User:Rawlinsp/Sandbox

This page is under-construction.

Wilson-Pilcher
Wilson-Pilcher was a small engineering company formed in 1897 by Walter Gordon Wilson and Percy Sinclair Pilcher. After Pilcher's untimely death in a gliding accident, Wilson concentrated on developing a motor car, and the company became one of the early British car manufacturers, producing between 100-200 vehicles between 1900-1903.

Meeting
Wilson and Pilcher were introduced by the Honourable Adrian Verney-Cave at his home, Stanford Hall, in Leicestershire. They shared a common interest in the engineering developments of the day, each having already registered a number of patents.

A Novel Sail
Both men enjoyed sailing small boats, and this provided the subject of their first collaboration. They designed a sail and mast arrangement which lifted the boat to reduce drag, and could be adjusted to save the hull of the boat from tilting with the mast. The design was covered by a joint UK Patent No 29,194 in 1896. A prototype was constructed and fitted to Wilson's 17ft boat, which they took to the Solent for testing. The boat was fast, particularly when sailed on a beam reach (at right angles to the wind), and achieved 13 knots. But it was so difficult to control that the boat was sold soon after, and the unfortunate man who bought her collided with another boat on his first attempt to sail her.

Incorporation
In 1897, 3 directors. At Clerkenwell, in the City of London. Capital from friends and family - £250 from one of Wilson's uncles.

In 1899, moved to larger premises at 32-34 Great Peter Street, Westminster.

Powered Glider Engine
Air-cooled two cylinder flat-twin weighing 40lbs.

The Wilson-Pilcher Motor Cars
4-cylinder, 6-cylinder. One survives - registration number BB96, at the Tank Museum, Bovington. 12-18HP Wilson-Pilcher

Purchase by Armstrong-Whitworth
Outright purchase of the business in late 1903 Transfer to Elswick and Scotswood Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Wilson moved with the business, and became an employee of A-W. Continued to produce under the Wilson-Pilcher name. Wilson also developed a new Armstrong-Whitworth 28-36HP Crystal Palace Motor Show in Feb 1904.