Auto/Elec Invalid carriage

[rayburrow]

There's an auction of a local chap's lifetime collection of old cars nearby, on the 25th April.  Amongst all the ancient ironmongery is an interesting little three-wheel electric invalid carriage, which I guess dates from the early 40's.   It has tiller steering to a bicycle like front wheel, and the handle itself is rather like a spade handle.   Leather seat and pretty solid bodywork, doesn't look as if it needs too much work to re-commission.
The chap I spoke to knows nothing about it, and in the auction brochure it's described as an Auto/Elec Invalid carriage.
The Auctioneers are Stags, 19 Bampton St., Tiverton, 01884 255533.   The vehicles are at Greenleas, Station Road, Bow, Crediton EX17 6HU and the official viewing day is 24th April, 10.00 to 16.00.

[Stuart Cyphus]

 Hmmm, that's intresting becuse there's two Carter Model F's in Crediton, one being ENG 29 & the other CXT 525. ENG was fully restored a year or two ago & EXT has been knocking around for years in that area, originally owned by Lady Shelly & resrored in the late 1980s by a sportscar restorer. It turned up on eBay three times last year but no takers due to outragusly high asking price.

 If there was a picture in that cataloge Ray, did it look like any of these below?.....



 The Shelly Carter Model F



 Carter Model F, ENG 29



 Argson Electric  (referance only)



Nelco Solocar (referance only)

[rayburrow]

Hello Stuart,

Perhaps tomorrow I can take a picture of it.   This one certainly hasn't been restored and I guess that rules out ENG 29 and CXT 525.  Their front wheel is also smaller and less 'bicycle-like' than the one in the sale.   Off the top of my head it looks like the Argson Electric - certainly has a similar front wheel and seat.   It's also in similar condition!   I'll see what I can do.

[cuscus47]

I like the photo of one of my Argson's, Stuart, LPB.  Ian.  Look for the Murphy Speed Control box, the  strange device at end of the steering. I think that only Argsons and Nelcos used it,  Ray.

[cuscus47]

Bingo     It's a Nelco Solocar

What is the year Stuart?  Look at the square nose!!!   Ian.

[Stuart Cyphus]

          Now that's a turn-up for the books! Only the fourth-known pre-facelift "Solocar", of which you Ian have one & a Welsh bicycle museum has another & a museum in New Zealand has the other.

 Year? Somewhere between 1929 & early 1947 & if it's 1946 or earlier, its not even a Solocar but rather an Auto-Electric Carriage. For those who want to know more, sign up for Conveyancer becuse by amazing coincidance, the long & complicated history of the Solocar is the main topic of issue 4, due out 1st June.....   

[rayburrow]

Camera packed up as soon as I went in!   Makers plate says:

Auto-Electric Cars & Trucks
London Maidenhead & Shalford
Chassis no 152
Motor No G(?) 02031
Type CFC(?)
Voltage 36

Has plenty of current passengers (woodworm), but metallically she's fine, I would say.  Last used 10 years ago before being put into the museum.  Front wheel and forks look out-of-place, as if from a Moulton bike, and probably modern.
Happy bidding!?

[marcus]

I had forgotten Moulton bikes, (Moulton Mini ?). Was it the one with a "pylon" style frame with triangulated re-inforcing rods? Big news in 1970s.
Hope this finds a good home