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Would you believe it!
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7128
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 4:27 pm    Post subject: Would you believe it! Reply with quote

Something that will have been known about for many years is that the dashboard on a 1950s S1 Bentley (and probably lots of others too) is actually veneered bakelite even though it looks like wood.

I thought I would share this with you guys even if such a car is not your thing because it actually came as a surprise to me. I imagined (incorrectly) that the dash would be the same as the door capping and be made from solid wood.

Bakelite is obviously a more stable material than wood and as we know was used by car manufacturers for many years.

I was surprised to find it being used by Rolls Royce...but why wouldn't they?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRjzdcAHIDQ
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Years ago I read that the first practical aplication use of Bakelite was the gear lever knob on a Rolls Royce.
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7128
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Miken wrote:
Years ago I read that the first practical aplication use of Bakelite was the gear lever knob on a Rolls Royce.


I think you will find this potted history of A.E. Baekland, interesting.

https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/bakelite.html
Here he is with his family in their high wheeler in 1900.

I wonder what the car is?
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Vintage Fly Guy



Joined: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 179

PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 9:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ray White wrote:


I wonder what the car is?


Who cares? That photo should be enough to give modern day's 'Mr/Ms Health and Safety' kittens, and that's enough of a reason for me to love it! Wink
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7128
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vintage Fly Guy wrote:
Ray White wrote:


I wonder what the car is?


Who cares? That photo should be enough to give modern day's 'Mr/Ms Health and Safety' kittens, and that's enough of a reason for me to love it! Wink


As it happens, I always like to identify rare cars if I can. I would hazard a guess that this is a high wheeler from the 'Black' motor company. It looks to me like a model 112 "runabout" ...but that would give the photo a later date of @ 1908.
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Rusty



Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 278
Location: Bunbury, Western Australia

PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of my mates, currently has custody of our veteran car clubs "Fuller" (American) highwheeler, and its "fun" to ride in but you do get the feeling you could "fall out" at any time. Another friend has a 1906 "Cadilac" single cylinder with no top, and he is going to fit a canopy and associated supports to it because his wife doesn't like riding in it because she feels insecure. Health and safety certainly wasn't a concern back then!
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7128
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What with the two fatalities on the London to Brighton Run in recent years it is a small wonder that H & S busybodies haven't poked their oar in.

Incidentally, the 1902 Benz driven by David Corry - who tragically died following the 2017 accident - has been repaired and is now being regularly entered in the London to Brighton Run by his son Robert. The Veteran car was been in the same family for a long time so it seems only natural that they would continue with the event in honour of David. I like that.
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