Collection: Streetlife Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Transport Collection

  The early car collection represents the formative years of the motor car and is of significant technical and historical interest; a fact underlined by its association with the original London Motor Museum. The carriage collection is not large, but remains one of the most important in the country. The collection consists almost exclusively of carriages from across the social scale. This fact is underlined by the range of highly-regarded carriage builders that are represented within the collection. Many individual items are of national significance, in some instances, such as the Britzschka, being one of only two surviving examples in Britain. Others, for instance the Bow-fronted Hansom, were built by a renowned Birmingham maker, but they also have strong local associations. Hull’s collection is comprehensive, and in this sense compares favourably with the Science Museum and the Glasgow Museum of Transport. The development of Streetlife has presented a unique chance to interpret the collections in a lively and original manner, and offers the exceptional opportunity to compare significant early modes of transport within a single building. Early Cars The 9 cars all date from the turn of the century and are representative of the formative years of motoring in Britain. Technically they demonstrate the state of motor car design of the period. In particular, since there are 6 petrol-engined, 2 steam-powered and 1 electric car, they illustrate the then-unresolved argument about which form of motive power was superior. Three of the cars are French: an 1898 Panhard-Levassor, an 1899 De-Dion Bouton quadricycle, and a 1901 Gardner-Serpollet steamer. Panhard-Levassor were, along with Peugeot, the first French builders of petrol-engined cars in 1891 and manufacturers of the German-licensed Daimler engines that both used. In 1891/2 Levassor made the first motor car of modern design with the engine at the front, the gearbox behind and dinal drive to the back axle. The De-Dion Bouton exemplifies the debt owned by the early motor car industry to the cycle trade. This lightweight and simple design is an example of one of the first mass-produced motor vehicles. The Gardner-Serpollet steamer is the product of an inventive genius, Leon Serpollet, who made steam motor cars which worked more effectively than most steam-cars made since. The four English cars also represent the pan-European connections of the early motor industry. The 1898 Coventry Motette is a British-built example of a French design of voiturette (light cars). The 1900 Daimler is a copy of a Panhard-Levassor, and was a product of the first factory in Britain established to build such horseless carriages. The 1900 Marshall is a licence-built French Hurtu, that was itself a license-built German Benz (the first maker of production motor cars). The 1900 Sturmey is the one-off prototype of a light car, but fitted with a De-Dion Bouton engine, that had an innovative transmission system now best-known on bicycles as the Sturmey-Archer three-speed gear. The two American cars, a 1901 White steamer and a 1900 Cleveland electric, were both sold new in Britain. They illustrate the argument over motive power that in America was not fully resolved until the 1914-18 war. Some of the cars have particular historical associations. The Marshall was a participant in the 1000 Mile Trial of 1900. This was the first motoring event that really introduced the horseless carriage to the British public. The White was owned by Col. R.E. Crampton, who is better known as a pioneer of electric lighting. Henry Sturmey, maker of the 1900 cycle-car was the first editor of ‘The Autocar’ magazine. These cars formed a significant element of the world’s first motor car museum, organised by ‘The Motor’ magazine and opened in Oxford Street, London, in May 1912. The collection of 40 cars was moved to a new home at Crystal Palace in 1914, but this proved temporary with the outbreak of war. Subsequently in 1922 its dispersal was undertaken by the Science Museum, and 9 of the cars went to Hull. This was the largest number to go to any British or Empire Museum. The collection contains 14 carriages and a number of other large exhibits including sedan chairs (2), manual fire appliances (3), sleighs (2), a carrier’s wagon and a rulley. Smaller objects include coach paintings and prints (16) by renowned artists like Cooper Henderson and Pollard, coach horns, harness, horse brasses (450), postboys jackets, coach panels and a postillion boot. There is a small but significant collection of coaching waybills and turnpike records. Their importance lies in their completeness, which presents a vivid picture of the East Riding in the coaching era (1800-1850). There are three sporting carriages. The Drag (possibly built by Venthams) was owned by two famous personalities of the coaching revival era, Capt ‘Billy’ Cooper and Capt ‘Jack’ Stacey-Clitheroe. The Wagonette-Brake by Cowland and Selby (London) is the finest example of its type in any collection. The small four-wheeled dog cart is yet another fine example (built by Joseph Cockshoot and Co., Manchester). Two carriages in the collection are exceptionally rare. The Britzschka, although the body has been heavily restored, represents one of only two surviving examples in Britain of an important English carriage type. The Cabriolet, a wealthy gentleman’s carriage, is in original condition; built by Goodall and Son (London) it is the best of the three surviving examples in Britain. The Earl of Yarborough’s State Chariot is an excellent example of an aristocratic carriage, built by a famous London builder, Laurie and Marner. To illustrate the range of the collection, the Town Coach is the work of a good provincial builder, (Smith and Son, Doncaster). Of the three types of barouches, the Barouche in Hull is an excellent example of the smallest and most modest type and in Nicholson’s view is the best of its type to survive. The Caleche is an example of a French carriage built in Paris, the design itself was exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition. Certain carriage builders specialised in particular types of carriages. Hull has a Brougham built by Barker and Co., London as an example of this practice. Marston and Co., Birmingham was famous for their hansom cabs; Hull has a very rare Bow-fronted Hansom that was used by a local hackney carriage firm. The Victoria, although a very modest carriage, was built in Hull and represents the local trade, and is the only such carriage in the collection. Post 1901 cars include: 1907 Lanchester 20hp Open Tourer; 1962 BMW Isetta tricycle; 1950 Jowett Bradford Ice Cream van; 1956 Morris Isis; 40 cycles ranging from 1818 Hobby Horse to 1980s BMX.

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC