ltd.)
- Driving Mirrors (Desmo Ltd.)
- Electrical Equipment (Lucas & C.A.V. Vandervell & Co. Ltd.)
- Grease Guns (Enots - Benton and Stone Ltd.)
- Horns & Lamps (Lucas)
- Lifting Jacks ("Midas" jack - Lake and Elliott Ltd., "Shelley" jack - R.T. Shelley Ltd.)
- Petrol Pump & Oil Filter (The A.C. Sphinx Sparking Plug Co. Ltd.)
- Speedometers & Clocks (S. Smith and Sons (M.A.) Ltd.)
- Tyres & Tubes (Dunlop Rubber Co. Ltd.)
- Windscreen Wipers (Lucas).
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Return to Old Car Photos Page No. 8.
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