Books Available Now!

The Taylor Bedmobile of Sedgeford

All previous books covering the history of the British motor caravan industry have regarded the Bedmobile conversions as something of a mystery, usually mentioning them only briefly, if at all. Thanks to more than two years of diligent research, this new book by Tony Beadle records the story of the Taylor Bedmobile motor caravan in detail. Order online now!

REVIEWS

Open Road (the magazine of The Period Motorcaravan Guild) Autumn 2011: “The author has made an excellent job of the research… A thoroughly enjoyable book and one of the best I have read for some time.”

Classics Monthly, January 2012: “If there’s an uncharted niche in British motor industry history, Tony Beadle is the one to shine his torch of curiousity at it and not leave until he’s discovered some nuggets to hook readers in with… this is a delightful book charting the Taylor story. If you love a good automotive mystery you’ll enjoy this one.”

Lynn News : “… well researched and carefully illustrated book …”

 

Hillingdon’s motoring heritage chronicled in Armadale to Aquila – Available NOW! – Order Online here

 

What do the 1907 Armadale tri-car made in Northwood, the sporty Aquila kit car from Ickenham and Dr Who’s Daleks have in common? All is revealed in Armadale to Aquila: The History of Vehicle Manufacturing in Hillingdon – the latest book from Tony Beadle.

The Taylor Bedmobile of Sedgeford

All previous books covering the history of the British motor caravan industry have regarded the Bedmobile conversions as something of a mystery, usually mentioning them only briefly, if at all. Thanks to more than two years of diligent research, this new book by Tony Beadle records the story of the Taylor Bedmobile motor caravan in detail. Order online now!

Armadale to Aquila

The London Borough of Hillingdon’s automotive heritage involves many different companies – and the full story is chronicled in this 152-page softbound volume which features over 200 evocative period illustrations along with personal reminiscences. In addition to motor cars, also made in the district were buses, lorries, fire engines, taxis, vans, motorcycles, caravans, bicycles, tankers, dumper trucks – and even those pesky Daleks for BBC TV!

Read More – Full Press Release Here

Armadale to Aquila: The History of Vehicle Manufacturing in Hillingdon

Author: Tony Beadle
Publisher: Panic Button Press
ISBN: 978-0-9566538-0-2
Softbound,
152 pages Size: 245mm x 170mm
Over 200 black and white illustrations

Reviews

VSCC Bulletin, Winter 2010 issue: “This delightful book should be on every Christmas present list; it is packed with information and interest, written in an entertaining style and well illustrated. This book can be enthusiastically recommended to all with a motoring interest.”

Transport Trust Digest December 2010: “I have read the book carefully and with much interest because it is very readable and a valuable source of reference. The many period illustrations are especially good and the captions contain additional useful details. Social history – and there are many human stories and anecdotes in the manufacturers’ sections – plus technical and engineering details make this book a model example of entertaining and instructive writing. I strongly recommend this book and hope it may be a useful exemplar for other such studies.” Rob Shorland-Ball

Octane magazine, December 2010 issue: “Fans of the obscure corners of motoring history will cherish this compendium of the vehicles made in the London Borough of Hillingdon since 1907 – and the variety is amazing, from WW1 army lorries to Wood & Pickett Range Rovers. We loved the Cambro cycle car, made by the Central Aircraft Co with a fuselage for a body. Very well illustrated, well printed, this is local history at its best.”

The Automobile magazine, December 2010 issue: “For this interesting survey Tony Beadle has included car and commercial vehicle builders, coachbuilders, caravan manufacturers and pedal cycle makers, as well as accessory, component and equipment manufacturers.

“Commencing with Armadale of Northwood, who built three-wheelers and full-sized cars in the period 1906-07, he includes the lorries, buses and cars built by McCurd at Hayes; Lang Wheels of Hillingdon Heath, who made fairground dodgem cars; the Cambro cyclecar built by Central Aircraft Company of Ruislip and Kilburn (probably the smallest and cheapest car ever offered in Britain); Rudge and Wooler motorcycles; and Micron Plastics, whose glassfibre bodies were used by Fairthorpe, amongst others.

“The Peerless and its successor, the Warwick, are included since, like the Coronet three-wheeler of New Denham, their fibreglass bodies were sourced from James Whitson & Co of West Drayton.

“This paperback is well researched, profusely illustrated and contains a wealth of information previously unknown to this reviewer.” Michael Worthington-Williams

Classic & Sports Car magazine, December 2010 issue: “West London was once flush with car builders, and this paperback about auto links to Uxbridge records that history. Tony Beadle highlights such diverse businesses as Wood & Pickett, Microplas and Edge. The historic photos are superbly reproduced.”

Giles Chapman (award-winning author and former editor of Classic & Sports Car magazine, Your Classic magazine, etc): “A mini-masterpiece of research.”

Hillingdon Family History Society Journal, December 2010 issue: “This is an astonishing work… Tony Beadle has done a great service to local history in recording a phase which could otherwise have been completely forgotten. Full of excellent illustrations…”

Classics Monthly magazine, January 2011 issue: “Great variety of stuff, from buses to motorbikes, cars, caravans and taxis. Large number of period pictures and advertisements.”

Classic & Vintage Commercials magazine, January 2011 issue: “A fascinating run-down of the history of vehicle manufacturing in the London Borough of Hillingdon… author Tony Beadle has uncovered a wealth of information and intriguing facts… Lots of nostalgic black-and-white photos and well worth a read… will definitely hold something of interest for any fan of transport history.”

The Roads and Road Transport History Association Journal, December 2010 issue: “…a fascinating and well-illustrated survey… a century during which an amazing variety of vehicles emerged from this outer London borough…””

SIXappeal magazine, October 2010 issue: “A fully illustrated book detailing the amazing variety of cars, lorries, buses, taxis, motorcycles, caravans, etc, and even Daleks (!) manufactured in the Hillingdon area over the last 100 years. Tony Beadle is a stickler for accuracy and I can vouch for the painstaking effort he has put into chronicling this particular piece of local history.” Alan Crussell