Richard Stephens and the Clevedon Motor Cars By William Fairney

Richard Stephens went into a South Wales mine as a boy but quickly rose to a responsible position operating the mine's steam engines. He was trained as a rock driller and worked in mines in Australia, Canada and America. Whilst in America he learnt about the developments in the automobile industry and resolved to set up business in this field. On his return to the United Kingdom he established a cycle and motor works in the small Somerset town of Clevedon. Here he made the acquaintance of the local squire, Sir Edmund Elton, and together they embarked on a series of enterprises. With financial help from Sir Edmund, Stephens patented and built a variety of motor cars, about twelve in all, of his own design, including the engines. They are generally regarded as the first all-British cars to go into series production. As well as marketing cars he used some of his vehicles to set up a Hackney Carriage service between Clevedon and Portishead and he ran a car hire service for many years.

With Sir Edmund he patented and manufactured automatic street gas-lamp lighters. He was the author of many patents and in his later years he manufactured his patented balanced brake shoes, and sold them all around the world. They are the basis of the drum brakes widely used today.

This highly-researched book is the first to examine in detail the story of this remarkable man. It is extensively illustrated with contemporary photographs and beautiful colour plates, including some of the two remaining Stephens vehicles, still in running order.