Topic: SOLVED: Djetset #354 - 1921 Skeogh (or Skeoch?) cyclecar

[Djetset]

Any thoughts on what this might be?

[Djetset]

Going up...

[DeAutogids.nl]

Looks it is a museum or something

[ftg3plus4]

1921 Skeoch cyclecar.

[Djetset]

Your spelling/typing is slightly out (it's Skeogh with a 'g', not Skeoch) but this is indeed one of the eight Skeogh cyclecars made in Scotland in 1921.  Well done.

[ftg3plus4]

Everything I can find in books & on the web gives the name of the car as "Skeoch." However, both Skeoch & Skeogh seem to be actual family names, etc.

It's possible that all the sources I can see got the car's name from one incorrect source, but I don't have any particular indication of that. Can you point to anything that shows that it's Skeogh rather than Skeoch that's correct?

[Djetset]

Attached is one source with a 'g.'

[ftg3plus4]

Doing a quick web search I find lots of references to the "Skeoch" cyclecar, and even a reference to its being made by J. B. Skeoch, but none whatsoever to a Skeogh cyclecar or to a J. B. Skeogh.

[Djetset]

Ok.  I always thought it was Skeogh, but I'm not back at home until the weekend, so i will double-check it then.

[DeAutogids.nl]

My Source:

James Baird Skeoch was born on the 26th September 1889 at Belshill, Lanarkshire.

He apprenticed with Robert Morton & Sons of Wishaw in 1906 who made machines for the bakery trade. In 1900 they had started producing steam lorries and a subsidiary company, Belhaven Engineering & Motors Ltd was founded in 1907 and Skeoch started in Belhaven's drawing office, were he stayed until 1912. He then worked for Drysdale & Company in Glasgow who made steam engines and pumps for about a year before moving to Marshall Fleming & Company in 1913.

1915 saw Skeoch return to Belhaven who were now making lorries for the War Department. By 1917 he was working at the Beardmore Aero Engine factory.

In 1919 Skeoch rented a disused blacksmiths shop in Dalbeattie and set up in business as the Burnside Motor Works taking on general repairs.

Skeoch designed his air-cooled, single cylinder 3.5hp Precision engined cyclecar in 1920, (the only commercially produced Cyclecar made in Scotland), and the first car was sold from a stand at the Scottish Motor Exhibition in January/February 1921. The body was by coachbuilder Sims & Wilson of Cathcart (who also bodied the Gilchrist). Another nine cars were sold up to the end of 1921. A fire in adjoining premises on the 23rd December 1921 spread to the Skeoch factory, which was destroyed.

Skeoch was back with Belhaven by 1922 were he was Works Manager until 1930 when he joined Albion. In 1932 he was working for the Central Scottish Motor Traction Company of Motherwell until his death on the 26th January 1954.