Turner Manufacturing Company

Among their products were steam and petrol cars (as the Turner Motor Manufacturing Company), small boat engines, the Turner winch, a range of diesel engines made in the 1940s and 1950s, the Yeoman of England agricultural tractor, and truck transmissions - the latter leading to their eventual takeover.

[1] The company operated out of the Phoenix Lock and Metal Works, Great Brickkiln Street, Wolverhampton, and in 1866 he had 70 employees.

The business then worked on aircraft undercarriages and other general engineering including the production of machine tools such as lathes.

Production of the diesel engines, tractors, and light delivery vehicles ceased in the late 50s.

The first petrol car to be produced by Turner's had a 9 hp air-cooled V twin engine and was exhibited at the 1908 motor show at Olympia.

The four cylinder car engine had overhead inlet valves and side-valve exhaust - a layout favoured later by Rover.

[7] Shortly afterwards Turner entered into an arrangement with Arthur Bray Ltd, Baker Street, London regarding the manufacture of small boat engines under the "Turner-Bray" name.

The details of the origins of the Turner diesel are unclear, and the adoption of a 68 degree angle between the cylinders in the V-twin and V4 engines is unusual.

As a publicity exercise in 1954 a long wheelbase Land Rover (registration NUK952) fitted with a Turner L60 diesel engine was driven from Wolverhampton across the Sahara to Nairobi.

These had a resemblance to motorcycles, and had a Turner Tiger 148cc (later enlarged to 168cc) air-cooled two-stroke engine mounted above and driving the single front wheel.

[12] The Tri-van had tricycle layout and was available with either an enclosed cargo hold with rear door, or with a pick-up body with open top.

There was also a Rickshaw version of the Tri-van known as the Rixi which could carry two adults (with luggage space under their seat).

The design was successful and led to further orders from the War Department for installation in six-wheeled Leyland Terrier trucks.

The smaller end of the range were an optional fitment to Austin Gipsy and Land Rover vehicles.