Calcott Motor Cars and Motorcycles

I meet a fair few people in the job I do and today met a lady that said her husband's grand-parents ran a company in Gosford Street that produced cars and motorbikes. Although she had never seen any of the motorbikes, she did say that the transport museum had one of the cars, and that the factory still had the name above the door. I do not know if the lady knew of the expansion of the uni in that area, or she had not been there for a time. But I think it's now part of the uni. I have found that it started with pushbikes in 1886, and the production of cars in 1913. It was acquired by the Singer automobile company in 1926. She did mention that they had a showroom on the other side of the road to the factory, and that she married into the name. The motorcycle had a 3.5hp White and Poppe engine fitted but cannot find any other information. �Edited by member, 1st Oct 2013 9:07 pm

There's lots of information about the Calcott company in 'Coventry's Motorcar Heritage' by Damien Kimberley. Here's a link to the Google Streetview photo of the building:

Far Gosford Street It later became Astley's warehouse.

If you scroll down a bit, there's a a good photograph of the inside of the Factory and a 3.5 White and Poppe Engine is mentioned for 1911. Calcott Bros.

Quite fascinating As you know I am writing up the history of Aston's Garages which were in the area What other bicycle or car related-industries were so close in this area - I saw on David Fry's "Coventry we have lost" there was a cycle shop in Lower Ford Street Also who had the Lower Ford Street before Aston's in 1920/30 and early 1940's Probably of no interest to anyone, the Astley's rep around 1958 gave me my first teddy bear, Aston's Coaches used to buy their paint from Astley's Mods note: This post has been copied to the Aston's thread for onward discussion

Can anyone recognise the make of this car, I believe it is made by Calcott which used to be in the premises occupied by Astleys in Gosford Street. The photograph was taken outside the Midland Bank on the corner of High Street and Little Park Street (now Wetherspoons). I believe it to be dated between 1913-26. Look forward to any information

The above is a restored example of a Calcott circa 1916. There are styling similarities especially the rear of the cab and the 'boot', but if you look at the rest of the car, the mudguards are flared at the ends, the bonnet has rolled edges, the spare is not sitting in a well on the running board, and the Calcott radiator, its unique and apparently most distinguishing feature, protrudes above the bonnet line.

In the old photo, the mudguards don't look right, the spare wheel sits in a well, the bonnet looks to be razor-edged, and the protruding radiator top is not present.

There are other Calcotts here but none of them have the 'Rolls Royce Silver Ghost' style bonnet (flat panels and razor edges) of the car in the old photo.

This is listed as a 'Calcott Tourer 1914'

Is the Calcott registration number legible on the original image? If so it would be possible to find details including the make and original owner, (I'm assuming it was registered in Coventry).

Yes it is a Coventry registration, it is not to clear on the photo but I think it is DU 8120. I have a photo of a motor cycle which I will post on the site shortly with the registration DU 8320. Not sure how to find the details, perhaps from the DVLA. Alan H

Another Coventry Gas Dept vehicle.

Great pictures of a rarely seen subject Alan, thanks for posting them

The history centre at the Herbert has a card index of cancelled registrations that date from 1921 to 1963. As long as the vehicle existed in 1921 and the registration was cancelled before 1963 there will be an index card for it showing the date of first registration, make, taxation class, original owner's name/address, colour, engine size, chassis number, last taxed date and final owner. The index is enormous so the history centre (024 7623 7583) need advance notice of which range of registration marks is required. However if the car did not survive until 1921, the registration would likely have been re-issued to another vehicle and the original index card would have been destroyed. The DVLA only have details from 1963. Edited by member, 29th Dec 2014 8:43 pm

Thank you msporran for the information I will contact the Herbert. Alan H