Sidecar caravans
I have an interest in sidecar caravans and have noted in Geoff Brazendale’s book ‘The History of Sidecars’ that Edward Bowser made one circa 1933, but I cannot find any more information or pictures of it.
Also listed in the same book is mention of Charles Hayward who also made sidecar caravans, or at least a prototype. They were in business from 1913 to 1930. No pictures appear to be available of this either.
Lastly, there are pictures circulating of a 1958 Panther with a sidecar that converted into a two-berth camping caravan. The internet shows two ladies enjoying a camping trip. Any idea who made this? And did they sell any? Tony Stutely, email.
Edward Bowser was a basket weaver who branched out to make wicker (woven cane) sidecar bodies for veteran motorcycle sidecar chassis from circa 1910/11. He later claimed his launch type sidecar body predated those of Rudge and other boat-shaped sidecar body makers. Geoff Brazendale’s book states he designed his sidecar caravan in 1933, other sources suggest he may have started work on it as early as 1928.
It had two six-foot berths, one along the seat, tank, carrier and over the handlebars, the other on a board over the sidecar mudguard. Inbuilt items included food safe, picnic basket, toilet cabinet and windows with curtains. Having encountered a toilet cabinet as a small boy while staying in a basic small caravan near Bognor Regis, think in terms of a bucket in a loose cupboard with lifting lid revealing a seat which was removed to extract bucket… You can imagine the ‘what next’ bit! Geoff’s book includes an accomplished sketch of a period publicity picture by the late
Alan Johnson.
I know nothing of the Hayward sidecar caravan, other than the copy Geoff included in his book. Wolverhampton born Charles (CW) Hayward (1892-1983) was an apprenticed pattern maker before he began making sidecars for Sunbeam at John Marston Ltd, Sunbeamland Works, Wolverhampton, in 1912/13, in a tiny first or second floor room.
The sidecars were then part dismantled to get them down the stairs. Some sources imply Mr Hayward may have been a John Marston employee at this time. Whatever, he was soon making Hayward sidecars at Church Street, Wolverhampton, where his growing firm also made sidecars with coach-built bodies for AJS – also of Wolverhampton – and others.
But history can be tangled. By marriage (his or a relative’s) Hayward became a step-brother to members of the AJS-owning Stevens family, who took over Hayward’s business in 1920 with Charles soon appointed to the AJS board, due to the postFirst World War demand for passenger vehicles, in the form of AJS motorcycles with sidecars. This successful subsidiary sidecar and coach building business outgrew its then premises at Stewart Street and was moved by AJS to larger buildings in Lower Walsall Street in 1922.
The business was restructured by AJS as Hayward Motor Bodies, expanding its range including commercial sidecar bodies to offer more options including for carrying milk churns, ladders, fire appliance equipment with Merryweather water pumps and they experimented with small collapsible trailing caravans mounted on motorcycle wheels.
Each was equipped with food cooking equipment, plates, cutlery etc, storage facilities. Hayward’s sister, who then managed the business’s store, equipped each of the caravans. My guess is the sidecar caravan – prototype or possible production – was another development of their commercial sidecar expansion at this time.
Hayward Motor Bodies built car and commercial vehicle bodies for a number of clients including Clyno and their parent company AJS. Charles Hayward for his part eventually became AJS works manager, by which time he was a wealthy man, due in part to other business interests.
Circa 1928 to 1931 (sources vary) he sold his interests in
AJS and moved to London, expanding his roles as financier, occasional stockbroker and founded Electrical and General Industrial Trusts Ltd, who ran and/or financed companies with special interests in new ideas and improved processes. This business became the Firth Cleveland Group in 1956.
Hayward became hugely wealthy, leading to him becoming a generous philanthropist completely building or sometimes part funding hospitals, buying expensive medical equipment, financing church refitments and much more. Many honours were bestowed on him including a knighthood. When his first wife Hilda died in 1971 (their son, Sir Jack Hayward, was later owner of Wolverhampton Wanderers football club), he sold most of his business interests and bought the tenancy of the Island of Jethou (1972) in the Channel Islands, where he lived with his second wife until he died there, aged 90.
A fascinating career for a man whose cycle salesman father died when Charles was two, was brought up by his grandparents, left school aged 13 to start work, designed sidecars for Sunbeam, AJS and others… And possibly built caravan sidecars.