Pictures from the Heritage Archives

March has proved to a busy month for The Armstrong Siddeley Heritage Trust. Work continues apace, at Pentre, as the half floor reaches completion and the large artefacts held by the trust are placed and displayed with concise information panels, enabling visitors to appreciate the diversity and skills of the Parkside factory.

A number of smaller items have been entrusted to our care and three come to mind all relating to time. First the long case clock which stood ticking away many a year in the office of Harold Chapman, who rose from employee, to Managing Director of Armstrong Siddeley Motors, (A.S.M.) is being made ready for a place at the board room end of the top floor at Pentre. 

Secondly, we have a very different clock, set into the con-rod's driveshaft space from a Cougar, an air-cooled radial aero-engine with a single row of nine cylinders and a moderate supercharge. This was the last radial engine made by A.S.M., as the jet age took over.

Our third timepiece is the presentation mantle clock given to Cyril Siddeley in recognition of his 25 years of service with Armstrong Siddeley Motors. The clock is fitted with a Rotherham’s of Coventry, eight day English movement, and is described as being set in a Walnut wood case.

Shortly after A.S.M. was formed in 1927, John Siddeley brought his two eldest sons Cyril and Ernest onto the Board of Directors, both contributing their differing skills to the promotion of the company. Ernest who had started working at Parkside in 1922 resigned in 1937 while Cyril commencing in 1928 served till 1953.