Ailsa Craig Engines

Ailsa Craig Engines

Company type	Private
Industry	Engine manufacturing, marine engineering, automobile manufacturing
Founded	1891
Fate	Closed in 1972
Headquarters	Glasgow, later Putney, London; later Chiswick; later Ashford, Kent , United Kingdom
Products	Custom marine engines, specialized engines, automobiles
Parent	Fram Group (from 1964)

Ailsa Craig Engines operated as a producer of custom marine and specialized engines from 1891 until 1972. Taking its name from the Scottish island near Ayr, the business originated in Glasgow as a bicycle manufacturer in 1891 before relocating to Putney, London. The proprietor collaborated on early automotive projects, notably creating in 1904 the first-ever V12 engine designed for a Russian airship, as well as developing a petrol-powered vacuum cleaner for Hubert Cecil Booth.

Car production

Under the name Putney Motor Company, approximately a dozen bespoke automobiles were crafted between 1902 and 1912. Their lineup included everything from a lightweight single-cylinder car introduced in 1902 to a high-performance 50 hp four-cylinder luxury model delivered to the Earl of Norbury. Additionally, between 1906 and 1907, the company marketed the Mayfair automobile, which was most likely imported from France.

Overview

Ellis Kisch later assumed control and relocated operations to 46/47 Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, where the firm concentrated on dependable marine engineering and was awarded a Royal Appointment in 1926. Following substantial contracts with both the Ministry of Munitions and the Admiralty during the First World War, the company pledged to produce 5,000 engines at a newly established facility in Twickenham in 1939. After chief designer Harold Linford was killed during a bombing raid in 1941, John Watson took over management and eventually moved the business to Ashford, Kent around 1949/50. There, under Robert Kisch—son of Ellis—and with collaboration from Ricardo Engineering, they manufactured high-quality diesel engines until Robert's health declined circa 1963/64. In 1964, ownership transferred to Warsop's Fram Group.

Closure

Operations at Ailsa Craig concluded in 1972; however, Dr. Kisch and his son Christopher have continued to offer consulting services on occasion.

External links

• Link removed as no longer associated with Ailsa Craig engineering