James & Browne was a British automobile manufacturer, based in Hammersmith, London between 1898 and 1910. The enterprise started in 1896 as a partnership between John Melville James, a former racing cyclist,[1] and Tom Bousquet Browne. This partnership was dissolved in 1898, with Browne continuing the business with Francis Leigh Martineau under the James and Browne name.[2]
The James & Browne factory was located at the Chiswick end of King's Street in West London, and a car showroom was on Oxford Street.
The early cars had an unusual engine layout with the flywheel between the cylinders. The engines were mid-mounted in the chassis, and the cylinders were horizontal. Drive was to the rear wheels via a 4-speed gearbox and chain. The gearbox is in 2 parts, linked by a connecting rod: the left one contains 2nd and 4th gears, and the right one contains 1st, 3rd, and reverse.
The 2-cylinder engine is rated at 9 HP and is just over 2.5 liters. A total-loss oiling system is used on the car, lubricating 6 main oil-ways. James & Browne also launched a 4-cylinder version (16 HP) of a similar design to the horizontal 2-cylinder engine.
In 1906 a vertical-engined car was introduced known as the Vertex and available as either a 20 hp four or 30/40 hp six-cylinder.
Models
Surviving cars
Only two of their cars are known to have survived, one built in 1902 and the other in 1904. T.B. Browne, one of the company's founders, remained interested in the condition of the two surviving cars throughout his life and still regularly met with the owners until the early 1960s.
1902 model
The car was built in 1902 and transported by train from the James and Browne works in Hammersmith, London to Albrighton Station, Shropshire. The first owner was Mr. Norman McLean of The Blue House, Tong, Shropshire. Mr. McLean had the car painted in the colours of his stables which were yellow with black lining. The car was then moved to Tong Castle, the home of his fiancée, Miss Hartley. The Hartley family had leased Tong Castle from Lord Bradford since 1855. Miss Hartley’s brother was John Hartley (tennis), the winner of the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Championship in 1879 and 1880.
Mr. McLean decided that some alterations to the car were required and instructed Mr. Ernest Roy Spencer to carry out the work. The Spencers were blacksmiths and ran their business at 15 Broadway, Shifnal,[4] around three miles from Tong Castle.
In 1910 Mr. McLean decided to sell the car to Ernest Spencer for a nominal sum of £20, and the car was then moved to 15 Broadway,
Stand 81, SMM&T 5th International Motor Exhibition February 1906
James & Browne's display from the official catalogue:[6]
- 16-HP 4-cylinder J & B chassis: 4 speeds, 1 reverse, fitted with patent motor starter. Price £235 with tyres
- 16-HP 4-cylinder J & B double landaulette to seat four inside and two out. Price £385
- 30-HP 6-cylinder Vertex standard phaeton to seat five persons. Price £450
- 45-HP 6-cylinder Vertex saloon to seat seven persons. Price £775
- 45-HP 6-cylinder motor only on stand including set of parts manufactured by James & Browne Limited
See also
References
- John Melville "Jimmy" James' Palmares at CyclingRanking CyclingRanking.com^
- James and Browne Grace's Guide^
- The automobile; a practical treatise on the construction of modern motor cars, steam, petrol, electric and petrol-electric. Based on Lavergne's "L'automobile sur route". Edited by Paul N. Hasluck V3 (p.140)