Learning Trails

Inventions in Transport from Bradford

This topic is intended to give an overview of some of the inventions and inventors in Bradford who made a significant contribution to transport developments. This is not intended to be a comprehensive history of transport in Bradford but an attempt to highlight key inventors and entrepreneurs and give some background to a selection of transport inventions.

Jowett Cars was one of the significant companies which founded the British motor industry. Take a look at some of the early developments of the company  and how they invented a new engine for use in cars.  Also built in Bradford was the Jewel created by John E. Wood.

Alfred Scott, a friend of the Jowett brothers,  developed  a design of a parallel twin cylinder two stroke engine. He went on to patent his first motorcycle in 1908 and later formed the Scott Engineering Co. based in Saltaire.

Christopher John Spencer is a significant figure in the developments of tramway gauges inventing a method of allowing trams to travel between the different gauges of Leeds and Bradford.

Another significant company was Hepolite with it’s main manufacturing plant at St John’s works. They manufactured and designed internal combustion engine components.

Albert House and his son John W. House were also significant entrepreneurs. Amongst other things they formed the Northern Aero Syndicate at Apperley Bridge and Albert House was the driver of the first motor car in Bradford.

Teaching resources are available to go with this learning trail.