T.B. was a three-wheeled
cyclecar
A cyclecar was a microcar, type of small, lightweight and inexpensive Automobile, car manufactured in Europe and the United States between 1910 and the early 1920s. The purpose of cyclecars was to fill a gap in the market between the motorcycle ...
manufactured by the aircraft department of Thompson Brothers of
Bilston
Bilston is a market town, ward, and civil parish located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is close to the borders of Sandwell and Walsall. The nearest towns are Darlaston, Wednesbury, and Willenhall. Historically in Staffordshir ...
, England, from 1919 until 1924. A prototype four-wheel car never entered production. Approximately 150 cars were produced
[University of Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton History and Heritage - Museum of transport, cars. - Thompson Brothers](_blank)
/ref> of which only one example is believed to have survived.
History
Thompson Brothers was founded in 1810 in Bilston
Bilston is a market town, ward, and civil parish located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is close to the borders of Sandwell and Walsall. The nearest towns are Darlaston, Wednesbury, and Willenhall. Historically in Staffordshir ...
in the Black Country region of South Staffordshire (now the West Midlands), and in 1882 it was purchased by Enoch Stephen Thompson.[The Times, 29 November 1937] The company was based at the Bradley Engineering Works, on Great Bridge Road, Bilston. Initially they manufactured steam boilers, but during World War I they diversified into aircraft components. After the war the tax regulations lead to a boom in cyclecar production so the aircraft department produced a three-wheeled, open, two seater, cycle car that followed aircraft engineering practises and workmanship standards, using high grade materials.[Graces Guide, British Industrial History, Thompson Brothers (Bilston)](_blank)
/ref>
The main appeal of cycle-cars was cheapness to buy and run, but in the overpopulated car market of the 1920s the cost of four-wheeled cars fell to that of cycle-cars, the business tailed off, component acquisition was troublesome, and T.B. only sold 150 cars. Although they designed a four-wheeled car it was never produced.
After the demise of the cyclecar business Thompson became a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles such as fuel tankers and airport fire tenders.
In 1935, an unusual three-wheeled aircraft refueller was successfully introduced for servicing light aeroplanes at civil aerodromes and during World War II many later variants were manufactured for military use. Many continued in use at civil aerodromes and airports in Britain until the 1960s and 1970s with a few still in use (e.g. at North Weald and Leicester East) in the 1990s. At least 20 examples are known to survive worldwide with museums and private owners today.
Eventually the company became part of the Northern Engineering Industries Group.
Models
The first model produced was the 1920 cyclecar equipped with a 10 hp. air-cooled engine mated to a leather clutch and two-speed gearbox. Design and development had taken approximately 12 months and a prototype completed a 2,000 mile test. The shapely "radiator" was a combined three-gallon petrol tank and three-quart oil tank.
By 1921 they used a 10 hp JAP water-cooled engine and a floating plate clutch to drive the three-speed gearbox.
By 1924 the sports model was equipped with a 10 hp water-cooled Anzani
Anzani was an engine manufacturer founded by the Italian Alessandro Anzani (1877–1956), which produced proprietary engines for aircraft, cars, boats, and motorcycles in factories in Britain, France and Italy.
Overview
From his native I ...
engine and an aluminium body.
[University of Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton History and Heritage - Thompson Brothers - Models](_blank)
/ref>
List of models
Primary table source : University of Wolverhampton. History and Heritage, Thompson Brothers
* 1920 Cycle car. 10 hp, air-cooled, steel body. £200.
* 1921 Standard. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. air-cooled, steel body. £235.
* 1921 Deluxe. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. water-cooled, steel body. £250.
* 1922 Standard. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. air-cooled, steel body. £155.
* 1922 Deluxe. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. water-cooled, steel body. £165.
* 1922 Sports. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. water-cooled, steel body.
* 1923 Standard. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. air-cooled, steel body. £155.
* 1923 Deluxe. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. water-cooled, steel body. £165.
* 1923 Sports. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. water-cooled, steel body.
* 1924 Standard. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. air-cooled), steel body. £152
* 1924 Deluxe. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. water-cooled, steel body. £160
* 1924 Family. 8-10 hp, J.A.P. water-cooled, steel body. £162
* 1924 Sports. 8-10 hp, Anzani. water-cooled, aluminium body. £170
Competition
From 1920 to 1922 T.B.s competed regularly in national events, scoring 27 victories, 31 gold medals, 12 silver and 5 bronze.[University of Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton History and Heritage - Thompson Brothers - Competition results](_blank)
/ref>
They competed in:
*1920 - London-Edinburgh; London-Holyhead; London-Bala-London; London-Exeter-London
*1921 - Colmore Cup; Victory Cup; London-Land's End; A.C.U. Centre; London-Manchester; Travers Trial; London-Holyhead; London-Edinburgh; Moffat Cup; Reliability Trial; Sheffield-Holyhead; Reliability Trial; Reliability Trial; Sheffield-Hunstanton; A.C.U. 6 days; Nailsworth Ladder; London-Exeter; London-Gloucester
*1922 - Colmore Cup; General Efficiency; Stock Trial; Victory Cup; One Day Reliability; London-Land's End; London-Holyhead; Reliability Trial; Reliability Trial; Open Reliability Trial; Vesey Cup Trial; London-Edinburgh; Sheffield 24 hours; A.C.U. Midland; M.C. & A.C. 24 hrs; A.C.U. 6 days; Cannock and Walsall Reliability; A.C. & N.B.A.C. Hill Climb; A.C. & N.B.A.C. Shell Cup; Midland Car Club
Surviving models
There is reportedly only one model still surviving, at the Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country Living Museum (formerly the Black Country Museum) is an open-air museum of rebuilt historic buildings in Dudley, West Midlands, England.[Dudley
Dudley is a large market town and administrative centre in the county of West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically an exclave of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the ...](_blank)
.
See also
* List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom
:''This list is incomplete. You can help by adding correctly sourced information about other manufacturers.''
As of 2018 there are approximately 35 active British car manufacturers and over 500 defunct British car manufacturers. This page lists ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Black-country memories - Thompson Brothers
Black Country Living Museum at Dudley - possible home to last surviving model
High quality pictures of TB on 1923 Victory Cup Trial
Cyclecars
Three-wheeled motor vehicles
Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of England
Manufacturing companies based in Wolverhampton