Papers of Thomas W Burt, Consultant Engineer
- Reference:GB 248 UGD 103
- Dates of Creation:1878-1970
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:0.5 metres
Scope and Content
- Production records, 1878-1929;
- Photographs, c1900-c1930;
- Administrative records, 1911-1970;
- Financial records, 1920-1926.
Administrative / Biographical History
Thomas W Burt lived at 4 Orchard Avenue, Bothwell. Mr Burt and his father were the designers of the first Burt Single Sleeve Valve Engine which was used by the Argyll Motor Co and eventually became the Bristol Hercules Aero Engine which played a large part in the Second World War. This collection consists mainly of material relating to licence agreements for the Burt Single Sleeve Valve Engine
The Argyll car was designed by Alexander Govan (1869-1907) in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s . The Argyll Motor Co began in 1896 but its bid for a place in the British car market did not take place until 1906 when a factory was established at Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. In 1905 the directors formed Argyll Motors Ltd . Govan had started the firm with a capital of £500,000 and it was poised for production on a scale similar to that of the Henry Ford Motor Co, USA. In 1907, Govan died suddenly at the age of 38 and in 1908 there was a partial liquidation and refloatation of the company when it became known as Argylls Ltd . It was this company which developed Peter Burt's invention of the single-sleeve valve engine and Perrot's four wheel braking system. In a single day in 1913 at the Brooklands track in Surrey, England, an Argyll broke thirteen world records and twenty-eight Brooklands track records. Even with this achievement the company could not achieve commercial success. There were costly legal battles over Burt's patents and in 1914 the shareholders lost their confidence. No new backing was forthcoming and the company went into liquidation in 1914.
Source: GB 248 UGD 103 Sydney Checkland, Slaven, A and Checkland, S (eds.), vol 1'Vehicles',Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860-1960(1986, Aberdeen)
Arrangement
The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received
Access Information
Open.
Acquisition Information
Loan : Burt family : 1976.
Other Finding Aids
Digital file level list available in searchroom.
Alternative Form Available
No known copies
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
None which affect the use of this material
Conditions Governing Use
Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.
Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures.
Custodial History
Held by the family of Peter Burt
Accruals
None expected.
Related Material
No related material
Material in other repositories: no material associated by provenance
Location of Originals
This material is original
Bibliography
No known publications using this material
Additional Information
Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names
Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.
Fonds level description compiled by Jenny Cooknell, Assistant Archivist, 2 July 1999. Lower level description compiled by members of Glasgow University Archive Service staff. Revised by Jenny Cooknell, Assistant Archivist, 22 July 1999. Revised by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 26 April 2002. Amended by Sam Maddra, Assistant Archivist (cataloguing), 21 January 2014.
Subjects
Corporate Names
Geographical Names
Bridgeton, Scotland