Grahame-White was an early British aircraft manufacturer, flying school and later manufacturer of cyclecars.

The company was established as Grahame-White Aviation Company by Claude Grahame-White at Hendon in 1911. The firm built mostly aircraft of its own design, including the successful Type XV, but during World War I produced Morane-Saulnier types under licence for the British military. The company ceased aircraft manufacturing operations in 1920.

In the same year the company was renamed Grahame-White Company Ltd. and manufactured cyclecars until 1924 when the company ceased its operations completely.

Aircraft

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"A Five-seated Touring Aeroplane of the Grahame-White Company." (artist's impression, 1919)
 
"A Twenty-four Seater Passenger Aeroplane of the Grahame-White Company." (artist's impression, 1919)
 
"View of one of the Compartments of the Grahame-White Twenty-four Seater. Each Compartment accommodates Twelve Passengers." (1919)

Cyclecars

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1920 Graham-White car

From 1920 onwards a very basic two-seat 3.3 hp type with air-cooled single-cylinder engine of 348 cc capacity was offered. It had a two-speed transmission with final chain drive. The car had quarter elliptical spring suspension front and rear as well as flex in the wood frame and seat cushions.[1] In 1921 a 7 hp type with a Coventry Victor twin-cylinder engine (capacity: 689 cc) and friction drive was added for one year only followed in 1924 by a four-cylinder 10 hp type with a Dorman engine of 1,094 cc, but very few were made.[1] The final Angus-Sanderson cars were also made in the factory.[1]

Model Years No. of Cylinders Capacity Wheelbase
3.3 hp 1920–1924 1 348 cc 6' 5"
7 hp 1921 straight-2 689 cc 8' 1"
10 hp 1924 straight-4 1094 cc 8' 1"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-53-2.
  • Gunston, Bill (2005). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Annapolis: The History Press Ltd; 2Rev Ed edition. p. 132. ISBN 978-0750939812.
  • Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919. London: Sampson, Low, Marston. p. 140.
  • Culshaw, David & Horrobin, Peter (1997). The Complete Catalogue of British Cars 1895–1975. Dorchester: Veloce Publishing plc. pp. 398–399. ISBN 1-874105-93-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)