For all interested in the outcome - here is an update from prewar car.com regarding the chassis found in Lucknow.
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We seem to get an abundance of unidentified chassis these past few weeks. This one comes from Lucknow in India . This one seems like a very light chassis, made of tubes. It has quarter elliptics at rear and in our view a very fragile set-up at the front. With the chassis came a tiller but we do not know if the two belong together. Still, the tiller might provide a clue as there is a label with a maker’s name on it: “Donald Sessions Co. Ltd.” and “DWS”. Supposing the D and S stand for Donald Sessions, then what does the W mean? Who can help us identify this tubular chassis? (RB)
Update IV by Graeme Jarrett: “This is a modified Humberette cyclecar chassis circa 1912-14 which normally had a vee-twin engine - either air or water-cooled. The central coil spring between the front axle and chassis is a non-standard modification. The A-bars are missing from the front axle which makes it look flimsy and unsupported. Humberettes were known to have been exported to India and it does not surprise me that this one should emerge. It may have made more sense to the Cyclecar fraternity if it was photographed the right way up - shown upside down. The tiller (so -called) is not a part of this car fitted as standard.”
Update III: Joe Dwyer reports that Donald Sessions patented this jacking system and afterwards moved to Cork in Southern Ireland where he established the Crosshaven boatyard (Still in existence under different ownership.) Among other projects he intended to produce pedalos for the resort trade. Several of these were fitted with wheels and took part in a St Patrick's day Parade in Cork in the late fifties or early sixties!
Update II by Brendan Boyle: “Some large chassis in the mid thirties eg Rolls-Royce 20/25 had fitted jacks made by DWS. The handle was like a tiller and had, in the middle, a label like the one illustrated.”
Update I: David Manson suggests that the handle might work for a D.W.S. jacking system, which is much later in date than the chassis illustrated?
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Further to above Harit from Mumbai has an interesting photograph in pre war car .com of the actual car in the 70's and judging by the other cars at the site - in the same yard where the chassis was located.
Last edited by Rehaan : 19th March 2008 at 06:43.
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