We're still collecting donations
On the 11th December 2024 we'd raised £460 with 8 supporters in 56 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
1922 Petrol-Electric motorbus restoration
by IPSWICH TRANSPORT MUSEUM in Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Total raised £460
raised so far+ est. £90.00
8
supportersWe are raising funds to complete the restoration of our 1922 Tilling Stevens, Petrol-Electric bus, with body built by Ransomes in Ipswich.
Project by IPSWICH TRANSPORT MUSEUM
The restoration of our 1920s Tilling Stevens Petrol-Electric motorbus, is possibly our most ambitious project to date. This is a very rare survivor indeed, being one of just six built with bodywork by Ransomes Sims & Jefferies for the Eastern Counties Roadcar Company, which was headquartered in Ipswich. The ECRC had been established in 1919 largely with the interest and assistance of the national transport firm of Thomas Tilling Ltd.
Thomas Tilling operated large fleets of buses in London and Brighton under their own name, and prior to WWI, had evolved their own unique design of motorbus chassis, utilising a fairly conventional petrol engine, but very unorthodox form of electric transmission. By coupling a large traction dynamo to the engine flywheel, clutch and gears were totally dispensed with, the driver propelled these vehicles along simply by manipulating a resistance lever and throttle pedal to vary the current generated, which in turn supplied the large mid mounted traction motor. The vehicles were sturdy, reliable, and smooth running, and uncomplicated to drive and maintain. Tilling Stevens motorbuses of the TS3 and the larger TS3A type formed the majority of the ECRC fleet, for their first 10 years of motorbus operation in Suffolk.
Rapidly rendered obsolete by advances in conventional motor vehicle technology, few now survive. The museum is fortunate to have rediscovered the remains of one of these vehicles in late 2013, and has worked ever since to complete the kit of parts needed to resurrect a 100+ year old motorbus, running on solid rubber tyres.
The body, as discovered in Witnesham, a village just outside Ipswich, in 2013. It was subsequently donated to the ITM, and collected in 2014. It initially was put on undercover display, but was later put into safe storage.
10 years of carefully acquiring spare parts, and the assistance of a generous legacy from the late Roger Harrison, meant that in 2021 we were able to acquire a donor chassis of the correct TS3A type to match our body. The Ransomes bus body was mounted onto the chassis for the first time in 2024, and found to be a perfect fit.
Much work now needs to be done to secure the future of this vehicle for generations to come. It is believed to constitute the earliest surviving motorbus to have worked in Ipswich, and also the oldest surviving 'Eastern Counties' motorbus.
So far we have:
Re-instated spoked wheels and solid tyres (new) on the front axle.
Stripped and repainted the chassis frame and bonnet assembly.
Rebuilt the carburettor and magneto, enabling the chassis to be reliably started up and driven to move it around the museum workshops.
Sourced and commissioned new aluminium castings for the engine water branches (using 3D printing technology to create patterns).
Relocated the traction dynamo to the proper mounting position, and begun manufacture of new spring coupling for the dynamo drive.
Carried out some conservation work to the remains of the Ransomes body, and begun to mock up the new platform and staircase assembly.
The appeal
So far the museum has invested around £40k in this project to make it a viable restoration, and we have raised (as of September 2024) an additional £45k to start the work needed on this important survivor.
We are appealing for funds, because it is expected to require at least an additional £60k to see it through to roadworthy completion. The body restoration will be hugely expensive due to the vast quantity of replacement timber required, and the skilled labour that will be needed to make best use of the material. The cab, seats, interior and upper deck structure will have to be created new, from scratch. Fortunately, some patterns and just a couple of similar surviving vehicles exist as useful examples to copy, in some details. The sheer size and cost of the project means that any donation, no matter how large or small, will be hugely appreciated by the ITM and the small team of Tilling Stevens volunteers.
If you want to be able to see and enjoy a 100 odd-years old, solid tyred, open topped, open staircase petrol-electric motorbus, restored and operational in a public museum collection within the next five years, here is your golden opportunity to assist us in our aim.
Thankyou
Rewards
This project offered rewards
£100 or more
Three figure reward
Anybody that is willing to contribute £100 or more to the project fund, will receive a limited edition ceramic mug commissioned especially to raise awareness of the restoration.
£500 or more
£500 reward
Anybody able to contribute £500 or more, will receive a free commemorative mug and an invitation to a private launch event to be held following the completion of the restoration.