Arnold (automobile)

The Arnold was one of the first motor cars manufactured in the United Kingdom. It was produced in East Peckham, Kent between 1896 and 1898.

Arnold-Benz, driven by Alfred Cornell, 1897.
The Arnold was based on the Benz Velo (pictured)

History

William Arnold & Sons of East Peckham, Kent, was an agricultural engineering company founded in about 1844.[1]

In 1895 they acquired a licence to build Benz cars. As the Arnold Motor Carriage Co. from 1896[2] to 1898.[3] the firm built twelve cars patterned after the Benz but fitted with their own engines.[4] Two Arnolds were exhibited at Crystal Palace in 1896.[3]

One Arnold from 1896 was fitted with one of the world's first self-starters, by electrical engineer Herbert John Dowsing. This was a dynamotor coupled to the flywheel, designed to assist the car on hills and well as starting the engine.[1]

Two Arnold cars survive.[5]

See also

References
  1. G.N. Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
  2. Rubashow, Tom (24 October 2008). "Shilling fine for 8 mph dash down high street". Kent and Sussex Courier (Paddock Wood edition). Courier Media Group Ltd.
  3. "Men who sparked the ignition". brooklands.org.uk. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  4. Lawrence, Margaret (1994). Bridge Over the Stream. East Peckham Parish Council. p. 14. ISBN 0-9524828-1-9.
  5. "Arnold". British Motor Manufacturers. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2008.

Other sources

"Arnold", in G.N. Georgano, ed., The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars 1885–1968 (New York: E.P. Dutton and Co., 1974).

  • Photo of one of the two surviving Arnold cars


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.