HMC- FEAT. Dull , worthy and Indestructible.

[somewhatfoolish]

It's not a clutch, the pedal just tells the box to shift. How it works.

[lesapandre]

In effect it's a big foot-operated switch between ratios which are 'pre-selected' on the column.

[Sigmund Fraud]

The Wilson/Daimler box uses epicyclic gears, brake bands for gear selection, and a torque converter. I'm not an engineer, so my little brain can best make sense of it as an automatic box without the automatic selection.

They were amazing compared to the manual boxes that were around in the 1930s, but by the mid 1950s they had become so much of an anachronism that even Daimler began fitting fully automatic boxes.

If you slip the gear selector pedal like a clutch, you are basically putting quite a lot of torque onto the tiny friction surface of a brake band. Said brake band will soon wear out, resulting in the box slipping. There is a small amount of adjustment possible, but once you've run out of friction material the box needs to be taken apart and the brake band reconditioned (because it's certainly not a part that GSF keep on the shelf !).

[andy18s]

On 26/12/2024 at 14:54, Matty said:

It's genuinely getting to the point that you can only surpass yourself next time by buying a 1920s biplane or something similar 🤣

Funny you should say that .. 

 

[wuvvum]

1 hour ago, Sigmund Fraud said:

The Wilson/Daimler box uses epicyclic gears, brake bands for gear selection, and a torque converter.

Being pedantic (unlike me I know) it's a fluid flywheel rather than a "proper" torque converter.  Does much the same thing though.

[Sigmund Fraud]

57 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Being pedantic (unlike me I know) it's a fluid flywheel rather than a "proper" torque converter.  Does much the same thing though.

You are absolutely correct ; the Daimler system is a simple fluid coupling that does not multiply torque.

I was just using the term to emphasize the similarities between the Daimler transmission and later automatic boxes (that many of us are far more familiar with !).

[HMC]

Going from the austin 12 crash box it feels like a space ship 😂 

[artdjones]

17 hours ago, captain_70s said:

Funny to think it was considered a vintage car in 1955, when my Cresta was brand new, which was considered a classic in 1977 when my Dolomite was brand new, and has been a classic itself for 20 years...

Vintage has a specific meaning in this context, that is, a car built between 1919 and 1930. 

[IronStar]

11 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

It's not a clutch, the pedal just tells the box to shift. How it works.

An amazing read. Thanks!

Lubrication has really come a long way since as well. Recommended gearbox oil change interval at 3000 miles and that was considered long life! 

[2flags]

I think my dad might have had one of these when I was born. He said he had a big Austin that he used to be able to just wheel the pram into the back. [Full size Silvercross type.] He worked for Regent oil at the time, so managed to 'acquire' his petrol. Apparently, it did like a drink. 😁

[HMC]

Is there a less appropriate car to do a VSCC trial in? As its an destructible chugger, with a saloon body, and a solid base of a successful line of taxis, most people would say no. And they would be right in their assertions!

However, as its an inappropriate, yet eligible vehicle, im entering the 2025 exmoor fringe trial in it (next month) It coincides with half term, so i will employ the kids the be bouncers in back as we attempt to scale muddy tracks and hillsides. 

I would expect to be the first entrant to come to a stop and bogged down, but arranging a load of silly nonsense is what life is about. Ive just got my motorsport UK clubman licence sorted (cost £0) so its game on!!

[wuvvum]

That will require you to still own the car next month though.  That's a pretty big assumption...

[HMC]

Sorted a blocked crankcase breather on the 75 diesel…. (TADTS)

 

And went to Tesco in the Austin 12….

(parent and child parking PARP PARP)

[Angrydicky]

Love it! 

[Schaefft]

2 hours ago, HMC said:

Sorted a blocked crankcase breather on the 75 diesel…. (TADTS)

 

And went to Tesco in the Austin 12….

(parent and child parking PARP PARP)

I can only imagine the faces of confusion of people finding this in a Tesco carpark. Especially once it's not the first or second time!

[N19]

1 hour ago, Schaefft said:

I can only imagine the faces of confusion of people finding this in a Tesco carpark. Especially once it's not the first or second time!

And/or the helpful tannoy if someone reports the lights have been left on. 

"This is a customer announcement,  would the owner of an Austin 12 registration number U2591 please return to your vehicle!"

(I heard one for an Allegro mid covid..)

[LightBulbFun]

35 minutes ago, N19 said:

And/or the helpful tannoy if someone reports the lights have been left on. 

"This is a customer announcement,  would the owner of an Austin 12 registration number U2591 please return to your vehicle!"

(I heard one for an Allegro mid covid..)

I have always wondered how these sorts of things  would react, In that, would they even *know* what this is?

or would it be "can the owner of the extra large scale Brum return to your vehicle"

(ditto when you see news reports or the such like that involve a vehicle or 2)

2 hours ago, Schaefft said:

I can only imagine the faces of confusion of people finding this in a Tesco carpark. Especially once it's not the first or second time!

for me its the parent and child parking, especially with kids actually present and all the more so that no one is dressed the part, theres no fancy dress that might indicate oh they have come from an event or anything like that, everyone is in regular everyday clothes, so *everything* is normal except its in a 1929 Austin 12, I would love to know what the public makes of that  

[lesapandre]

I like to think that they have come through a time portal from the past.

[S2000]

35 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

for me its the parent and child parking, especially with kids actually present and all the more so that no one is dressed the part, theres no fancy dress that might indicate oh they have come from an event or anything like that, everyone is in regular everyday clothes, so *everything* is normal except its in a 1929 Austin 12, I would love to know what the public makes of that  

When I take my 80 year old mum shopping I use the parent and child parking even though I’m the 50 year old child…..

[PhilA]

On 10/01/2025 at 04:54, Sigmund Fraud said:

You are absolutely correct ; the Daimler system is a simple fluid coupling that does not multiply torque.

I was just using the term to emphasize the similarities between the Daimler transmission and later automatic boxes (that many of us are far more familiar with !).

The fluid coupling is much more efficient and much better suited to low power vehicles. Even with the epicyclic gears, which are a bit more drag, it's still not a bad overall concept.

[auntiemaryscanary]

12 hours ago, N19 said:

And/or the helpful tannoy if someone reports the lights have been left on. 

"This is a customer announcement,  would the owner of an Austin 12 registration number U2591 please return to your vehicle!"

(I heard one for an Allegro mid covid..)

Just before COVID I had this. "R499 CVR you have left your lights on, R499 CVR".

My then 10 & 12 yr old kids didn't like the car and were mortified that I'd brought attention over the tannoy. They weren't that chuffed either whilst I left them minding the trolley as I popped out to turn the lights off on my purple Perodua Nippa.

[tooSavvy]

18 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

I have always wondered how these sorts of things  would react, In that, would they even *know* what this is?

or would it be "can the owner of the extra large scale Brum return to your vehicle"

(ditto when you see news reports or the such like that involve a vehicle or 2)

for me its the parent and child parking, especially with kids actually present and all the more so that no one is dressed the part, theres no fancy dress that might indicate oh they have come from an event or anything like that, everyone is in regular everyday clothes, so *everything* is normal except its in a 1929 Austin 12, I would love to know what the public makes of that  

.... If it were me, @Tezz, I would stop >> look >> and announce [without reservation] "Corrr!!!"

*Penguins nadgers, only if I was introduced 😉

🚙💨

[HMC]

The 12 has been willing and reliable transport these last weeks, with plans including entering a VSCC trial (feb- late entry and the car still being assessed by the eligibility committee so not confirmed) and a family trip to france (april) in the pipeline

Meanwhile I moved the daimler on as i wanted a more 60s vehicle to slot neatly between the 20s austin and 00s rover 75. 

Continuing the longbridge theme Ive got something of a teenage crush on the way….. 

My now falling to bits reference bought when i was 16, described them as “beloved of country cabbies” and “dull, worthy and indestructible” How could I resist 😂

 

[lesapandre]

"dull, worthy and rusty." 😉

Incredibly made up in Morris form to 1972 - I bet there were a few hanging about the showrooms in 73/74  - meanwhile Cortina went through three iterations. BMC sold these at little profit too.

Perfect!

They have a particular Austin smell inside.

The floor pedal on the right you may press down - but little happens.

 

[Cookiesouwest]

Great buy. My dad's 2nd car was one of these. First car I can remember.

[comfortablynumb]

Last time I was on the isle of wight, we ended getting one of these as a taxi back to the ferry, because we'd missed the last train.

Awesome, but one of the scariest journeys I've ever been on, no fault of the car.😱

[Dobloseven]

They show up regularly on Heartbeat.