RUMCars Forum

General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: blob on May 11, 2008, 09:10:12 PM

Title: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on May 11, 2008, 09:10:12 PM
A good cure for insomnia, become obsessed with finding vintage microcar footage on the Pathe film archive, Astra, New Map coupe, Rytecrafts, Nobel Sporty and more conveyances than Stuart can shake a stick at, plus oddities I've not seen before. Looking for more though I think I've exhausted most searches by now.
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: cuscus47 on May 12, 2008, 04:08:35 AM
These are some great flicks Blob.
You did a remarkable job in finding them. I keep looking to see if I can find some with any of my number plates but haven't as yet. Could've sworn I saw Stuart there, but he would not have been even a twinkle in his daddy's eye then. Most likely his father was not even a twinkle in his daddy's eye. ;) Great job, keep it up. These give hours of pleasure.
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on May 12, 2008, 09:00:56 AM
Cheers cuscus47, pity there's a loss of quality with these Pathe previews, but to buy them would be expensive. I still have the links to the films I've downloaded, if anyone wants to download them for themselves, because photobucket compresses them further. My favorites are the Nobel Sporty and the Collier Chariot. I'm pretty certain the film I've labeled as 'Unknown? 4' is a Boitel, like the one pictured Pg18 of Jan de Langes Microcar stories.
:D Incidentally, I've uploaded more invalid footage and some number plates are clearly visible.


Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: g-o-g-g-o on May 13, 2008, 08:21:17 AM
Hi Blob
          I just love the Nobel Vicky "sporty", Nobel had a place just around the corner, that is why glamourous girls features in all of his adverts - (the heinkel advert with the show girls in and I think Sabrina) . I have noticed that the Nobel Vickey is LHD maybe it was a forunner of the !00 he produces here - My one is RHD one of only two surviving the other's were sent abroad to a holiday camp - where is it? I dont know but a report in one of the motorcycling mags said South Africa!!

 Keep up the good work.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mike
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on May 13, 2008, 11:04:07 AM
Hi Mike,I reckon you're right about it being a forerunner, as regular Nobel literature always featured Fuldamobil S7's or at least cars with German bodies, after seeing this footage I do regret not bidding on the one Andy bought, though there are some photos of one found in the US on Yahoo: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fulda-Nobel/ (you'll need to sign up though).
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on May 15, 2008, 09:29:32 PM
These are some great flicks Blob.  You did a remarkable job in finding them.  I keep looking to see if I can find some with any of my number plates but haven't as yet.  Could've sworn I saw Stuart there, but he would not have been even a twinkle in his daddy's eye then.  Most likely his father was not even a twinkle in his daddy's eye.   ;)   Great job, keep it up. These give hours of pleasure.

 Oh how I wish I had been there at some of those do's! All the big rallys are varous Invalid Tricycle Association anual rallys from about 1948 - 1960 or so and several very well-known names in the field of invalid three-wheelers can be seen flitting by. O.A (Denny) Denly, founder of the ITA/DDA features strongly in several of the films. He was the man who went over the Alps by Argson in 1947. I've actully had the honour of meeting him two years ago and he's still going strong. In fact, last I heard, he's writing his autobiogaphy.

 Of the vehicles themselves, these rallies regularly used to attract some 200-250 tricycles. Nowadays that's about the total sum of known surviving examples. In one film the Dingwall Midget Car bumbles by, whilst in a later film, a Barrett Minor passes by. Sadly the Barrett Minor is now concidered extinct. There did used to be roumers of one in South Africa, but alas the trail has gone cold.  All those Invacar Mk 10's. 1,003 were produced in total but where oh where are they all today? Sadly another model belived extinct until proved otherwise.  If I had been at any of these rallys, I wouldn't rest untill every single one had paraded before the camera, alas I'm about 55 years too late. Dad was also too late as well for most of these, not being born til 1954...

 Blob also found a film of the Colliday Chariot. (A vehicle wich also has been refered to as the Colicar) I've got about a third of this film from other sources but the cars of Bob Collier produced in Birmingham between the mid 1960s & the early 1970s truely facinate me in much the same way as the creations of Russel Winn and I would dearly love to do the article on them. Has anyone got any details or any form of leads on them and him whatsoever?

 Then Blob also found the Sid Jones spinal carrage. This was a mindboggling vehicle and roumers persisted for years that its still in existance somewhere on the south coast. I still haven't ran it to ground yet but I'm still hunting......
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on May 23, 2008, 08:35:16 AM
As so many have asked for the links to the films I've downloaded, I figured I'd post them here to save emailing everyone. Each minute of the original film can be previewed at a rate of up to one still image per second, by using the options in the relevant Pop Up window. You can then preview a particular still by clicking on it. If you want to save this image "right click" on it and follow the instructions. This window gives you the option to purchase a "clean" higher resolution copy.
You can purchase a higher resolution movie by changing the 'free preview' to 'presentation' then add to 'basket', in the link window, then go back to www.britishpathe.com and view the 'basket' which will tell you the price involved. To extend the reproduction rights an additional licence must be agreed with ITN Source.

http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=94105&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=1506&searchword=nobel%20200&searchword=nobel%20200
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=43477&searchword=berkeley%20car&searchword=berkeley%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=1619&searchword=bubble%20cars&searchword=bubble%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=77507&searchword=goggomobil%20car&searchword=goggomobil%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=46042&searchword=frisky%20car&searchword=frisky%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=80124&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=22766&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=7586&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=18235&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=15679&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=2457&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=39541&searchword=three%20wheeled&searchword=three%20wheeled
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=41332&searchword=three%20wheeler&searchword=three%20wheeler
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=57331&searchword=3%20wheeled%20&searchword=3%20wheeled
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=40561&searchword=little%20cars&searchword=little%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=48887&searchword=tiny%20cars&searchword=tiny%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=19675&searchword=tiny%20cars&searchword=tiny%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=22596&searchword=small%20cars&searchword=small%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=96295&searchword=peel%20car&searchword=peel%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=46763&searchword=bubble%20car&searchword=bubble%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=57223&searchword=micro%20car&searchword=micro%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=87065&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=34269&searchword=miniature%20car&searchword=miniature%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=37144&searchword=miniature%20car&searchword=miniature%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=38724&searchword=miniature%20car&searchword=miniature%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=63114&searchword=miniature%20car&searchword=miniature%20car
https://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=56535&searchword=electric%20cars&searchword=electric%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=63802&searchword=miniature%20car&searchword=miniature%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=2101&searchword=driving&searchword=driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=17449&searchword=baby%20car%20&searchword=baby%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=96253&searchword=electric%20mini%20&searchword=electric%20mini
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=18660&searchword=round%20car&searchword=round%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=23361&searchword=electric%20car%20&searchword=electric%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=22736&searchword=rovin&searchword=rovin
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=56681&searchword=electric%20mini%20car&searchword=electric%20mini%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=58377&searchword=tiny%20car&searchword=tiny%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=39365&searchword=tiny%20car&searchword=tiny%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=28804&searchword=tiny%20car&searchword=tiny%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=39001&searchword=tiny%20car&searchword=tiny%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=64529&searchword=miniature%20car&searchword=miniature%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=57799&searchword=small%20car%20factory&searchword=small%20car%20factory
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=94657&searchword=mini-car%20&searchword=mini-car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=58568&searchword=invalid%20car&searchword=invalid%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=58972&searchword=invalid%20car&searchword=invalid%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=72281&searchword=invalid%20car&searchword=invalid%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=78325&searchword=invalid%20car&searchword=invalid%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=43363&searchword=invalid%20car&searchword=invalid%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=71453&searchword=invalid%20carriage&searchword=invalid%20carriage
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=38151&searchword=invalid%20carriage&searchword=invalid%20carriage
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=56312&searchword=shopping%20car&searchword=shopping%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=68525&searchword=midget%20car&searchword=midget%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=56966&searchword=small%20cars&searchword=small%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=77462&searchword=small%20french%20cars&searchword=small%20french%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=46024&searchword=3%20wheel%20car&searchword=3%20wheel%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=2621&searchword=london%20driving&searchword=london%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=109&searchword=small%20car&searchword=small%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=20237&searchword=tiny%20car&searchword=tiny%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=82532&searchword=little%20car&searchword=little%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=66732&searchword=small%20cars&searchword=small%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=76977&searchword=tricycle%20&searchword=tricycle
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=89396&searchword=tiny%20vehicle&searchword=tiny%20vehicle
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=58297&searchword=three%20wheel%20car&searchword=three%20wheel%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=91201&searchword=tricycle%20&searchword=tricycle
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=61966&searchword=town%20cars&searchword=town%20cars
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=60324&searchword=small%20german%20car&searchword=small%20german%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=45998&searchword=bubble%20&searchword=bubble
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=66881&searchword=glass%20car&searchword=glass%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=59790&searchword=tricycle%20&searchword=tricycle
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=1082&searchword=square%20car&searchword=square%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=55810&searchword=mini%20car%20&searchword=mini%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=19976&searchword=light%20car%20&searchword=light%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=40338&searchword=paris%20driving&searchword=paris%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=40330&searchword=paris%20driving&searchword=paris%20driving
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=53627&searchword=traffic%20chaos&searchword=traffic%20chaos
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=838&searchword=greek%20car&searchword=greek%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=837&searchword=beach%20car&searchword=beach%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=94929&searchword=streets&searchword=streets
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=96253&searchword=mini%20&searchword=mini
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=64529&searchword=post%20car&searchword=post%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=87174&searchword=japanese%20car&searchword=japanese%20car
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=37941&searchword=motorcycle%20show&searchword=motorcycle%20show


Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on October 04, 2008, 12:18:02 PM
Just when I thought there were no more microcar films to be found I spotted this one: aptly named the Flying Flea, http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=1200_16.flv
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Bob Purton on October 04, 2008, 02:12:24 PM
Thats a good clip Mike! It looks uncannily like a Rolux baby to me! Never heard of The flying flea car but the DIY airplane by the same name is well documented mainly for all the poor souls that it killed!
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Chris Thomas on October 04, 2008, 02:35:07 PM
Dear Bob and Blob  (that sounds like Bill and Ben speak)

The Flying Flea self build aeroplane was a designed promoted in Newnes Practical Mechanics magazine of 1935. In 1936 they did a design for a £20 car which looks very similar to the one in the news clip. The only difference being that in the film clip it has four wheels rather than the £20 car having three.

The design was layed out over four monthly editions and was mostly constructed of timber as can be seen on this web site

http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.images.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DFlying%2BFlea%26ni%3D20%26ei%3DUTF-8%26rd%3Dr1%26xargs%3D0%26pstart%3D1%26b%3D261&w=100&h=128&imgurl=www.bright.org.uk%2Fimages%2FCar1_small.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bright.org.uk%2F&size=54.8kB&name=Car1_small.jpg&p=Flying+Flea&type=JPG&oid=5284eb220fd37b46&no=264&tt=2,710&sigr=10p67gjkv&sigi=117v6cped&sigb=1399dpsdd

Perhaps we should do the same thing in Rumcar News!!!

Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Chris Thomas on October 04, 2008, 03:13:37 PM
Dear Blob and Bob ( sounds like a boy scout fund raising event)

I agree it does look a bit like a Rolex but I think not close enough. Also having looked at the £20 car and the Midget car in Practical Mechanics of 1936 I can say it is not one of those either. So what is it. Does Marshall Tony know the answer?

Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on October 04, 2008, 03:18:16 PM
Quote
Perhaps we should do the same thing in Rumcar News!!!
Chris, that's a great idea for the 100th edition of RCN.
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on October 04, 2008, 03:47:55 PM
Quote
Perhaps we should do the same thing in Rumcar News!!!
Chris, that's a great idea for the 100th edition of RCN.

 Hmmm, build a new micro costing no less than £20 in time for the 100th issue & then present it to the Hammond Collection at Jean's Open Day? Sounds like one way of celebrating 100 issues & 25 years of....   ;D

 Or, we could all club together & help Bob Dobie get the Gordon finished in time? For after all, does that car not sum up the whole spirit and intent of Edwin Hammond & the RUM...... 
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Chris Thomas on October 04, 2008, 05:27:48 PM
Dear Stuart, Blob, and anybody else that is on line

I was not suggesting that we should design and build a car for £20.

What I was suggesting is that if somebody had a design for a new Microcar, Rumcar News could over 4 to 8 issues publish the plans showing it being built, similar to the rebuilding of the Gordon, to encourage the creative element of the membership.

At the same time it would be interesting to find and publish other Microcar designs that have been sold as a kit of plans for self builders, like those in Popular Mechanics. And finally there are the Kit cars that have been sold using Fiat 500 and Fiat 126 components, Citroen 2CV componenets and perhaps others.

Certainly for the 25 year celebration it would be perfect to see the Gordon finished, and if we can be of assistance to Bob then we should be proactive in making it happen, however the project is Bob's and therefore he should say what he needs help with.

For next summer I would like to see every member (our world wide members excused) bring along to the Hammond Open day at least one vehicle on the register to see if we can get 100 cars on display. They may not be runners, but would show the extent of the membership. Sponsorship from sombody like Eddy Stobart to transport those from far affield down to Staplehurst would help to ease the transportation difficulties (you can get a lot of microcars on an artic) and get along all the classic car magazine editors to report on the achievement.

Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Bob Purton on October 04, 2008, 06:55:59 PM
Hi Chris and others. I had a look at the 1936 DIY car and found it fascinating but also concluded it looks nothing like the flying flea. There were a few vintage micro's that were sold in kit form, notably the Opperman Unicar and there were others but do the plans still exist? I for one would love to see them.  I agree that something special should be done in the run up to the 100th but would featuring someone building a modern small engined kit car be within keeping of the original purpose of RUMcars? Which is and I quote "exists purely to maintain records of the existence of these rare little machines and to encourage their preservation and restoration." After all there are scores of kit car magazines that cater for that. (just my opinion, I know that Chris, the main promoter of the modern stuff will disagree!] Thats why I plum for Stuarts idea about getting the Gordon finished. Instead of a work party at the farm how about one at Robs place, someone who can weld etc? Now here is my idea of something special for the 100th celebration, I get a bit tired hearing of all the rare microcars that are in peoples collections, many are nonrunners, many unregistered and are never seen let alone driven, surely the true spirit of rum cars could be expressed by a road run of all the rarest cars with the less rare following up behind. There are cars like Rollera's, Spatz,Tourettes, Peels, Brutche, BMA's, Unicar, BSA Ladybird, Bonollack Minnow, Rolux,  you name it all tucked away in collections in this country that no one ever sees, how about a huge push to get these out, registered, running, and out on a road run from Hawkenbury, once around Staplehurst and back again, a very short run but what a sight that would be! What a photo opportunity! Imagine the smoke alone! Even the electric cars would have the range. What do you think?
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Inaheinkel on October 05, 2008, 09:40:22 AM
Hi All

I think both ideas, the getting the Gordon finished and the rare car road run are both excelent and should be looked into.

The company I work for sells sealers etc. to car body repair shops, anything you need Rob, just let me know.

Sealer
Double sided tapes
Panel bonding kit
Etch primer
High build primer
Etc.

Perhaps we could each donate a small amount £10? to put towards getting a major sticking point on the restoration finished like seat retrim, or paying to get a welder to finish something off.

Only ideas, what does everyone else think?

John
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Chris Thomas on October 05, 2008, 06:36:33 PM
Dear John

Is this offer open to all members of Rum Cars?

Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Inaheinkel on October 06, 2008, 08:18:04 AM
Hi Chris

If you need any bodyshop type supplies, I am happy to give advice and can send you whatever you need.

To save blocking up the forum if anyone has any questions please email me on vandjjohnson@aol.com

We supply to the trade, so the products are sometimes more specialised ( we do a lot of 2-pack plastic repair stuff for bumpers and for bonding panels together) some of the products are of better quality ie you can buy aerosol primers and lacquers cheaper from Halfords etc. but they don't work quite the same.

If anyone is interested in anything let me know, I will do it F.O.C. to help fix the Gordon, anyone else, normal price we charge trade customers, less 10% discount for C.O.D. + any postage.

The offer to donate £10 to help fix a classic car was only for the Gordon, but well done on being so quick off the mark ;)  ;D

John
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on October 06, 2008, 11:42:18 AM
Great bit of brainstorming going on here regarding the 100th edition, I'd love to see some real rarities at a show, plus the idea of hiring a welder to finish the Gordon seems plausible, so long as Rob doesn't nip off on holiday with the proceeds. Incidentally the mystery car that started this thread may well be of Italian origin, the statement at the top of the original link reads:
Quote
In Italy we see a small car called the Flying Flea (? could just be commentator's joke).
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: marcus on October 08, 2008, 03:11:24 PM
Some great ideas, and all sparked by those clips, thanks Blob! Have you ever come across any Heinkel/Trojan ones? I HAVE seen Schmitt and Isetta clips, and now loads of very rare/one-offs.
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on October 09, 2008, 09:28:15 AM
Hi Marcus, The only archive Heinkel footage I’ve seen so far is this one I found on youtube, a great clip in it’s own right, however you must sit through 6.59 of trolley buses before a white Heinkel/Trojan drives across in front of you.  ;D

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ejnRrN3QhgE

Talking of Messerschmitts I wonder if any of these survive: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=24_14.flv

Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: marcus on October 09, 2008, 10:08:16 AM
Cheers Squire! Fortunately I love trolley buses!
Title: 100th RUMCAR NEWS
Post by: Jean on October 11, 2008, 06:51:51 PM
Dear Stuart, Blob, and anybody else that is on line

I was not suggesting that we should design and build a car for £20.

What I was suggesting is that if somebody had a design for a new Microcar, Rumcar News could over 4 to 8 issues publish the plans showing it being built, similar to the rebuilding of the Gordon, to encourage the creative element of the membership.

At the same time it would be interesting to find and publish other Microcar designs that have been sold as a kit of plans for self builders, like those in Popular Mechanics. And finally there are the Kit cars that have been sold using Fiat 500 and Fiat 126 components, Citroen 2CV componenets and perhaps others.

Certainly for the 25 year celebration it would be perfect to see the Gordon finished, and if we can be of assistance to Bob then we should be proactive in making it happen, however the project is Bob's and therefore he should say what he needs help with.

For next summer I would like to see every member (our world wide members excused) bring along to the Hammond Open day at least one vehicle on the register to see if we can get 100 cars on display. They may not be runners, but would show the extent of the membership. Sponsorship from sombody like Eddy Stobart to transport those from far affield down to Staplehurst would help to ease the transportation difficulties (you can get a lot of microcars on an artic) and get along all the classic car magazine editors to report on the achievement.

Chris Thomas


Tony and I were extremely interested in the ideas put forward on the Forum and would like to see more.  If they could be kept under this topic Tony could then relay them to the readers of RUMCAR NEWS who do not have computers, and believe me there are quite a number.  Remember time is of the essence, it will not be that long before March 2009 (publication date for the 100th Edition) or for the next Open Day for that matter.    Remember too that we shall need YOUR help to put the ideas into practice.  Jean
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on October 14, 2008, 10:38:39 AM
Another gem from the archive, the Fairthorpe Atom, pity it's silent though could have been part of a publicity film.
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=2630_21.flv
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: marcus on October 14, 2008, 11:54:07 AM
Great clip, must be publicity film because it is nicely "staged" to show luggage and passenger capacity as well as driving on roads and track. Notice the Dart aircraft sign near the Atom sign on the factory, as Don Bennet was an Air Marshall and Pathfinder, could Dart have been another of his companies? He may have had problems with Rolls Royce over the name Dart because it was their leading turbo-prop of that era
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on October 16, 2008, 08:39:41 AM
It’s great to see under it’s skin as opposed to just being driven, I wonder how it would perform if those suitcases were actually full. By the way Marcus I’ve found another clip with a couple of seconds worth of Hienkel footage.  ;)

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=1589_14.flv
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: marcus on October 17, 2008, 09:56:14 AM
Luvverly! like the renault dauphine and the citroen H van too!
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on November 13, 2008, 09:28:08 AM
Usually I spend hours looking for these, found this Mochet footage in 5 minutes, they're still out there. http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=1_05.flv
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on March 04, 2009, 07:02:32 PM
I've now found 113 clips related to microcars on the Pathe archive and have loaded them into my photobucket site, as well as listing the links here. I’ve also made two folders, one for articles about microcars and the other for miscellaneous footage, like a film about Frankfurt’s red light district where an Isetta drives by in the background.

This is a favorite, a film about the future of traffic congestion (Silent, there's one with sound only I misplaced it), the answer? Make smaller cars. The film gives the appearance of small cars, but can you see the Velam that drives by? Also I’ve found footage of the Davis, whilst not a micro it did appear in a recent addition of RCN, plus Marcus will be happy, as I’ve spotted a few more clips that include Heinkels.

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/


http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20about%20Microcars/?action=view&current=1167_22.flv
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20about%20Microcars/?action=view&current=Homebuild.flv
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20about%20Microcars/?action=view&current=WinnBike.flv
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20containing%20Microcars/?action=view&current=69_18.flv
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20containing%20Microcars/?action=view&current=Heinkel.flv
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20containing%20Microcars/?action=view&current=Velam.flv

I wonder if Jim can identify this American EV:
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20about%20Microcars/?action=view&current=AmericanEV.flv
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Jim Janecek on March 04, 2009, 07:14:28 PM
I wonder if Jim can identify this American EV:
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Films%20about%20Microcars/?action=view&current=AmericanEV.flv

hmm, not yet.  I first thought it was a "Towne Shopper" but looking at the specs it has a gas motor.  Could be an electric version of the same vehicle.
I will have to investigate.

in the meantime I know it is NOT this:

(http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularMechanics/4-1960/lrg_electric_shopper.jpg)

Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: blob on March 04, 2009, 07:19:07 PM
Hi Jim, I thought it may have been an Electra King it has that kind of look.
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: cuscus47 on March 04, 2009, 07:47:04 PM
I think that you both are incorrect.  I don't think that the Town Shopper had doors or a roof.  I have an Electric Shopper and if it is the fiberglass model, it is the car that looks as if it is smiling at you (see Jim's advert).  It is definitely not an Electric Shopper, besides they came only as 3-wheel.  Initially I thought of the Electra King, as did Blob, however they always had a trunk (boot to you chaps).   I believe that it is a later model of the Electricar (circa 1958-60), made by the Boulevard Machine Works (BMW) in Hollywood, California.  This had a station wagon body such as in the clip.  They made three models, two of them were 3-wheel (Cutie Junior and Cutie) and the 4 wheel model was the Boulevard wagon.   8)
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on March 04, 2009, 10:35:54 PM
 Is it by any chance a Mk 1 Electrodyne, dating from about 1959-60? A 1962 Mk 2 model was discussed on this forum a little while back & here's the link.....

http://www.rumcars.org/forum/index.php?topic=1159.0

 .... and a differant angle of the car for futher convincing....

(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z211/stuartcyphus/1962Elctrodyne1.jpg)
Title: Re: Microcars discovered on the Pathe Archive
Post by: Jim Janecek on March 04, 2009, 10:48:16 PM
I don't think so Stuart:

(http://microcar.org/files/electriccar-2.jpg)

also- compare this side view with the Electrodyne:

(http://microcar.org/files/electriccar-1.jpg)

(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z68/cuscus47/Electrodyne.jpg)