Flying the 'flag?'

[ian Howell]

For some years now I have displayed a 'My other car is a Jowett' sticker in the nearside rear window of my 'Modern' - without comment.

Last week during a return journey from our latest foray into darkest Wales we came down the A34 and were temporarily stopped at the traffic lights where the A34 joins the M3.

It was bl**, er, VERY hot and my wife in the front passenger seat had the window open. Imagine her/our surprise when a car pulled up on our NEARSIDE and the gentleman driver called out 'Have you guys really got a Jowett?'

We replied 'Yes'. He went on 'What sort?' We replied 'a 1930 Fabric Saloon', the lights changed and we/he were gone.

If that gentleman should read this, the next question would have been 'What is your connection with Jowetts?'

Ships that pass in the night (well, daytime actually) . . .

[NoelStokoe]

That's a good story Ian!.....A few years ago I broke down in the Bradford ( a fire behind the dashboard) I was picked up by a breakdown truck and after the young lad got the Bradford loaded he started to take pictures of it. I asked him if he was interested in old cars, and he said, "No, but we have a competition at work each month to see who has picked up the most obscure vehicle, and I am damn sure I will win it this month!"

[ian Howell]

Noel: Sounds like the makings of a new book to me! I'll bet there could/will be many to follow!

I have just returned from the local rally of the Hooe Old Motor club. Lovely day out, hundreds of cars including some very obscure or seldom-seen makes and the Champions were there too.

Apart from the obvious vehicle interest, one benefit of this show is that the field where it is held is relatively small so there is a realistic chance fo seeing all of it in the day!

[NoelStokoe]

Hi Ian,

Many thanks for your kind comments, I am most grateful to you.

I have a new book out, but not on a Jowett theme, it is called Journeys Around Whitby, and it describes five driving trips to and from Whitby......I did, however, manage to sneak a couple of views of the area into the book with a Jowett visible!

Best wishes, Noel

[ian Howell]

More flag wagging.

I have been undertaking 'missionary' work amongst believers of the tractor faith in Wales and this will lead to a few local presentations as and when I am in the area. There has been quite a bit of interest in the various Jowett connections with tractors.

In passing. I notice that my son James' video on YouTube, '7 HP Jowett long four testing on the hills' has just passed the 600 views mark.

[David Kemp]

I had my Jupiter in my driveway, & a gentleman asked"is that a Jowett?". Turns out he lives a few houses down & owned Javelins many years ago.
On tractors , Jowett connections I new of were of course Bristol tractors, but only recently found out British internationals were made in the Jowett factory using Jowett tooling!
Do they qualify as Jowetts?

[ian Howell]

David:-

I understand that for a short time both the last of the Jowett's and the first of the IH tractors were made on adjacent assembly lines.

I have details of some of the Jowett Bristol tractors and also the Scammel 3 wheeled mechanical horses that were used by various railways and some factories / warehouses that had Jowett engines..

And of course the one and only? tractor made by Jowett's themselves.

Do you have any more to add to this miscellany?

All/ all contributions gratefully received!

[Keith Clements]

I also heard that IH gearboxes also suffered from the same problems as Jowetts having been made with the same clapped out equipment.

[ian Howell]

An interesting point Keith, I will ask about that idea at the next tractor chapel meeting!

[ian Howell]

This year so far I have attended rallies at:-

Priory Lane Rally, Eastbourne, 11th June
Michelham Priory, 16th July
Ringmer Steam and Country Show, 30th July
Hooe's Old Motor Club, 6th August
Hellingly Festival Of Transport, 27th August.

Often mine was the only Jowett present although Ian Roxburgh and John Champion attended some of these on other days

At the Hooe rally I met Gabriel Glavey from Bexhill, who has a Javelin currently nearing roadworthiness.

I am also delighted to see that my video on You Tube ('Jowett 7hp Long Four testing on the Hills', but 'Jowett Testing' will get you there) has received over 1000 'views'.

The flag still flies!

[Keith Clements]

Well done Ian,
My outings have been few , spending my time working on various Jowetts.
But I managed to get Amy's SC to Peebles, the Chorleywood Classic meet and to the Curborough sprint day, and her Javelin to Goodwood. I also drove around North Island New Zealand in the club Javelin. So at least I have had my injection of Jowett driving for this year and am not suffering withdrawal symptoms with my SA being off the road.

[ian Howell]

Oops!

I forgot about the Southern Classics rally at Fort Newhaven on 21st May.

The parade ground of the Fort was packed and the overflow were sent to the Moat (Dry now!).

Brilliant weather and loads of interest in a car with a 'funny' engine. Many of the others were V8s.

No other Jowetts though