Ailsa Craig Engines

Alisa Craig Engines was a manufacturer of marine and specialist made to order engines from 1891 to 1972. Named after the island Ailsa Craig the company began as a bicycle manufacturer in Glasgow in 1891, later moving to Putney, in London where the then owner went into partnership and set about building early vehicles going on to produce the world's first V12 engine and even a petrol engined vacuum cleaner for Hubert Cecil Booth in 1904.

Overview

A little later, Ellis Kisch took over and the company moved to 46/47 Strand-on-the Green, Chiswick in West London. There was a concentration on reliable marine engineering with a Royal Appointment being granted in 1926. Following successful work for the Ministry of Munitions and Admiralty during the First World War there was a massive war commitment in 1939 when 5000 engines were to be supplied from an additional factory site in Twickenham. Harold Linford who was the Chief Designer and General Manager was killed when an aerial bomb exploded over the Factory at Strand-on-the-Green in 1941. John Watson took over the running of the factory until the move to Ashford in 1949/1950 and there produced further quality diesel engines, with the help of Ricardo Engineering, under the direction of Robert Kisch — son of Ellis between 1958 and 1963/4 when he was taken ill and moved ultimately to Jersey. This ultimately resulted in the Company being sold to the Warsop's Fram Group in 1964 [http://domain928502.sites.fasthosts.com/pdf_files/history/warsop_fairport_history.pdf - information regarding the Warsops takeover is listed on page 15 of this document.] .

Closure

In 1972 Ailsa Craig ceased trading although Dr Kisch and his son Christopher Kisch continue to offer advice where appropriate. [All primary sources in regards to this article are held at The Motorboat Museum, Wat Tyler Country Park Pitsea Hall Lane Basildon Essex SS16 4UH UK [phone] - the subject published on this page has been researched through archived primary materials held at the Motor Boat Museum.]

External links

* [http://www.ailsacraigengines.co.uk Archive website]

References