Chambers Motors of Belfast hold the distinction of being Ireland’s first automobile manufacturer. From 1904 – 1929 the company meticulously crafted vehicles by hand, using the very best craftworkers and took pride in the majority of the components they used being made in-house.
CHAMBERS BROTHERS
Brothers Charlie, Robert and Jack Chambers were born into a farming family at Tullynaskeagh, Downpatrick, Co Down and having a cousin on their mothers side, Sir Samuel Davidson founder of the Sirocco Works, Belfast who amongst other inventions supplied ventilation fans for the Titanic, the brothers were destined for engineering careers.
Charlie (1873–1931) undertook an apprenticeship and then worked as a draughtsman with Harland & Wolff shipyard. Robert (1865–1949) completed his apprenticeship with the Belfast shipbuilders McIlwaine & Lewis. Eager to go into business for themselves, in 1897, they resigned from their positions and established Chambers & Co. From their factory on Cuba Street, Belfast Charlie and Robert initially manufactured a bottle-wiring machine for aerated water bottles.
Their brother John (1867–1937) took a different direction in his early career, apprenticing at Davidson & Co., Sirocco Works. Later, he became the technical representative for the firm in India, specialising in tea-drying machinery. Upon his return to England in 1896 due to health issues, he took on the role of manager at James Wilson & Co., Vauxhall Iron Works, London. This company, known for producing internal combustion engines and pumps for river launches, transitioned into car manufacturing.
PATENT FILED
As Managing Director, Jack played a role in co-designing the first Vauxhall car in 1902-3. Following his departure from the Vauxhall company in January 1904 due to its relocation to Luton, he joined his brothers in the Chambers Co. and in May filed a master patent for a car featuring coil springs and a twin cylinder transverse engine with chain drive.
With the three Chambers brothers reunited they founded Chambers Motors Ltd. and entered the car manufacturing business in 1904-5, launching their Downshire 7 hp, featuring a 1059cc two-cylinder engine, electric ignition and chain drive. Its transmission boasted three forward gears along with a reverse gear.
AFFLUENT CUSTOMERS
Catering to a select clientele, with passenger cars tailored to meet the preferences of doctors and affluent business people. Simultaneously, they manufactured commercial vehicles for various utilitarian purposes, ranging from delivery vans to ambulances and hearses One standout feature of their vehicles was the innovative design of an epicyclic gearbox located within the rear axle.
In 1909, they unveiled a four-cylinder model and by 1913, they had relocated to larger facilities on University Street in Belfast. Initially importing ball bearings from Germany, the onset of World War I prompted them to start producing their own, becoming the first company in Ireland to do so. The war also led to a significant shift in the workforce, as many male employees enlisted and women stepped in to fill their roles.
Before the outbreak of the First World War, Chambers Motors achieved commercial success, particularly with their 12/16 Model, produced in various iterations from 1907 to 1925. In 1913 a Chambers 12/16 would have cost you €327, equivalent to around €38,607 today.
HILL CLIMB PUBLICITY
To publicise the company, Chambers cars competed in many hill-climb, reliability, and time trials commercial success to promote their 12/16 Model. In 1906, 1907 and 1908 John and Charlie participated in Irish and Scottish reliability trials, driving their own cars and achieving numerous class victories. During the non-stop runs of the Irish Reliability Trial in 1906, a Chambers car achieved an average petrol consumption of 43 mpg (6.6 L/100 km; 36 mpg).
WW1 PRODUCTION
During the First World War, the company initially ventured into ambulance production for the military. However, stringent regulations mandated more powerful engines than Chambers could provide, resulting in only six ambulances being manufactured all of which served with the Ulster Division in France.
With limited military contracts and reduced civilian demand, the company shifted its focus to producing components for Avro 504 biplanes and later the production of munitions such as 18-lb shell cases and percussion caps for hand grenades.
Engaging in the production of munitions and aircraft components posed challenges for Chambers, as their equipment began to wear out rapidly. Moreover, two experimental engine projects turned out to be unsuccessful, leaving the company reliant until 1925 on its aging pre-war engine designs.
POST WAR
The Irish-post war car market was much reduced and in an attempt to grow their business, they refurbished some of their older cars and repurposed them as commercial vehicles. Additionally, they manufactured a limited number of models with a more modern design, incorporating off-the-shelf components like engines and gearboxes.
However, the need for expensive retooling, dependence on external component suppliers and mounting competition from mass-produced automobiles led to a fall in business for the company. Ultimately the operations of the Chambers Motor Co. were wound up voluntarily in 1929.
ULSTER MUSEUM
Today, only four of these vehicles remain known. One is an 8 hp model from 1908, displayed at the Ulster Museum in Belfast, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and in Australia. The fourth is privately owned by the Chambers family. Some former employees of the company, like Charles Hurst, went on to achieve notable successes in their own right.
CHAMBERS LEGACY
Having sustained a workforce of over 100 in skilled car and tooling production, between 1904 to 1929 the company built around 500 vehicles. The Chambers brothers were also formidable engineers, securing a total of nineteen patents from 1898 onwards. These included four for processes related to bottling, corking, or filling, six for advancements in vehicle gearing and transmission and nine for enhancements in car fittings and various other mechanisms.
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Information sources and photo credits:
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AA (Automobile Association of Ireland)
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British Pathê
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