Although the Bristol Aeroplane Company name is synonymous with aircraft
and aero engines, the companies roots are firmly in road transport.
Sir George White, founder of the British & Colonial Aeroplane
Company in 1910, gained his knighthood in 1895 for his introduction
of electric trams to Britain, first used in the City of Bristol. The
British and Colonial Aeroplane Company was started as a subsidiary
of the Bristol Tramway Company, and the first aircraft were built
in a converted Tramways shed at Filton, which had previously been
used for building buses.
The display at Kemble traces the history and development of the Bristol
Tramways Company and its successors in providing both tram and bus
services in the region, and also manufacturing road vehicles between
1908 and 1983.
Horse
Drawn Bristol Tram
(1895)
This
Bristol Tram was originally used as a trailer, but was later converted
to a horse-drawn tram. It was built by the Bristol Carriage and
Wagon Company.
It had been used as a garden shed for many years, but was rescued
and recovered for restoration at Kemble. The tram has been undergoing
a thorough restoration since arrival, and the righthand side will
preserved in the state in which it was found.
Bristol
4-ton lorry - BAE 592 (1920)
The
first type of chassis made by Bristol could be used either for
bus or lorry bodywork. This vehicle was exhibited at the 1920
Commercial Motor Show on the Bristol stand, and shows the rugged
simplicity of design that become a characteristic of Bristol vehicles
over many years. It features the Company's own design of petrol
engine, and was originally fitted with solid tyres. After long
service with a fairground operator, it has been fully restored
by Hansons Aggregates in a style similar to their own lorries
of the period. It is the oldest Bristol commercial vehicle to
survive.
Bristol
VRT6G - TWS 910T (1979)
This
bus provides an example of a modern one-person operated double-deck,
showing how the development of a rear-engined chassis enabled
the change from crew operation. This example was presented to
the Bristol Aero Collection by First Group, and has been restored
to original condition.
This
Bristol Tram was originally used as a trailer, but was later converted
to a horse-drawn tram. It was built by the Bristol Carriage and
Wagon Company.
The
first type of chassis made by Bristol could be used either for
bus or lorry bodywork. This vehicle was exhibited at the 1920
Commercial Motor Show on the Bristol stand, and shows the rugged
simplicity of design that become a characteristic of Bristol vehicles
over many years. It features the Company's own design of petrol
engine, and was originally fitted with solid tyres. After long
service with a fairground operator, it has been fully restored
by Hansons Aggregates in a style similar to their own lorries
of the period. It is the oldest Bristol commercial vehicle to
survive. 
This
bus provides an example of a modern one-person operated double-deck,
showing how the development of a rear-engined chassis enabled
the change from crew operation. This example was presented to
the Bristol Aero Collection by First Group, and has been restored
to original condition.