|
Thomas Arthur COLLIER, St Albans, 1892-1925 |
|
||||||
 |
The Reilloc Tyre on the Worlds Highway
Published by St Albans
|
This unusual post card was up for sale recently on ebay and I was intrigued to see that it was published by the Alpha Trading Company of St Albans - so I purchased it with the intention of finding out what the picture represented - and what the connection was with St Albans.
Arthur Melbourne-Cooper (1874-1961) was the son of the St Albans photographer Thomas Cooper, and following Thomas's death in 1901 Arthur set up the Alpha Trading Company. This did pioneering work with movies (which I am not covering on this web site) but also produced picture post cards. I found a valuable clue in the book "They Thought it was a Marvel": Arthur Melbourne-Cooper (1874-1961) by Tjitte de Vries:
Cooper and Stanley Collier, called 'Skats' by his boss, were close friends. The Alpha Trading Company issued two different picture postcards of the Reilloc Tyres, the anti-puncture tyre invented by Stan's father. The Herts Advertiser & St Albans Times mentions this new invention as being shown by the Cinematograph, and both Audrey and her husband Jan, on different locations suggest that it could have been partly animated. The illustrations of the two picture postcards could have been used in the moving picture. We are not at all sure if there were interpolated scenes, and if they were animated or made with trick camera work. The only thing we are sure of is that Cooper, assisted by Stan Collier, made an advertising picture for a tyre invented by Collier Senior.
So the story points to Stanley Collier's father, Thomas Arthur Collier (1854-1925). Thomas's family is listed in detail on a family tree owned by Christopher Nunn, on Ancestry, and the following time line shows him to have been a prolific inventor and a manufacturer of early motor tyres. His companies were based in London, so presumably he commuted there by train from St Albans. [Thanks to Geoff Cooper for supplying information on move to Australia, etc.]
| 1854 |
Arthur was born in Deptford, Greenwich, on 6th October 1854, the son of Augustus Collier (an accountant) and Mary Ann Larenson Page Collier. |
| 1871 | At the time of the census he was a chemist's apprentice living with his brother in St John Street, Newport Pagnal, Bucks. |
| 1881 | The census shows that Arthur T Collier (born Deptford) was a "Student of Theology" in Compton Gifford, Plympton St Mary, Devon. |
| 1883 | Married Constance Mary Foster |
| 1884 | Rev. Arthur Thomas Collier, of Wadebridge, involved in transfer of Property and Chapel to be use for public worship and for other religious or philanthropic purposes according to the principles and usages of Congregationalists. [Cornish Records Office] |
| Daughter Eveline Maud Collier born in Cornwall | |
| 1886 | Son Arthur Stanley Collier born in Cornwall. |
| 1887 | Waverley Congregational Church. New Year's Services - Special Sermons will be preached tomorrow by the Rev. Arthur T. Collier, the new pastor from England... Sydney Morning Herald 1 January 1887 |
| 1888 | Son Horace Egerton Collier born in Sydney, New South Wales |
| 1890 | Son Basil Faraday Collier born in Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last preaching advert listed on Trove in Sydney Morning Herald 29 March 1890 | |
| 1891 | The census shows him to be a telegraph engineer living at Bondi, Croydon Road, Caterham, Surrey. |
| 1892 |
Patent for "Telephonic Transmitter" to Arthur Thomas Collier of St Albans UK Patent June 11, 1891. No. 9,887 US Patent October 25, 1892. No. 484,778 |
| 1893 | Daughter Constance Ruth Amelia Collier born in St Albans |
| 1894 |
Patent for "Permanent Magnet" to Arthur Thomas Collier of St Albans Assignor to the American Bell Telephone Company of Boston, Massachusetts US Patent April 10, 1894 No. 518,092 A |
| 1899 |
Listed as the Rev Arthur T. Collier, living at Gonvena, Beaconsfield Road, St Albans. It should be noted that the minister listed at the Congregational Church was Rev. William Carson. |
|
Cordingley's Autocar and Motor Cycle Show at the Agricultural Hall, Islington held 3rd - 10th July 1899. Collier, 15, Walbrook, E.C. This Exhibitor introduces a new tyre, termed the "Twin" motor tyre, in which we have the old idea of a solid tyre carried on the top of a pneumatic. The canvas sides holding the air chamber of the pneumatic section are drawn together in the rim by a system of a single wire, the opposing ends being crossed, and drawn tight when required. We do not think there is much in this for motor cars. |
|
| 1901 |
In the census he is described as an electrical engineer living at Beaconsfield Road, St Albans |
| 1902 |
Patent for "Air Tube for Pneumatic Tires" to Arthur Thomas Collier of St Albans US Patent June 17, 1902. No. 702,869 |
| 1903 |
Exhibitors at the 1903 Motor Show held at Crystal Palace on the 30th January to the 7th of February. Collier Twin Tyre Co. The exhibit will include three of the car tyres which ran the whole of the 4,000 miles in the club tyre trials last September. Two of the tyres were untouched throughout, the third required occasional pumping owing to a faulty valve, and the fourth ran half the distance, when it was punctured by a large nail. Another tube was put in, and completed the trials untouched. Some of the tyres will be fitted with Parsons's Skidnot chains. |
| 1904 |
'WILLIAMS, William George, 21, Whorlton Road, Peckham Rye. Drives a 10 h.p. M.M.C. Car. Other sports and hobbies: Rowing, cricket, cycling, &c. At the very commencement of the automobile movement, Mr. Williams' name appears conjointly with the following: Messieurs le Comte de Dion, Baron de Zuylen, and Sir David Salomons, Bart., he having travelled with the first from Paris to attend the first motor-car meet, which was held in Tunbridge Wells in the autumn of 1895. He is general manager of the Collier Tyre Co., Ltd. Clubs: A.C.G.B. &c., Member of Council of Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.' Motoring Annual and Motorist’s Year Book 1904 - quoted in Grace's Guide |
|
Both His Majesty the King and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales have decided to have Collier Tyres fitted to their new Daimler cars. The Automotor Journal, 30 April, 1904 |
|
|
The Collier Twin Tyre Company (Old Company in Liquidation) to be wound up. 1 July, 1904. |
|
| 1905 |
Details of various UK tyre patents to Arthur Thomas Collier and Reilloc Tyre Co. 1905-1909. |
|
THE REILLOC TYRE CO., LTD., 122, Victoria Street, London, show specimens of their patent tyre, and also sections of same showing clearly the form of both tyre and rim, as well as the means employed to attach it. The makers claim that its design enables every ounce of the rubber to be utilised in cushioning the wheel as all is practically above the flanges. A feature of the tyre is the use of flexible canvas so placed as to be free to accommodate itself to any movements of. the rubber. The method of attachment is by a wire running through flaps, which are provided on the tyre on each side, and end in right and left hand threads engaging in a strong barrel nut. This firm also show some of their Reilloc pneumatic tyres. Commercial Motor, 23 March, 1905 |
|
|
Olympia Motor Show, November 1905 The Collier Tyre Company are exhibiting a tyre which has run 17,065 miles. For the 1906 season the Collier tyre-makers are showing beaded-edge tyres, in addition to those attached by the usual Collier patent fastening. London Standard, 23 November, 1905 |
|
|
? |
Cooper and Stanley Collier, called 'Skats' by his boss, were close friends. The Alpha Trading Company issued two different picture postcards of the Reilloc Tyres, the anti-puncture tyre invented by Stan's father. The Herts Advertiser & St Albans Times mentions this new invention as being shown by the Cinematograph, and both Audrey and her husband Jan, on different locations suggest that it could have been partly animated. The illustrations of the two picture postcards could have been used in the moving picture. We are not at all sure if there were interpolated scenes, and if they were animated or made with trick camera work. The only thing we are sure of is that Cooper, assisted by Stan Collier, made an advertising picture for a tyre invented by Collier Senior. "They Thought it was a Marvel": Arthur Melbourne-Cooper (1874-1961) by Tjitte de Vries |
| 1906 |
At a meeting of the Tyre and Accessories committee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders ... Mr W. G. Williams resigned the chairmanship on severing his connection with the Collier Tyre Company ... London Standard, 22 June, 1906 |
|
Patent for "Elastic Tire" to Arthur Thomas Collier of St Albans Assignor to the Reilloc Tyre Company Ltd, of London US Patent July 17, 1906 No. 826405A |
|
|
Olympia Motor Show held in November, 1906 The Collier Tyre Company, Ltd., of Long Acre, W., showed the now well-known Stepney wheel. This comprises, as our readers are aware, a complete rim in tyre and tube, which can be bolted alongside the usual wheel when the tyre of the latter is punctured or otherwise injured. It is now arranged with a more adaptable fastening, by means of which it can be attached to any type of artillery or other wheel. |
|
| 1907 |
Olympia Motor Show held in November, 1907 Collier Tyres. (Stand 260) Among the numerous essential accessories, tyres take the first place. Those manufactured by the Collier Tyre Company are well known for their good qualities, and will be found, as last year, in the gallery on Stand No. 260. Among their features for next season is the new non-skid type, fitted with all-rubber, non-skidding tread. There are no metal studs, so it is practically dustless. Rubber blocks are used instead, which have already proved very satisfactory. The firm wish it mentioned that they have reduced the price of their tyres considerably from the present date. They also make an advantageous offer to motorists, particulars of which can be had at the stand. London Standard, 16 November, 1907 |
|
High Court of Justice - King's Bench Division Before Mr. Justice Coleridge. - For judgement: The Reilloc Tyre Co. Ltd. and another v. Société Francaise des Pneumatiques Dunlop Ltd. Manchester Courier, 23 November, 1907 |
|
| 1908 |
Stanley Show, November 1908 India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Co., Ltd. Cannon Street, E.C. Stand No. 4. ... They are sole makers and agents for the Reilloc motor bus tyre, which has been proved so reliable in actual service in London streets. One of these tyres has run 11,00 miles, and has only worn down [?]in. It was used on the Renard trains at the Franco-British Exhibition, and in six months only two blocks had to be replaced out of 448. ... |
|
7th Annual Motor Exhibition. 13th-20th November. At Olympia The Collier Tyre Co., 127-130, Long Acre, London, in addition to showing a range of their tyres, have a speciality in a detachable rim. It is held on the wheel by a series of locking blocks or wedges, giving perfect security against the rim moving. This rim has been given a 3,000-mile test on a landaulet weighing nearly two tons. |
|
| 1909 |
Patent for "Apparatus for Cutting Globoid Worms" to Arthur Thomas Collier of St Albans Assignor of one-fifth to Harry D ??????? Seymour Foster of London US Patent May 1909. No. 898.681 |
| 1911 |
The Census describes him as Patentee of electrical and mechanical devices, living at The Shrubs London Road St Albans. |
|
Patent for "Manufacture of Flexible Material from India Rubber and the like" to Arthur Thomas Collier of St Albans US Patent Aug 15, 1911, No. 1,000,781 |
|
| 1912 |
Listed as Arthur T "Collin", The Shrubs, London Road, St Albans |
| 1914 |
Listed as Arthur Thomas Collier of 43 Victoria Street, St Albans |
| 1915 |
Patent for "Fabric containing India Rubber and the like" to Arthur Thomas Collier of St Albans US Patent August 10, 1915. |
| 1917 |
Arthur Thomas Collier is listed at 43 Victoria Street, St Albans, and Miss E. M. Collier had a school for boys and girls at the same address. |
|
Winding Up Notices Collier Tyre Company (Limited). Yorkshire Post, 26 May 1917 |
|
| 1922 |
Miss E M Collier, School for boys & girls, Upper Latimer Road, St Albans (Arthur not listed) |
| 1925 | Arthur Died |
