1. 1914 Standard Model S "Rhyl".
Clive in Sussex found the site in October 2011 while perusing the internet. The reason for getting in touch was that he'd recently found the following two car photographs in an old album, and was hoping that they could be identified. The profile of the car's radiator suggested a product of the Standard Motor Company, and some further research pointed to the car being a 1,097cc four-cylinder Model S, a "light car" measuring just 10ft 6ins in length, introduced in 1913 and produced until the early months of WW1.
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The first photo shows the car with a young child behind the wheel, with a lady watching on attentively. The rear wheels are mounted on six studs, while those at the front have just three. The first cars from 1913 had radiators with enclosed sides, these were later exposed to aid cooling. The car shown below has the exposed sides, suggesting that this is a post-July 1914 car, the time of the change. A Rhyl Special All-Weather two-seater was also put on sale, featuring an improved hood design and a two-piece screen, priced at 210 GBP. Vans and Coupes would also join the range.
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A second picture of the same child and car better shows the Standard's two-seater coachwork, the scuttle-mounted paraffin lamps, and the Michelin tyre mounted to the offside. The hand throttle and advance/retard lever can also be clearly seen, as can the tank for the lamps, mounted on the offside running board. Electric headlamps are also fitted on this example, a 20 pounds option. Another option was a rear dickey seat, for which an extra 3 pounds would be charged.
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The Model S "Rhyl".
The car shown above is an example of the 9.5HP (RAC rating) Rhyl, a two-seat tourer version of the Model S, offered at 195 pounds and cheapest of the range. Cars were produced in 1913, 1914 and 1915 before the factory switched the majority of its efforts to supporting the war effort over the winter of 1914/1915. This model would be re-introduced in 1918 for a brief time, before the launch of the SLS in 1919. The engine featured pressure lubrication, ignition was by magneto ignition, with fuel supplied to a Zenith carburettor. A three-speed gearbox was fitted.
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Thanks to Clive for allowing me to show his photos here.
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2. A different Standard Rhyl.
Bill owns the following photograph. It shows various members of his family in 1916, stood alongside a vintage tourer. The distinctive coachwork matches that of the car above, confirming it as another example of Standard Model S, or "Rhyl". The spare wheel is missing on this example, although the bracket for it can be seen on the Standard's running board. Note the tailored covers
fitted to the headlamps - presumably to protect them from flying stones, kicked up by other motor-cars on the loose surfaces that prevailed on British roads at the time. A very smart "AA Hotel" illuminated sign adorns the building. Bill adds the following background information:
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"I do not know the exact circumstances of the photo, but I will tell you what I know. On the back of the photo is written "June 1916 George & Dragon, Fordwich". The building is indeed still in existence as a pub called the George & Dragon in Fordwich, Kent. The people are from left to right: Joseph Hinmers, Mary Hinmers and William Hinmers, my great grandparents and
my grandfather William. As it was at the time of the First World War, and that they were a long way from their home in Southport, Lancs, I can only assume that this may have just prior to my grandfather going off to France, as he was a young lieutenant in the King's (Liverpool) Regiment. Dorothy Brown (girlfriend at the time) took the photo I am guessing. It must have been quite an anxious time for them, but fortunately my grandfather returned intact and with a MC."
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3. A Rhyl seen in Devon.
My thanks to David Jensen now for the following wonderful pair of old photos, both of which show his grandparents as newly-weds - Doctor David Louis McCullough and
Doctor Mary Gill Caskey. The location is Devon, specifically close to the Dartmoor Sanitarium, located in Chagford, Devon, and the date is c1917. The first of the photos shows the happy couple sat in the Standard - note the metal luggage box mounted on the rear panel, with the letters "McC" (for McCullough) painted on its side. On the stone building in the background are the remains of a poster, possibly for a livestock auction held in Chagford. The distinctive shape of the Standard Rhyl's radiator is clearly visible.
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Next is a front view of the compact Standard, showing its signwritten registration plate (OI 4396), this page in the registrations section here at OCC confirm that this was a Belfast issue originally. My thanks to David for permitting me to share his photos on this page.
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Return to Page 14 in the classic & vintage vehicle photo gallery.
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