Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[nascar24]

Been shown a black and white image of a 1920s open topped car called a JBS, anyone heard of it? The reg no is HD-1193

Regards

[peter scott]

Unfortunately DVLA doesn't know it.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[mikeC]

The only JBS Special that I have heard of is a single-seater built by James Bottom & Sons for the post-war 500cc Formula Three.
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Ray White]

The only John Bagshaw that comes up is the late founder of Holden racing in Australia.

[Cargy]

Georgano’s encyclopaedia has it with a photo: J. Bagshaw & Sons Ltd, Batley, Yorks. Made cars 1913 to 1915. Cyclecar with an 8-h.p. v-twin J.A.P. with shaft drive. Later cars could have an 8-h.p. v-twin Blumfield engine or a 10-h.p. 4-cylinder Dorman. No production after WWI.

I can add that that J. Bagshaw and Sons Ltd. was first established at Victoria Foundry, Batley in 1834, as millwrights and engineers, but like many local engineering businesses got into motor cars very quickly and progressively dropped the foundry work. In 1912 the managing director, Mr. Ernest S. Walker, designed and manufactured some cars, of which the J.B.S. Cyclecar proved a moderate pre-WWI sales success due to its air-cooled 85x85mm J.A.P. v-twin, cone clutch, four-speed box and shaft drive to a differential, all mounted, some commentators lamented, in only a tubular chassis, but it did offer value for money with deluxe features like electric lights and horn.

Walker labelled the company as “light cyclecar makers” when advertising for mechanics and fitters in June 1913. The company advertised the cars for £120 (£127 with hood and screen) when shown at the January 1914 Manchester Show.

Walker in a J.B.S. cyclecar took part in the August 1913 A.C.U. northern trial and although it arrived back at Carlisle over the time limit, it ultimately got a silver medal as one of only three cyclecars to finish (with a Morgan and a G.W.K.). More success in the March 1914 A.C.U. Sheffield trial, when E. S. Walker gained a First-Class Certificate in the 750-1000cc cyclecar class; it was the only cyclecar to finish both year’s A.C.U six-day trials. Those early 8-h.p. models were described as good hill climbers but slow, which caused it to lose points in trials. The 10-h.p. model performed commendably better and two of those were entered in the April 1914 RAC light car trial at Harrogate but Bagshaw seemed to be selling off the cyclecar stock mid-1914 and WWI must have ended plans for more.

After WWI it operated a garage which sold new Standards from Bradford Road, Batley. They were agents for Bean, Crossley and Albion Commercials by 1920, Vulcan cars and commercials by 1921 and Albert and Gwynne cars in 1922. They existed as Armstrong-Siddeley agents and second-hand car dealers at Victoria Garage, Batley Yorkshire and New North Road Huddersfield well into the mid-1930s at least, when the managing director was still Mr. E. S. Walker. DG