| In relation to early Ballarat Motoring pioneers, the information has been gathered by Norm Darwin who would be pleased to gain additional history on the individuals or companies |
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Bodycomb Campbell Laird Chirnside Crump Coghlan Cutter Davies Ellis Franklin Geddes Haslem Kiel Loveland Middleton Parker Richards Sexton Shaw Sutton Sydes Warburton
Charlie Kiel & Arthur Loveland
Kiel and Loveland are believed to be one of Ballarats earliest motor garages. Established in late 1901 the firm was a result of a partnership between Charlie Kiel and Arthur Lovelend.
Charles Edward Kiel was born in Stawell in 1872, after a short time in Melbourne he came to Ballarat in 1898 to start a business acting as an agent for Massey Harris Cycles. The business was established at 45 Sturt street. Around 1900 he was joined by a Mr Sexton, a partnership that lasted until 1901. At this time the business was simply Kiel Cycle Importers, not only importing but also manufacturing their own brand.
Around the corner from the Kiel bike shop was the firm of Loveland Bros & A Horne. at 29 Armstrong Street North. Four brothers, Arthur, Wally, Charles and Herbert Loveland commenced a bike manufacturing business in North Fitzroy some time in the 1890s but moved to Ballarat prior to 1900 to build their Loveland cycle. In 1900 they were recorded as having agencies for "Carborundum", then an exciting new abrasive, Simplex Time recorders and the latest in tobacco cutting machines.
Some time after 1900 Charles Kiel took on a De Dion agency and possibly sold few cars. Sometime prior to the close of 1901 Charles Kiel and Arthur Loveland joined forces to form Kiel and Loveland A showroom was established at 107 Sturt street and by 1902 part of the old Phoenix foundry building at 34 - 40 Armstrong street was utilised as a motor garage.
A record in the Ballarat Courier states that Arthur Loveland raced a Davies Franklin car in the 1905 Aspendale race events.. It is unclear how Loveland was involved with this vehicle except to report that the Courier article records that the car was built "next to the Courier office in Sturt street." Co-incidentally this was where Kiel’s Bike shop was located.
After selling out to Ballarat Motors, Charles Kiel went to Melbourne, gaining a position with Tarrants and later Autocar Industries. Arthur Loader moved round the corner into the other end of the Phoenix foundry shed in Dana street, working in his own business.
Together with a Mr Davies, the pair ran a cycle manufacturing business and shop in Sturt street (near the Courier office Mr Franklin is said to have purchased Ballarat's first car, a De-Dion in 1900. The car was brought to Ballarat for the Agricultural Show. The cycle business was extensive and Davies Franklin bikes were sold through 150 agencies.
In 1901 the company produced a few Davies Franklin Quadcycles. The vehicle was powered by a 3.5hp Ariel engine and 4 were recorded as being built.
A school teacher (Headmaster?) at Bullarook State School, Mr Parker purchased a De Dion motor car from Mr Franklin in 1901. It is possible that George E Parker is a descendant of the Mt Franklin Aboriginal Protector, Edward Stone Parker.
Mr Crump is recorded as having brought the first motor cycle to the district. It was a Minerva but little is know about when.
Mr R H Sutton, H Sutton's farther, established a Music store on Bakery Hill and later in major Victorian towns as well as Melbourne. R H Sutton had emigrated to Vic from Manchester in 1853. H Sutton built several motor cars between 1900-02 and at one stage he teamed up with the Austral Otis Co to go into manufacture. (Austral Otis Co also had a connection to Ballarat, producing mining equipment)
Mr Shaw, and others, started the Phoenix Foundry in 1856. The company has a long history on Locomotive manufacture but also produced a steam lorry in 1873. Details of this vehicle a sketchy but it may well be Australia's first road self propelled vehicle.
Mr R G Middleton Phoenix Foundry Business Manager c1900
Mr T Bodycomb Phoenix Foundry General Manager c1900
Mr Campbell Laird Phoenix Foundry Mechanical Engineer and draughtsman c1900
Mr Jasper Coghlan, a brewer (Coghlan & Tullock Brewery. Together with Gordon Chirnside set up Ballarat Motors c 1909. The same year they purchased the motor company, Kiel & Loveland.
Mr Geddes c1920's purchased Ballarat Motors
Mr Haslem purchased Ballarat Motors from Mr Geddes c 1940 together with Arthur Loveland. The pair merged this firm with Lovelands, naming the company Loveland and Haslem. The business was located on what is now the multi story car park at Central Square.
The premises of Sam Ellis & Sons located at 602 Sturt street They were the General Motors Dealer.in 1927
Messers Richards, Sydes and Warburton proprietors of the Sunshine garage in Dana Street c1920s
Lawrence E Cutter (1830 - 1892, LS Cutter ( 1863 - 1938) A E Cutter ( 1867 - 1932 ) C F Cutter ( 1869 - 1942
Messers Cutter and Lever purchased a Coach building business that had been established in Ballarat in 1853 by an American, a Mr Morgan. In 1879 Cutter took over sole control of the business. L E Cutter arrived in the Colony from Middlesex in 1856. A Blacksmith, Lawrence arrived with his wife Ann and commenced work with a cutler, Denis Gallagher, in Swanston street Melbourne.
Whilst working for Morgan Cutter assisted in building the 76 seat Leviathan Coach. Called a horse killer the Coach ran between Ballarat and Geelong between 1859 and 1863. Edward "Cabbage Tree Ned" Devine was the driver.
Rolls
Royce body by L E Cutters
By 1906 Cutters were producing a number of Motor Bodies, including
orders from Melbourne. In 1910 they produced a fine Coupe body for a Rolls
Royce Silver Ghost chassis.
Cutters three sons had joined the firm as a trimmer, painter and
manager, but they saw no future in motor cars and just at the time the
motor business boomed (1917) they decided to stick with horse drawn vehicles.
The firm went out of business in 1927.
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