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Thread: Adventurer Francis Birtles 1881-1941

  1. 23rd September 2012, 01:03 PM #1
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    wrinklearthur
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    Adventurer Francis Birtles 1881-1941

    Hi All

    Have been reading up on this interesting character, Francis Birtles.

    One Hundred years ago this week.

    Ref; [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Birtles"]Francis Birtles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

    On 21 September 1912 Birtles with his brother Clive and bulldog 'Wowser' left Melbourne in a blue 20hp Flanders touring car to drive to Sydney, Brisbane, Charters Towers and then to the Gulf of Carpentaria. From the Gulf he drove close to the Northern Territory border and he arrived back in Melbourne in January 1913.
    He was the first to travel by car overland from London to Melbourne

    Birtles' Bean 14 car, which he named 'The Sundowner'



    Outback adventurer, record-holding long-distance cyclist and pioneer motorist, Francis Edwin Birtles (1881-1941) crossed Australia dozens of times, taking many photographs, making movies with Frank Hurley and breaking many endurance records.
    --film was called 'Across Australia: In the Tracks of Burke and Wills' and was released by The Co-Operative Film Exchange Ltd of Melbourne. It opened in Melbourne at Hoyt's Olympia Theatre on Christmas Day 1915.
    Across Australia:

    Biography - Francis Edwin Birtles - Australian Dictionary of Biography

    Warren Brown has just released his book, Francis Birtles - Adventurer, ISBN: 9780733628672.
    .
    Last edited by wrinklearthur; 23rd September 2012 at 07:25 PM. Reason: some facts
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  2. 23rd September 2012, 07:16 PM #2
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    460cixy
    460cixy is offline YarnMaster
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    I have heard a bit about this bloke before and a legend realy yet un known by most every one
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  3. 23rd September 2012, 11:11 PM #3
    Davo
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    A few years ago Peter Wherrett wrote about Birtles in "Grit", ISBN 1 920923 62 4, Ibis Publishing. It's so odd that these sorts of guys aren't houshold legends, but I guess that only happens when someone makes a big movie and changes the facts around a bit to make it more successful.
    At any given point in time, somewhere in the world someone is working on a Land-Rover.
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  4. 24th September 2012, 07:23 AM #4
    wagoo
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    Any links to mechanical specifications of Birtles Bean car Arthur?
    I'm looking to upgrade from LandRovers and get into something a little more capable and reliable.
    Bill.
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  5. 24th September 2012, 07:59 AM #5
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    wrinklearthur
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    links to specifications

    Quote Originally Posted by wagoo View Post
    Any links to mechanical specifications of Birtles Bean car Arthur?
    I'm looking to upgrade from LandRovers and get into something a little more capable and reliable. Bill.


    Sorry Bill, I don't know what public transport links there are between your place and to the National Museum of Australia, but if you go don't forget your measuring tape for the specifications!


    Ref; Rainsfords Collectable Cars

    This rare 1924 Bean Fourteen Tourer has had a ground up restoration to original specification in the 1980s and now shows a lovely patina. The paintwork, trim (including hood and side curtains) and engine compartment are all in excellent condition, it drives very well. Original equiptment includes, Smiths Headlights, Sidelights, Divers Helmet Tail Light, Bulb Horn, all its correct instruments and 23 inch Sankey Wheels.
    Bean cars were produced in factories in Dudley, Worcestershire, and Coseley, Stafordshire, England between 1919 and 1929. The first Bean cars were based on the pre war Perry car. 1923 saw the launch of the model Fourteen, a much improved car with a larger 2.3 litre engine in unit with a 4 speed gearbox, about 4000 of this model were made. Australian expeditionary Francis Birtles made a number of epic and record breaking journeys in a modified Bean Fourteen car, including being the first person to drive from England to Australia. Bean cars were well known for their durability.


    Ref; National Museum of Australia - Birtles' 'Sundowner' Bean car



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  6. 24th September 2012, 11:48 AM #6
    wagoo
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    Thanks Arthur, an extremely interesting story.
    Bill.
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