Jaguar: 1st model ever

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S.S. Jaguar logo 1935. The first car launched with the Jaguar brand was the "S.S. Jaguar 2.5 litre Saloon", unveiled at the Mayfair Hotel London, September 21, 1935; but the first car ever produced by the same company - S.S. Cars Limited, later Jaguar Cars Limited - was the 1932 "S.S. 1", or "S.S. One", debuted at the London Motor Show in October 15 to 24, 1931.

Name: "S.S. 1"

Category: Cars

Subcategory: Sports car

Designers: William Lyons and William Walmsley

Producer: S.S. Cars Limited (founded by Sir William Lyons on October 26, 1933, as the result of the Swallow Sidecar Company formed with co-founder William Walmsley on September 2, 1922)

Production start: 1932 - Foleshill, Coventry, England - Debut as coupé car at the London Motor Show in October 15 to 24, 1931, Olympia, West Kensington

Discontinued: 1936

First price: 310 GBP

Features: For detailed specifications see the 1931 official brochure in Pdf below

Interesting facts: In 1922, two motorcycle enthusiasts, William Lyons and William Walmsley, founded the Swallow Sidecar Company, a British manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars and automobile bodies in Blackpool, Lancashire (later Coventry, Warwickshire). After some name changes - Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company, and Swallow Coachbuilding Company, during which the company diversified by bodying existying cars with more fashionable coachworks, William Lyons decided to become a car manufacturer in his own right. So, in October 1931, Lyons revealed his "S.S. 1" coupé at the London Motor Show. The engines and chassis supplied by the Standard Motor Company were fitted with Swallow bodies styled under Lyons supervision. The body was ultra low and the bonnet outrageously long. It had, stated the press, the £1,000 look, yet was priced at a very modest £310, highlighting Lyons' unique ability to offer remarkable value for money. The first two S.S. cars available to the public was the 1932 S.S. 1 with 2-litre or 2.5-litre side-valve, six-cylinder engine and the S.S. 2, a smaller version based on the Standard Nine chassis, with a four-cylinder 1-litre side-valve engine. A much improved S.S. cars followed in 1933, Saloon and Tourer models were introduced, and in the same year William Lyons formed S.S. Cars Limited. Jaguar brand first appeared in September 1935, as a model name on an S.S. 2.5-litre saloon presented at the Mayfair Hotel London. The company's name changed from S.S. Cars Limited to Jaguar Cars Limited in 1945.

Slogan (July 1931): «WAIT! THE "SS" IS COMING»

Property: S.S. Cars Ltd. - Jaguar Cars Ltd. - Jaguar Land Rover Ltd.

Producer website: https://www.jaguar.com

S.S. 1 announcement (The Autocar magazine, July 1931). «WAIT! THE "SS" IS COMING - 2 New Coupés of Surpassing Beauty. - S.S. is the new name of a new car that's going to thrill the hearts of the motoring public and the trade alike. It's something utterly new ... different ... better! Long ... low ... very low ... and very FAST! At the Show, or before, two S.S. Coupés of surpassing beauty will be presented. WAIT ... THE S.S. IS COMING» - The show to which the announcement referred was the London Motor Show, Olympia, West Kensington, where the S.S. 1 debuted together with a smaller version called S.S. 2, October 15 to 24, 1931.

S.S. 1, the first car by S.S. Cars Ltd., later Jaguar Cars Ltd. (1932, restored)

S.S. 1 official brochure in Pdf (1931)

S.S. 1 advertisement (The Autocar magazine, June 10, 1932)

S.S. Jaguar 2.5 litre Saloon, the car that inaugurated the Jaguar brand (1935)

S.S. Jaguar 2.5 litre Saloon, debut at the Mayfair Hotel London (September 21, 1935)

S.S. Jaguar 2.5 litre Saloon advertisement (The Autocar magazine, October 18, 1935)

Sir William Lyons (Blackpool, Sept. 4, 1901 - Warwickshire, Feb. 8, 1985), known as "Mr. Jaguar", entrepreneur, co-founder of the Jaguar company, and designer of the early Jaguar models

Jaguar 75th Anniversary (1935-2010). On September 18, 2010, 75 iconic Jaguars started a two-day trek in Coventry to celebrate 75 years of Jaguar brand history.

Meccano

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Meccano logo 1908

Names:
--- "Mechanics Made Easy" (1901)
--- "Simplified Mechanics" (1907)
--- "Meccano" (since Sept. 14, 1907)

Category: Toys

Subcategory: Construction set

Inventor: Frank Hornby

Invented in: 1898 - Liverpool, England, UK

Patent: January 9, 1901 (accepted November 30), UK

First producer: Meccano Ltd. (founded in Liverpool, May 30, 1908, by Frank Hornby)

Production start:
--- 1902 as "Mechanics Made Easy", UK
--- Since 1908 as "Meccano", worldwide

First price:
--- The first outfit marked "Mechanics Made Easy" (1902) cost 7 shillings 6 pence.
--- The first outfit trademarked "Meccano" (1908) cost 4 pence.

Features: In early newspaper advertisements, Meccano - born in 1901 under the name "Mechanics Made Easy" - was described as «a patent adaptable mechanical toy, with which boys may exercise they ingenuity in constructing cranes, bridges, wagons, shafting, etc. - in fact, an endless variety of models. The metal strips being perforated with holes, equidistant, enables them to be formed into the shapes (among others) enumerated». The first sets had a very limited range of parts, manufactured by various local firms, and the strips were made from thin tinplate steel with edges folded over to give strength. The boxes were long, thin, and attractively tin-printed. By 1904 the outfits included girders and gear wheels, three different sets were product, accessory outfits and manuals were introduced. In 1907, after a temporarily rebrand as "Simplified Mechanics", the very first "Meccano" trademark appeared on a new large box called "Meccano Kindergarten Outfit" (though, the design of the parts remained the same). Since then, "Meccano" became the official name, with "Mechanics Made Easy" in brackets as subtitle for 3/4 years and then cut off. In 1908 the boxes were large, the outfits were numbered from 1 to 6, and the parts were nickel plated. Through the years new designs, parts, and outfits were developed using different materials and technologies, for an always-modern toy.

Interesting facts: In 1898 Frank Hornby, a bookkeeper from Liverpool, began to design a system of interchangeable metal strips, plates, wheels, axles and gears, with nuts and bolts to connect the pieces, for the amusement of his two children. Supported by his employer David Elliott, Hornby got his new system patented in 1901, and started selling it as "Mechanics Made Easy" outfits, with parts produced by external businesses in Liverpool. From 1902 to 1907, advertisements began to appear in newspapers and magazines, model-building competitions were also advertised, new parts and sets were introduced, and with the support by chair of Engineering Henry Selby Hele-Shaw sales started to take off. In 1907 Hornby decided to rebrand his sets: the iconic "Meccano" trademark was registered, and sets carrying the new name made their first appearance. In the same year the first factory opened on Duke Street in Liverpool, and Meccano began to be exported to many countries, but it was not until 1908 that the new "Meccano Ltd." company came into being, when Hornby bought out his employer's stake in the business (until then the sets carried the monogram "E&H" or "Elliot and Hornby"). At the same time, the outfits evolved with the introduction of the nickel plating. In 1914 a large factory was built in Binns Road to churn out the new Meccano sets in increasing quantities, and in 1916 "Meccano Magazine" - edited by Frank Hornby and published by his Meccano Ltd. company - was launched to keep Guild clubs informed of each other's activities, as well as encourage the sales. For over 100 years, Meccano has inspired countless engineers, designers, architects and creative minds of all ages.

Slogan (1902): «Mechanics Made Easy. A Patent Adaptable Mechanical Toy»

Property: Meccano Ltd. - Spin Master Ltd.

Producer website: https://www.meccano.com

Mechanics Made Easy, precursor to Meccano, patent (January 9, 1901, accepted Nov. 30) by Frank Hornby for "Improvements in Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People".

Mechanics Made Easy, crane (1904). This model, similar to the example in Hornby's patent, is made with Mechanics Made Easy first outfit.

Mechanics Made Easy, first outfit (1904)

Mechanics Made Easy manuals (left: c. 1904, right: c. 1906)

Mechanics Made Easy, advertisement ("The Boy's Own Paper" weekly magazine, London, September 13, 1902). «MECHANICS MADE EASY. A Patent Adaptable Mechanical Toy, with which boys may exercise they ingenuity in constructing Cranes, Bridges, Wagons, Shafting, &c. - in fact, an endless variety of models. The metal strips being perforated with holes, equidistant, enables them to be formed into the shapes (among others) enumerated. No expense for tools. Charming occupation and toy indestructible. Price 7s. 6d., from G. Philip & Son, Ltd., 32 Fleet Street, London; Philip, Son & Nephew, South Castle Street, Liverpool; Leading Stationers, and Toy Dealers. Manufacturers: Elliot & Hornby, 18 James St., Liverpool.»

"Simplified Mechanics": temporarily rebranded box before "Meccano" trademark (1907)

Meccano Kindergarten Outfit, the very first outfit trademarked "Meccano" (late 1907). Produced for Christmas 1907 and sold until 1910, this outfit encouraged children to draw out simple models with a plastic ruler on squared paper in a drawing book before construction.

Meccano first outfit (1908). Nickel plated parts are introduced, and the "Mechanics Made Easy" subtitle on the box will soon be cut off.

Meccano advertisement ("Evening star" newspaper, Washington, D.C., Dec. 17, 1909)

Meccano advertisement ("The daily Gate City" newspaper, Keokuk, Iowa, Dec. 1, 1912)

Meccano advertisements ("Popular Mechanics" monthly magazine, USA, Nov./Dec. 1914)

Meccano Magazine, first issue (Sept. 1916, left) and last (Apr. 1981, right). Meccano Magazine was launched «to help Meccano Boys to have more fun than other boys» by inventor Frank Hornby (first editor), and published as bi-monthly by his company Meccano Ltd.

Frank Hornby (Liverpool, May 15, 1863 - Maghull, September 21, 1936), the inventor, businessman and politician who invented Meccano toys and founded Meccano Ltd.

Meccano 100th Anniversary (1901-2001, left), and Frank Hornby 150th Anniversary (1863-2013, right). In 2001 Spin Master Corp., brand owner, launched a special Anniversary Edition to commemorate 100 years from the Meccano patent. In 2013 museums, communities and enthusiasts from all over the world celebrated 150 years of the inventor (poster by Brighton Toy and Model Museum).

Rolls-Royce: 1st model ever

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Rolls-Royce logo 1904

Name: "Rolls-Royce 10 hp Type A"

Category: Cars

Subcategory: Luxury car

Designer: Sir Henry Royce (on Barker body)

Producer: Rolls-Royce Ltd. (founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Sir Frederick Henry Royce on March 15, 1906, as the result of a partnership formed on December 23, 1904)

Prototypes made in: 1904 - Cooke Street, Hulme, Manchester, England - 3 "Royce 10 hp" prototypes made

Production start: November 1904 - Cooke Street, Hulme, Manchester, England - Debut at the Paris Salon in December 9 to 25, 1904 - A total of 16 "Rolls-Royce 10 hp Type A" models were produced

Discontinued: 1906

First price: 395 GBP

Features: Model "Rolls-Royce 10 hp Type A", 1904. Engine configuration: Straight 2. Engine location: Front, longitudinally mounted. Engine construction: cast-iron block and head. Engine size: 1,809 cc / 110.4 cu in. Engine bore/stroke: 95.3 mm (3.8 in) / 127.0 mm (5 in). Valvetrain: 2 valves / cylinder, OHV / Side-valve. Fuel feed: Royce Carburettor. Aspiration: Naturally aspirated. Engine power: 12 bhp / 9 KW @ 1,000 rpm. Chassis: Body on steel ladder frame. Suspension (fr/r): live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs. Brakes: rear drum brakes. Gearbox: 3 speed manual. Drive: Rear wheel drive. Weight: 740 kilo / 1,631 lbs. Wheelbase: 1,905 mm (75.0 in). Length: 3,175 mm (125.0 in). Width: 1,400 mm (55.1 in). Power to weight: 0.02 bhp / kg. Top speed: 63 km/h (39 mph).

Interesting facts: Rolls-Royce grew from the electrical and mechanical business established by Henry Royce in 1884. The first Royce motor car engine was tested on September 16, 1903 and on April 1, 1904 Royce drove his first 10 hp prototype out of the Cooke Street factory, Hulme, Manchester. On May 4 of that year he met Charles Rolls, whose company sold quality cars in London. Agreement was reached that Royce Limited would manufacture a range of cars to be exclusively sold by CS Rolls & Co. Two more prototypes were built in 1904, for a total of three. Rolls-Royce cars made their debut at the Paris Salon, December 9 to 25, 1904. The partnership was officially formed on December 23, 1904. Initially, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce decided to make 20 "Rolls-Royce 10 hp Type A" models, but only 16 were finally constructed, the last in 1906. On March 15, 1906, Rolls and Royce formalised their partnership by creating Rolls-Royce Limited, with Royce appointed chief engineer.

Quote (Sir Henry Royce): «Strive for perfection in everything we do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough».

Property: Rolls-Royce Ltd. - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.

Producer website: https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Royce 10 hp prototype, first chassis (1904, Cooke Street factory)

Royce 10 hp prototype (1904, Cooke Street factory). The first petrol engine was tested on September 16, 1903, and the first prototype was completed in the Cooke Street factory in March 1904. Two more similar prototypes were built in 1904, for a total of three.

Rolls-Royce debut advertisement (November 1904)

Rolls-Royce 10 hp Type A, Rolls-Royce's first ever produced car (November 1904). These pictures show the world’s oldest surviving Rolls-Royce 10 hp Type A, which came off test in November 1904 and was the third car to wear the Rolls-Royce radiator and the fourth car to carry the Rolls-Royce name. This car was selected for exhibition at the Paris Salon, December 9 to 25, 1904. It was sold by Bonhams (London-based auction house founded in 1793) on December 3, 2007, for 3,521,500 GBP, breaking two world records: the highest price ever paid at auction for both a Rolls-Royce and a veteran car (pre-1905).

Rolls-Royce advertisement (The Autocar magazine, Dec. 17, 1904). Top-left: 10 hp, tonneau, two cylinders, with Barker body, 395 GBP. Top-right: 10 hp, Park Phaeton, with disappearing back seat, leather hood, patent leather wings, and glass front, 436 GBP.

Rolls-Royce 10 hp Type A review (The Automotor Journal, December 3, 1904)

Rolls-Royce founders: Charles Stewart Rolls (Aug. 27, 1877 - July 12, 1910), motoring and aviation pioneer, and Sir Frederick Henry Royce (March 27, 1863 - April 22, 1933), engineer and car designer.

Rolls-Royce introduces Spectre: the world's first Ultra-Luxury Electric Super Coupé (2022)