Photos - the AC factory in 1923

[Old Crock]

For those interested in motoring history, I believe these below date from 1923; they show just some of the departments in the AC factory in Thames Ditton in the vintage period:
   
   Experimental Dept:
   
   
   Gear/back Axle Dept:
   
   
   Engine Test Bench:
   
   
   Engine Fitting Shop:
   
   
   Coachbuilding Dept:
   
   
   First Paint:
   
   
   Beading and Lapping:
   
   
   Testing Dept:
   

[ACOCArch]

Superb photos - thanks for posting them. Interestingly, most, if not all, appear to be on the High St site rather than Ferry Works.

[Old Crock]

I have a lot more of these, although not the originals. The set contains more than 40 shots taken at the factory. A slight correction to the above - I have found they date from November 1922; all were for a newspaper article that was published some time later.
   
   I'll post some more at a later date...

[Old Crock]

Time for a few more shots, taken at the factory in November 1922. More to follow...
   
   Metal panelling and wings
   
   Part of the 'first paint' shop
   
   Main chassis erecting shop
   
   Gear and back axle assembly department
   
   Part of the engine fitting department
   
   Part of the machine shop
   
   Corner of the wood mill
   
   Shop number 1, at the Service Dept
   
   
   PS These give some idea of the scale of the operation in the 1920's - I wonder how many were employed?

[jonto]

In the first picture experimental shop,Early 1922 I suggest the car behind the V screen six has a rounded scuttle, a 200 mile race car perhaps. Maybe the pictures are not all the same date.
    In the eleventh, chassis erecting four cylinder cars, the chassis in the foreground seems to be an early type where the side rails terminate at the rear spring mountings and a tubular cross member arches upwards and rearwards, all the other chassis have the longer side rails extending over the rear axle.
     In the fourth picture, engine shop, the two crankshafts on the floor differ from the one on the bench above having a large circular piece in the centre but the one on the bench seems to have two counterbalance weights,is this a 1919/20 picture?
   Notice the central heating radiators, all the comforts!

[AC Ace Bristol]

.
   
   Jonto
   
   Some people are more observant than others............
   
   In my ignorance of Vintage AC's  I enjoyed the numerous pictures and certainly learnt a lot more about the early days at Thames Ditton.
   Old Crock,  waiting for the next batch of pictures to learn more, mind you a little knowledge with me can be dangerous...[B)]
   
   Keith..

[jonto]

In the ninth picture, metal paneling, the car in the left foreground looks like an Empire model with a three lamp lighting set. The front lights let into nacelles fixed to the front wings, in a similar manner to Pierce Arrow. Dates for this picture to 1923 model year.

[jonto]

Referring back to the first picture, experimental shop, the car in the background must be one of the 200 mile race cars, you can just see the splayed out front spring as below-
   
   
   
   The article this picture is from mentions that these cars were 8 valve, presumably with an iron head. Was the 1922 race earlier than the usual October date, being run in August?

[Old Crock]

quote:Originally posted by jonto
   
Was the 1922 race earlier than the usual October date, being run in August?
   

The JCC '200', at Brooklands 1921-1928, was held between July and October; July (1928), August (1922), September (1924, 1925, 1926) and October (1921, 1923, 1927). In 1922 it took place on 19th August. The AC's in 1921 came in 3rd (Driver, Stead) and 12th (Brownsort), 1923 3rd (Joyce), 1924 4th (Joyce). Not bad at all, when there were many starters e.g 40 in 1924

[Old Crock]

Here's some more of the photos....more to follow at a later date.
   
   Outside view of the Coachbuilding Works:
   
   
   General view - Machine Shop:
   
   
   A bay at Grinding Machines:
   
   
   Chief Parts Inspection Department:
   
   
   A bay in the Metal Panelling shop:
   
   
   A section in the Coachbuilding Department:
   
   
   Upholstery Department:
   
   
   Finished Parts Wood Store:
   
   
   Part of the Power Station:
   
   
   One of the bays of the Finishing Department:
   

[BE774]

You may remember, Clive that the ACOC presented a large copy of the last picture (one of the bays of the finishing department) to Alan Lubinsky as a gesture of goodwill from the club to the new owner of AC Cars. I wonder where that is now?