1913 4 Wheeler Morgan
During 1913 there was mention in the press that H.F.S Morgan was intending to develop a 'Quad' in addition to the 3 wheeler range. There is only one known photo of the 'Quad' taken outside the Morgan Family home, The Rectory, at Stoke Lacey. A patent was taken out in 1914, but possibly due to hostilities, the idea was never progressed beyond the prototype. In the early 1930s Derek Evens was working at the Factory, and had noticed that part of the chassis of the 'Quad' had been relogated to the scrap metal pile. It seems that there was a rule, that no one could acquire anything from this pile, but one day all of the scrap metal was carted away, and on his way home from work Derek called at the scrap metal yard and was able to purchase the remains. This just consisted of the special Bevel Box, a crossmember that went through the boxwith the quarter eliptic spring mounts. part of the torque tube, and the lower bottom chasis tubes as far as the sloping tube lugs.
In 1983 Derek gave the remains to me, thinking that as he had done nothing with them in 50 years, that I might actually do something with them. I was lucky enough to come across some more remains of an early 3 wheeler chasis, which provided some of the lugs needed for the front end. Charlie Jenner then proceded to build the frame, to dimensions that I had worked out In more recent years, when Martyn Webb was sorting through archives at Malvern, a drawing of the 4 wheel chassis came to light, this was dated 1914, but the bevel box was of a different form, also the lower chassis tubes were stated to be 1 1/4" (a feature for the 1914 models) whereas the lower tubes on my remains were only of 1". Sorry to say that for possibly 20 years I was not able to progress the build, although numerous items were acquired in readiness, an original 5 spoke steering wheel and column came from the Beaulieu Autojumble, along with a very nice set of Acetylene lamps still in their box. Oil pump. tank caps control levers, front hubs, steering arms,carbutettor, magneto, brake drums, drive sprockets and dogs, selector forks, crown wheel and pinion and the important part, an engine, all were found over the years. So quite a lot of original Morgan parts will go into the restoration.
Now in 2012 I have designed the back axle, helped by the sketch in the patent drawing. During 2013 I hope to have the Chassis as a complete rolling unit.
Chris Booth Dec 12
In 1983 Derek gave the remains to me, thinking that as he had done nothing with them in 50 years, that I might actually do something with them. I was lucky enough to come across some more remains of an early 3 wheeler chasis, which provided some of the lugs needed for the front end. Charlie Jenner then proceded to build the frame, to dimensions that I had worked out In more recent years, when Martyn Webb was sorting through archives at Malvern, a drawing of the 4 wheel chassis came to light, this was dated 1914, but the bevel box was of a different form, also the lower chassis tubes were stated to be 1 1/4" (a feature for the 1914 models) whereas the lower tubes on my remains were only of 1". Sorry to say that for possibly 20 years I was not able to progress the build, although numerous items were acquired in readiness, an original 5 spoke steering wheel and column came from the Beaulieu Autojumble, along with a very nice set of Acetylene lamps still in their box. Oil pump. tank caps control levers, front hubs, steering arms,carbutettor, magneto, brake drums, drive sprockets and dogs, selector forks, crown wheel and pinion and the important part, an engine, all were found over the years. So quite a lot of original Morgan parts will go into the restoration.
Now in 2012 I have designed the back axle, helped by the sketch in the patent drawing. During 2013 I hope to have the Chassis as a complete rolling unit.
Chris Booth Dec 12
So after much hard work the 1914 Four Wheeler Morgan has been completed. We hope to have it on show in April at the Museum.
Chris Booth March 2015
Chris Booth March 2015