| MADE IN BIRMINGHAM
CLIFFORD AERO & AUTO Ltd Spring Road, Hall Green CLIFFORD CULTIVATORS Ltd NEW IMPERIAL MOTORCYCLES CLIFFORD COVERING Ltd
|
|
|
HOME
|
LATEST NEWS
-- CLIFFORD AEROLIFT FORKLIFT TRUCK STILL IN USE IN NEW
ZEALAND
|
|
ORIGINAL
COMPANY INDEX
Directions for the factory sites
|
Anyone with any information on Clifford please contact us, especially if you worked for Clifford Aero and Auto or Cultivators. Address on home page. The Clifford Group
in the fifties consisted of 16 companies, some of which are listed
below; Birmingham born SOLOMON CLIFFORD JOSEPH was the son of a Birmingham fine art dealer who specialised in Jade. The family home was in Speedwell Road, Edgbaston. One of three brothers, Joseph was Birmingham's only World War One flying ace, an Ace being a pilot who has shot down 5, or more, enemy aircraft. Joseph served in the Royal Naval Air Service 10N squadron, flying Sopwith Camels, which became 210 squadron when absorbed by the newly formed RAF in 1919. For bravery, in two separate flying sorties, he was awarded the DFC and Bar. Joseph formed his first company in 1913 but at the moment we have little information about that company. After being de-mobbed, in 1919, it is believed that Joseph formed either a partnership or alliance with Harry Joyce, who was shewn in Kelly's Directory of 1897 as a tube bender in Cheapside, Digbeth. Joyce subsequently moved to Sydenham Road in Sparkhill, where he was shown as a tube manufacturer and for a few years was also shewn as a bicycle manufacturer. Later he is shown as a manufacturer of cycle accessories. Joyce eventually moved to Bridge Street, Smethwick, where he is recorded in Kelly's directory as being a tube manufacturer again and records shew he was still there up till 1929. After this period it is believed he was then a director of Clifford Covering Ltd.. Joyce may also have been involved with the inception of a company called Motor Components (Coventry) Ltd of Moor Street in Earsldon; this company was believed to have formed in 1912. At some stage this company moved to Birmingham and around this time another company was set up by Joseph called Clifford Covering. It is known that Clifford Covering initially was involved in the dipping of pram handles in celluloid but very soon was exclusively dipping automotive steering wheels. Motor Components made the steel frames and Clifford Covering provided the dipped finish. Harry Joyce most likely became a director of Clifford Covering in the late 20s. In April 1926 Joyce is shown, together with Clifford Covering, as the applicant for a patent for the improvement of steering wheels and other hand wheels. at the time of this application both Joyce and Clifford Covering where shown at the same address, 57 Graham Street, Birmingham. Joyce went on to patent other steering wheel and bicycle frame improvements. In 1927 Clifford Covering are shewn in Burbidge Road, Bordesley and a patent is applied for with Albert Edward Greenland. In 1928 George Warwick and Clifford Covering were shown as applying for patents for the improvement of steering wheels In 1931 Bertram Douglas Baker and Clifford Covering were shown as applying for patents for the improvement of steering wheels In 1934 Solomon Clifford Joseph and Clifford Covering, now at Wharfedale Road, Tyesley, were shown as applying for patents for the improvement of steering wheels In 1937 Solomon Clifford Joseph and Clifford Covering were shown as applying for patents for the improvement of steering wheels In 1944 John Henry Tuppenny and Clifford Covering were shown as applying for patents for the improvement of steering wheels William Wheeler and Clifford Components registered a hydraulic pump, Wheelers address is shown as Little Blakes, Shelsey Beauchamp, Worcestershire. Bill Wheeler was also the Managing Director of Clifford Aero and Auto at Spring Road and Hoobrook, Kidderminster. 1948 Norman Cyril Tuppeny and Clifford Covering were shown as applying for patents for the improvement of steering wheels. Clifford Covering was an immensely successful company, gradually expanding its business so that it ultimately supplied 70% of all steering wheels to the automotive market. Joseph diversified into many branches of engineering but it was the production of steering wheels that was his most successful business. It has been stated elsewhere that Clifford Aero & Auto was Joseph's first company but this is not coorect.Clifford Aero & Auto actually started life as the motorcycle manufacturers, New Imperial Ltd., who are shewn in Board of Trade records as having changed their name to Clifford Aero & Auto Ltd on the 6th October 1939. New Imperial started as bicycle manufactures in 1887 although records shew no mention of the name New Imperial at that time. It is known that they formed a limited company in 1908 called, New Imperial Cycle Company. In 1912 they formed, New Imperial Motors Ltd. At the end of the twenties New Imperial were expanding and as a result of this a new factory was commissioned in Hall Green. In 1929 they moved from the gun quarter in Princip Street into their new purpose built factory on a 6 acre site in Spring Road, Hall Green, the land having been owned previously by New Imperial founder, Norman Downes. Note, Clifford Aero and Auto later stated in some of its advertisements that the company had been, 'precision engineers since 1912'. This undoubtedly is because 1912 was the year New Imperial Motors Ltd was registered. Unfortunately New Imperial motorcycles had expanded into the 30s recession and towards the end of the decade they ran into financial trouble. After the death of Norman Downes, the company went into liquidation, the receiver being appointed by Lloyds Bank on the 7th November 1938. The company was advertised for sale by the Receiver on the 18th November 1938, and was subsequently bought by Jack Sangster, who then owned both the Ariel & Triumph motorcycle companies. Sangster notified the press that his offer had been accepted on 30th December 1938 and assured everyone that production of New Imperial motorcycles would continue. On the 20th January production of motorcycles resumed but by the 27th of the month there were rumours of a sell out to Solomon Joseph who, as mentioned above, owned Clifford Covering and Motor Components. This rumour became fact with an announcement of the sale to Joseph on the 10th February, 1939. On 3rd September war started and on the 22nd September all the New Imperial spares were sold to Colliers, who then appointed spares suppliers. On the 25th May 1939 Solmon Clifford Joseph was shewn as a director of New Imperial Motors Ltd. Other directors recorded at that time are William Robert Wheeler, Albert Arthur Glover, Leonard Shirley Horton (Norman Downe's brother in law), Karl Tompkins and Louis Murphy. It is known that Bill Wheeler, Arthur Glover and Len Horton were New Imperial men. Note that Jack Sangster is not shown as a director at this time. It is very likely that Joseph did continue with the manufacture of New Imperial motorcycles or/and New Imperial motor cycle spares for a time. Joseph took control in February and the name change to Clifford Aero and Auto did not occur till October and as we do not know of any other products made at Spring Road at this time we must assume that motorcycles or/and their parts were being made at the factory. Joan Lucas, who worked at both New Imperial and Clifford at the time of Josephs takeover, is adamant that motorcycle production continued until the factory turned over to war work, which she says was on the outbreak of war. Interestingly she also said that the change over was seamless, she was in fact told that the only change would be in the name she used when she answered the phone! This of course suggests that the name change was made straight away but it was certainly not changed in official records until October. Joan's memory about the actual date of the name change may be uncertain but it is difficult to believe that she would not have remembered a change of the main product being manufactured. When you consider that she was the telephonist and receptionist it makes it even more difficult to believe that she would get this wrong. Why then did Sangster change his mind, in fact did he change his mind, did he just intend to be an asset stripper in the first place? Did the obvious problems of the war in Europe and at that stage our probable involvement change his mind? Did Joseph receive a contract for war work and needed a work force and factory quickly? We will probably never know the answers to these questions but we do know that both Sangster and Joseph were Jews and it is very likely they were friends, they even lived in the same area of the City. Certainly it would seem that very little changed in the day to day running of the company. Most New Imperial office and managerial staff were kept on in similar positions. Even some technical staff remained but there were some redundancies. We must also consider the name, New Imperial, this was allegedly sold to BSA at a later date by Sangster. So it would seem Sangster sold the company but retained the rights to the name or bought the name back off Clifford Aero and Auto. It is also believed that some New Imperial machines were sold to the government in the early forties possibly from Sangster's Triumph works in Coventry. Kelly's Directory shews no entry for Clifford Aero & Auto in 1939 but in 1940 it shews the company as Aeronautical Engineers and this is most likely because they were exclusively involved in aeronautical war work. We know most certainly that Clifford Aero and Auto produced small parts for the Lancaster bomber at Spring Road. Joan Lucas remembers making bushes for this aircraft after being moved from the offices to the factory floor. We can be reasonable sure that they also made rollers for the movement of bombs within the aircraft bomb bays. It is also known that Clifford's made engine valves for the Rolls Royce Merlin engine which was used in both the Spitfire and Lancaster, although we cannot be sure these were made at Spring Road as Clifford Covering had a factory nearby in Tyesley. Clifford Aero and Auto also had a factory at Hoobrook Mill at Kidderminster which was used solely for war work making aircraft components for the Lancaster and Spitfire. This factory was originally a paper mill and was requisitioned by the government at the commencement of war, Clifford vacated the works soon after the war ended. FORK LIFT TRUCKS After the war the Spring Road factory seems to have been used for various new projects. The company was now shown in Kelly's as just, automobile engineers. Around 1947 Clifford Aero & Auto began manufacturing, forklift trucks. One of these models was known as the AEROLIFT and it came in 3 different variants with a 1500cc Ford side valve engine, as used in the Ford Popular car. Hardly anything is known about the forklift truck operation apart from that it was eventually bought by nearby Stacatruck in Webb Lane, Hall Green (later part of the Clarke IDT group) in the mid fifties. Clifford's venture into Fork Lift trucks is believed not to have been successful and cost them a lot of money! Clifford also produced the non electrical fork lift trucks for Stacatruck before the fork lift side of the business was sold to them. WATCH THIS SPACE, Two Aerolift forklift trucks have been found and one will shortly be in the National Fork Lift Museum at the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire. Another Aerolift has just been found in working condition in New Zealand! After the war, the company also experimented with washing machines for a short time but this was seemingly not successful and it is believed production was never started. They were apparently more successful with domestic gas drying cabinets and cookers but it is not known if these items were definitely made at Spring Road. It is obvious that Joseph must have been looking for a new direction for his Spring Road factory to keep it going (At a much later date the company also made unlined brake shoes at Spring Road.) I have just received information that Clifford's patented a rotary pump in 1943 which was used in caravans. It seems that making pumps was another sideline which would have blended in with the fork lift truck manufacture. CLIFFORD CULTIVATORS Ltd, Cranmore Boulevard, Shirley & Spring Road, Hall Green During the war the MOD requisitioned vacant properties capable of operating as factories and one of these sites was the Old Mill at Hoobrook, Kidderminster. This former paper mill was taken over by Clifford Aero and Auto and run by Harry Rowe who was a Spring Road man who lived at Hockley Heath, indeed several of the skilled workers were Spring Road men and travelled over from Birmingham every day. Clifford produced parts for various aircraft, in the early part of the war solely Spitfire parts were produced but later parts were even produced for Russian aircraft. Around 1943 a cultivator project was launched most likely as a private project for Clifford as it was unlikely this was connected with war work. Clifford engineers are believed to have produced their own engine for this cultivator, believed to have been a two stroke. This cultivator was trialled in the caretakers garden which was overgrown with weeds, in the spring of 1944 at Hoobrook on at least two occasions. I am obliged to the caretakers son, Robert Hart, for this information on Hoobrook. It is believed that Clifford Aero and Auto continued with war work (aircraft parts) until around the end of 1945.In 1946 Clifford Aero and Auto put a cultivator into production fitted with a 4 HP JAP engine, steel land wheels and spring tines. By the end of that year they had made just over 2200 Clifford Rotary Cultivators, as the first ones were known as until they became the Model A1. The Model A1 had pneumatic land wheels, throttle control ( the early model had no throttle) Lateral adjustment on the handlebars and a toolbox fitted on the handlebars. The JAP 4 HP engine was retained but had detail differences We cannot be sure whether this first cultivator was based on the earlier experimental model or a German cultivator of which the plans may have been handed over as part of the repartition deal with Germany (possibly a Buntz or Simar.) we do not know, it could of course just have been a copy, the tiller section looks remarkably like a Buntz or Simar. The A1 was Clifford's most successful cultivator and it continued right through until the Howard takeover in 1957 with over 11,500 machines had been built. In 1948 the Model B was produced and lasted till 1953 being replaced by the Mk4, just over 1500 units were produced. In 1949 the model A2 and A3 were introduced making a 4 model range. The A2 was discontinued in 1950 with only around 150 machines being made. The Model A3 was discontinued in 1954 with over 4500 machines being built. The 1954 Mk 4 handbook talks of Clifford's making cultivators for 10 years. What we can gather form all this is that Clifford experimented with cultivators in 1944 and started producing them when the war finished. Cranmore Boulevard was probably a war time factory that Clifford used for early production but it seems to have closed by December 1953. In some handbooks it is referred to as the service centre. Cultivator manufacture may have just been a stop gap, whatever it was intended to be it only lasted around 10 years but it was very successful. Clifford cultivators were well made and very able machines and even today working models regularly turn up at farm sales and on Ebay. Joan Lucas who started in the offices of New Imperial in 1934 aged 15 remembers a protype cultivator being tested in her garden which had a bomb crater in the garden, in nearby Runnymede Road around 1946. It must have needed a bit more development work because one of the times broke during the trial but there again these would have probably been the weaker spring tines. In 1950 the catalogue showed the 4 models but described slightly differently: Model A Mark 1, single speed, no reverse, dog clutch, 5 hp standard available with 6 hp engine Model A Mark 2 two speed, no reverse, 5 hp standard, 6 hp available Model A Mark 3, two speed, neutral and reverse, 6 hp, hand or friction clutch Model B, two speed and neutral, no reverse standard but available as an extra Model AP ploughing unit (Model A1 spec) Model AM mowing unit (Model A1 spec) Model AS spraying
unit By 1955 the range was 3 models, the erstwhile A1, the newly introduced Mk 1 and the big cultivator replacement, the Mk 4 which had replaced the A3 in 1954. Both of the two new models were revolutionary and it seemed at last Clifford were not copying but leading the way. Both models were aesthetically very pleasing. The influence of the motorcycle connections being evident in the Mk 4s unique and unusual streamlined covering of the engine, fuel and oil tanks tanks with a motorcycle tank shaped cover. Even today the Mark 4 is still probably one of the most visually attractive cultivators ever made. The Mk 1, said to have been a scaled down version of the Mk 4, was equally attractive. The Mark 4 was fitted with a 500cc BSA M20 side valve engine, a unit well known in motorcycles. It is believed that Leslie James Burton designed the both the Mk4 and the Mk1. Burton patented, with Clifford Aero and Auto, the clutched steering on each wheel of the Mark 4, the application being made in June 1954 although the earlier model 3 also had this device. The Mark 1, which appeared a year later, initially had a 80cc JAP two stroke engine replaced later by a more powerful Villiers two stroke. This was Clifford's first use of a two stroke engine and they felt it necessary to explain to customers why they had chosen two strokes in an article in The Cultivator. PICTURE TO FOLLOW Clifford Mk 4 awaiting restoration. This machine was no 99 and known to have been in use in March 1954 and is the earliest known survivor. BSA M20 engine, Zenith 24T carb and Lucas SR1 magneto. The Mark 4 was introduced at the 1953 Smithfield Show, note A3 type gear rods and upward facing levers with an unique gear rod rest which was completely redesigned in later models. Archers star Anne Cullen with the later JAP engined Mk 4, note the fishtail exhaust pipe, lowered handlebars and downward facing gear/wheel clutch levers. The Mark 4 was introduced into service in mid to late 1953 and was exhibited at the December 1953 Smithfield Show. The earliest known cultivator instructions are dated January 1954 and are produced on a typewriter, printed handbooks appearing later in the year. The Mark 4 was to be Clifford's swan song and just over 4500 machines were produced at Birmingham before production was transferred to Howard at West Horndon. it was perhaps the really first attractive cultivator, having a streamlined hinged top, reminiscent of a motorcycle, which covered the fuel and oil tanks which were needed as this model was to use dry sump motorcycle engines.. The first model was only available with a BSA M20 side valve engine, fitted with a Zenith carb and Lucas magneto. Note that BSA engines supplied to Clifford had BSA Clifford deeply engraved on the alloy timing case. Early models had up facing gear and wheel levers and two part handlebars. One of the first early changes was the provision of a much larger engine guard. (As shown in the Clifford Cultivator magazine which pictured the Mk4 of Birmingham Corporation's 1954 model used on the Canwell estate) By 1955 the Mark 4 had changed again. there was the option of the JAP 600 (£235.0 00) or the BSA engine(£235.0 0) which now came with an Amal carburettor (as did all BSA M20 motorcycles.) Both engine models were available with 16" or 22" tiller and tine blades as standard. Tine springs could be ordered for an extra £5. Both engined models were available without the tiller mechanism for £185 .0 00 The Prices are as quoted in the Autumn edition of Clifford's own magazine, The Cultivator. Other changes to the Mk 4 were a lowered steering column this was to allow the machine to pass under low tree branches and sloping greenhouse roofs more easily, a quick change system was introduced to allow tines to be changed in two minutes. A variation of tiller width from 16" to 22", the gearbox was redesigned with lower bottom gear to make light work of heavy land. Wheel hub assemblies were toughened and controls streamlined. The engine was given 100% protection from dust by an oil cleaned filter on the air intake. Standard tyres were now 6.00 x 12 pneumatics which can be filled with water. A engine guard is fitted as standard. My father remembered working a Mk 4 on the banks of Loch Ness for the Forestry Commision, he had to be roped to the trees as the bank was so steep! They wanted to cultivate the soil in between the rows of trees to aerate it and they found the Mk 4 ideal for that purpose. Mk 4s had early problems with driveshafts breaking and this was alleviated by having them polished according to my father although my research shows that the worm drive and cross shafts were completely redesigned on later Mk 4s. The Mk 1 was a lightweight machine very popular with market gardeners and strawberry growers where it could be worked easily between the rows. My father, a Clifford representative, said this model sold well in Scotland to strawberry growers.
The Mark 1 was Clifford's first cultivator to have real appeal to the private gardener. It was designed to be a mini Mark 4 and like the 4 it was a very attractive machine. Clifford were anxious that the Mark 1 would appeal to the lady gardener and obtained the support of the BBC's radio serial 'The Archer's' actress Anne Cullen to appear in adverts and write about her gardening experiences in Clifford's Magazine, The Cultivator. Anne was also featured in Mk 4 advertisements. The first Mark 1s, introduced in 1954, had JAP 80cc 1 1/4 HP two stroke engines and very few survive due to small production numbers, this being most likely because at 80cc they were just not powerful enough. The Mk 1s were 12 inch tiller machines said to have a scaled down version of the Mk 4s worm gear and were unique in that they had power take offs front and rear, you could even mount the tiller box at the front of the machine. The two forward gears were said to give a speed of 1 & 2 MPH consecutively. Their first catalogue announced that later in the year lists would be introduced describing the accessories-- 12 volt generator for the Tarpen hedge trimmer; cutter bar tool frame; tiller ridger; light plough and wheel spacers. A separate company was formed, in 1956, bringing the agricultural division under the auspices of Clifford Motor Components Ltd. The cultivator side was now known as Clifford Cultivators Ltd., and this new name may have been to prepare for its disposal or expansion, we cannot be sure but by the end of 1956 Howard had bought Clifford and Clifford appeared at the December Smithfield Show as Clifford Cultivator, West Horndon Essex. The planned winter edition of the Cultivator Magazine never appeared so we can assume that the sale took place around September 1956. It was certainly a surprise to those who worked for Clifford so it all must have happened very quickly. Joseph had decided that he wanted to dispose of the cultivator side of the company. The cultivators only occupied a small area of production at Spring Road, believed to be just two lines at the rear of the factory. John Howard, the son of the founder of Howard Rotary Hoes of West Horndon, Essex told me that Joseph approached Howard to ask them if they were interested in purchasing the cultivator side of the business. Several meetings took place at West Horndon and at Spring Road, Birmingham. Howard's were initially sceptical about taking over the company but we can assume the price was lowered enough to make the deal more attractive!. Records of machine numbers shew a completely different series of numbers for Mk 4s produced at West Horndon. John Howard believes that only Mk 4s were produced at West Horndon, the Mk 1's were assembled from remaining parts taken from Spring Road although John Howard says they needed to have some parts made to complete the machines. Paul Coles confirms that Mk 1s made in Birmingham had different clutches from those assembled at West Horndon. It is not known exactly why Joseph sold the cultivator section off to Howards, there could have been many reasons, John Howard believes that Joseph said he wanted the factory space to concentrate on other projects. According to Michael Wintle's history of Clifford Covering the factory was exclusively used by Clifford Covering after 1957/58 for Josephs ever expanding steering wheel business. There was also the possible threat of the Merry Tiller, a simple American lightweight belt drive cultivator (without driven wheels) which was produced by Wolsely Engineering in the fifties, under licence, at Electric Avenue, Witton, Birmingham. In 1958 a basic Merry Tiller with a 3hp Briggs and Stratton engine cost £57 whereas a lower powered Clifford Mk1 cost £96 with a Villiers engine. There was to be no competition with lightweights, Merry Tiller stormed the market as confirmed by John Howard! Joseph would have known about the Merry Tiller because the Mk 1 mower attachment was made by Webb Mowers who were owned by Wolseley. It may have been in fact that Joseph new about the forthcoming Merry Tiller before many others in the industry did! Whatever the reasons Clifford Cultivators was sold to Howard Rotary Hoes in 1956 and production was transferred to their West Horndon factory. Most staff were made redundant but some, like development engineer, Stan Thorneycroft, moved to Essex with Howard as did sales representative Dennis Adams and Mk 4 designer Leslie Burton. (Burton was angry about the takeover and felt let down by Joseph!) Howard's continued selling the Mk 1 and producing the Mk 4 cultivators under the Clifford until 1959 when the name was changed to Howard Clifford. The Mk 4 was available with a Sachs diesel engine from 1957, the fitting of the diesel engine being designed by Burton. Eventually the name Howard Clifford was changed to just Howard Very little information exists about Clifford but below is a photograph which was most likely the very last social event organised by Clifford Cultivators Clifford dinner & dance either at The Grand Hotel or The Mermaid 1956, most likely just before the factory closed. Bert Adams far left, next to him Ernie Vickers--Far right sales reps, Ralph Price, next to him Stan Thorneycroft. 4th from left, sales representative Jack Benger and on his right his daughter, Doreen Benger. Stan's wife, Belgian born Lucy is seated far right, on her left is Tessa Price, Ralph Prices's wife. Bert Adams, Ernie Vickers, Stan Thorneycroft, Jack Benger & Ralph Price (all pictured below) Bert Adams and Ernie Vickers worked for Clifford Cultivators and after Clifford's move they set up a business as agricultural engineers a short distance from the Spring Road factory in a corner shop, no 56 Medina Road, Tyesley, (now a ladies hairdressers) repairing cultivators and engines. Ernie Vickers was an expert engine man and had worked for New Imperial. Bert Adams or Greaves was understood to have worked in the offices probably in accounts. They obviously assumed with Clifford's gone there would be plenty of servicing work but the shop only lasted a year or so.. Stan Thorneycroft was a Clifford field development engineer who had a love of fast cars, at one time owning an Allard. He was one of the few that kept his job and moved to Howard in Essex after Clifford were sold. His wife Lucy, a Belgian lady, is pictured seated on the far right below. After Howard's closed Stan opened a public house near Billericay. Jack Benger, from East Anglia started with Auto Culto in 1929 and moved to Clifford in 1948 as a sales representative for the Midlands and North West eventually becoming Field Sales Promotion Officer. Jack was an expert photographer with his own darkroom and produced many of the publicity shots that Clifford used. After Clifford closed he went to Atco as a sales representative. Jack died in 1972. Jack was a burly jovial man who was very well known in the cultivator industry. He helped on the stand when the first mechanical gardening machine was shown in 1928. The machine created a great sensation. Jack's daughter, Doreen, worked briefly in the Clifford office's around 1946 before moving to Birds Custard at Digbeth. Ralph Smith worked as a foreman on the dynamo line at Lucas, Shafstmoor Lane before starting at Clifford as a sales representative for the Scottish area. After the closure of Clifford he started Price Cultivations using a Clifford Mk 4. and an old ex WD pick up (Tilley). He then started the Erdington Garden Machine Company in Slade Road, Erdington, becoming the main agent for the Merry Tiller. He is better known for playing the part of the stand up comedian in the BBC 70s series GANGSTERS filmed in Birmingham with club scenes in THE RUM RUNNER night club. (stage name Rolf Day) Ralph died in 2004.
Rolf Day The local pubs around Clifford were The Shaftsmoor in Shaftsmoor Lane and The College Arms on the corner of Shaftsmoor Lane and Stratford Road. Many of Clifford's workforce would have used both of these pubs. All of the men above certainly did. NOTE, if you have a Clifford cultivator and want parts try PAUL COLES in Kent, his phone number is 01732 353648 or mobile 0789 9764134. Paul can also supply handbook copies. Paul also runs the Clifford Cultivator register, please do contact him with your serial number if you have a Clifford machine Email Paul at . cliffordregister@googlemail.com Chester Hudson (Tillerparts 07836 210363) also has a good selection of Clifford spares. JAP and Villiers engine spares can be obtained from motorcycle specialists Try the 'Bargain Pages' or Ebay for an actual cultivator! CYMOTA Between 1950 & 1952 Clifford built the Cymota clip on 45cc two-stroke engine, which was a copy of a French clip on engine, for use on bicycles. This engine was reputedly built by Cymo at Leamington Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham but is shown in some histories as being built by Clifford Motor Components Ltd.. It is possible of course that Cymo were Clifford Motor Components. The engine was distributed by Blue Star Garages but production was short lived, apparently too heavy to be successful and most likely killed off by the motor scooter! It is interesting to note that CYMO was the telegraphic address for Hercules Cycles at Aston, could they have been involved too? This site is still developing and as new information is found it will be added. If you can help with any information at all about the Clifford group, especially Clifford Cultivators, please contact me on 01827 383531 or the email address shown on the home page. I thank you
At Joseph's retirement the group had companies in Birmingham, Coventry and Farnborough. COMING SOON 84 year old Joan Lucas joined New Imperial in 1934 aged 14 and continued with Clifford till 1948, she tells her story. ANY INFORMATION at all, even just a one line sentence is of help as Clifford history is very hard to come by!
I am indebted to the following for Information about Clifford's, The Joseph family, Val Phillips & Jean. John Howard Joan Lloyd nee Lucas, who started at New Imperial aged 14 in 1934. Chas Lipscombe, author of the excellent history on NEW IMPERIAL. Stan Edge, The Jinks Brothers, Robert Hart, Birmingham Reference Library, Maggie at Breed Steering Controls, Paul Coles, John Benger, Chester Hudson, John Howard, Doug Ellis who doesn't own the Villa but is a New Imperial expert! In memory of Norman Tuppenny who along with his father worked at Clifford's, who died days before I could get to speak to him. I THANK YOU ALL |
The
Mark 1 was lightweight but the Merry Tiller was lighter, more powerful
and a lot cheaper!