John WELLER of AC Cars

[Richard Weller]

Some who, like me, are not connected, may also be interested in John
WELLER so I am starting another thread.

First, to connect him to Henry WELLER of Arundel 1770-1834 and wife
Mary Ann(e) REYNELL. Their second child was Charles, 1792-1859, who
married 1815 at Portsea, Hants, Elizabeth d/o John HOLLOWAY of
Seddlescombe, Sussex.

Their second son was William Holloway WELLER 1819-1901 of Arundel and
Littlehampton who married 13 Nov 1844 at St Nicholas, Brightelmston
[i.e. Brighton, Sussex] Caroline d/o Benjamin WALLS of Brightelmston.

Their first child was Harry 1845-1913 of Thames Ditton, Surrey who
married 30 Jun 1874 at St John's, Southwark, Sarah Ann d/o Aaron and
Mary MILLER.

They had nine children, of whom the third was John, born 28 Nov 1877.

"The AC Story" from www.accars.co.uk/Content/ACCompany/aboutus.asp:

Britain's Oldest Independent Car Marque - AC.

John WELLER and his friend John PORTWINE (a London butcher) had a
vision for a new motor car at the beginning of the last century.
WELLER was an innovative engineer and inventor and set up in
partnership with three of his brothers as motor engineers, repairers
and manufacturers of cars and motorcycles. Weller Bros were appointed
as repair agents for De Dion et Bouton vehicles and commenced
manufacturing vehicles to their own design. [End of quote. Those
interested can go to the above website and many others relating to AC
cars. The following comments are for those whose interest is
marginal!]

1902. Weller Bros appointed Official Repairer to the Automobile Club.

At the Automobile Show at Crystal Palace in 1903 they exhibited 10 HP
and 20 HP Weller Touring Car. Their light-alloy body panels fitted to
an aluminium frame was a revolutionary idea.

1904 produced a tiller-steered three wheeler commercial vehicle, the
'AutoCarrier' (from which the 'AC' name was derived. It was a great
success. Customers included Boots the Chemist, Selfridges, Associated
Newspapers, Carr's Biscuits and Gt Western Railway.

1907 a passenger-carrying version was made, called 'the
Sociable' (because driver and passenger sat side-by-side rather than
in tandem as on a motorcycle.) It sold for £85.

By 1913 they were producing the Fivet four wheeler.

During WW1 the Autocarrier was adapted for military needs - mounted
with Maxim guns or used as ammunition traansporters.

1926 the Monte Carlo Rally was won by Victor Bruce in an AC.

2000. The AC 212 S/C, poered by a 3.5L V8 twin turbo Lotus engine
goes into production. It costs rather more than £85!

etc. etc. The AC Fivet was known as 'the Rolls Royce of light cars.'
My memory is not what it once was and I had formed the idea that there
was actually a link with Rolls Royce, as mentioned in an earlier
posting. My apologies.

John died 31 Aug 1966.

Richard