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==History==
==History==
Bradshaw was born in [[Preston, Lancashire]] in 1887 the son of William and Annie Bradshaw. His father was a jeweller and optician.
Bradshaw was born in [[Preston, Lancashire]] in 1887 as the son of William and Annie Bradshaw. His father was a jeweler and optician.


Bradshaw's early work was involved with the early pioneers of flight and he became an expert on stressing. He designed the Star Monoplane including the engine for [[Star Aircraft]] when he was 19 which he later flew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/planes/Star.htm |title=Star Aircraft |publisher=Wolverhampton History and Heritage |date=1921-02-14 |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref> He then started to work on aero-engines and was co-founder of the All-British Engine Company (later [[ABC Motors]] then Walton Motors).
Bradshaw's early work was involved with the early pioneers of flight, which led him to become an expert on stressing. He designed the Star Monoplane including the engine for [[Star Aircraft]] when he was 19, which he later flew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/planes/Star.htm |title=Star Aircraft |publisher=Wolverhampton History and Heritage |date=1921-02-14 |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref> He then started to work on aero-engines and was the co-founder of the All-British Engine Company (later [[ABC Motors]] then Walton Motors).


The ABC radial aero engines designed and built during the First World War were extremely advanced and the government placed large orders for the [[ABC Dragonfly|Dragonfly]]. A number of aircraft were designed to use the Dragonfly but the engines were plagued by problems and failed to live up to the promises. The design was taken over by the [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]] at [[Farnborough]] to try and resolve the issues but with the end of the war it was abandoned.
The ABC radial aero-engines designed and built during the First World War were extremely advanced and the government placed large orders for the [[ABC Dragonfly|Dragonfly]]. A number of aircrafts were designed to use the Dragonfly, but the engines were plagued by problems and failed to live up to the promises. The design was taken over by the [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]] at [[Farnborough]] to try and resolve the issues, but with the end of the war, it was abandoned.


[[Image:British ABC WASP.jpg|right|thumb|A Wasp engine]]
[[Image:British ABC WASP.jpg|right|thumb|A Wasp engine]]
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He was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] for his war work in 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200641.html |title=Flight 13 June 1918 Birthday Honours for War Workers |publisher=Flight Global |date= |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>
He was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] for his war work in 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200641.html |title=Flight 13 June 1918 Birthday Honours for War Workers |publisher=Flight Global |date= |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>


Following the war the company and Bradshaw concentrated on motorcycles. When the company re-organized in 1920 Bradshaw became a consultant which allowed him to sell his designs to other companies. He designed a number of engines for [[Phelon & Moore|Panther motorcycles]]. His biggest seller was selling patents for gambling machines although he lost all the money he made in further business deals. He later concentrated on [[Swing-piston engine|torodial internal-combustion engines]]. Bradshaw produced a long list of inventions and designs although very few achieved commercial success.
Following the war, the company and Bradshaw concentrated on motorcycles. When the company re-organized in 1920, Bradshaw became a consultant which allowed him to sell his designs to other companies. He designed a number of engines for [[Phelon & Moore|Panther motorcycles]]. His biggest seller was selling patents for gambling machines, although he lost all the money he made in further business deals. He later concentrated on [[Swing-piston engine|torodial internal-combustion engines]]. Bradshaw produced a long list of inventions and designs, although very few achieved commercial success.


A biography ''Granville Bradshaw: a flawed genius?'' by Barry Jones was published in 2008.
A biography ''Granville Bradshaw: a flawed genius?'' by Barry Jones was published in 2008.


==Family==
==Family==
In 1911 he married Violet Elsie Partirdge in Wolverhampton, Violet petitioned for divorce in 1926.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=7&CATID=-3131299&FullDetails=True&j=1&Gsm=2008-08-08 |title=National Archives Petition for Divorce |publisher=[[The National Archives]] |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref> Bradshaw married again in 1927 to Muriel Mathieson in Kensington, London. He died in 1969 at Hitchin in Hertfordshire. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%200834.html |title=Flight International |publisher=Flight Global |date=1969-05-08 |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>
In 1911 he married Violet Elsie Partirdge in Wolverhampton. Violet petitioned for divorce in 1926.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=7&CATID=-3131299&FullDetails=True&j=1&Gsm=2008-08-08 |title=National Archives Petition for Divorce |publisher=[[The National Archives]] |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref> Bradshaw married again in 1927 to Muriel Mathieson in Kensington, London. He died in 1969 at Hitchin in Hertfordshire. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%200834.html |title=Flight International |publisher=Flight Global |date=1969-05-08 |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 23:19, 31 December 2010

Granville Eastwood Bradshaw
Born1887
Preston, Lancashire, England
Died1969
Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationEngineer
ParentWilliam & Annie Bradshaw
Engineering career
InstitutionsRoyal Aeronautical Society
Practice nameABC Motors
ProjectsMotorcycle and Aero-engines
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire

Granville Eastwood Bradshaw OBE, AFRAeS (1887-1969) was an English engineer and inventor who designed motorcycle and aero-engines.

History

Bradshaw was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1887 as the son of William and Annie Bradshaw. His father was a jeweler and optician.

Bradshaw's early work was involved with the early pioneers of flight, which led him to become an expert on stressing. He designed the Star Monoplane including the engine for Star Aircraft when he was 19, which he later flew.[1] He then started to work on aero-engines and was the co-founder of the All-British Engine Company (later ABC Motors then Walton Motors).

The ABC radial aero-engines designed and built during the First World War were extremely advanced and the government placed large orders for the Dragonfly. A number of aircrafts were designed to use the Dragonfly, but the engines were plagued by problems and failed to live up to the promises. The design was taken over by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough to try and resolve the issues, but with the end of the war, it was abandoned.

A Wasp engine

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his war work in 1918.[2]

Following the war, the company and Bradshaw concentrated on motorcycles. When the company re-organized in 1920, Bradshaw became a consultant which allowed him to sell his designs to other companies. He designed a number of engines for Panther motorcycles. His biggest seller was selling patents for gambling machines, although he lost all the money he made in further business deals. He later concentrated on torodial internal-combustion engines. Bradshaw produced a long list of inventions and designs, although very few achieved commercial success.

A biography Granville Bradshaw: a flawed genius? by Barry Jones was published in 2008.

Family

In 1911 he married Violet Elsie Partirdge in Wolverhampton. Violet petitioned for divorce in 1926.[3] Bradshaw married again in 1927 to Muriel Mathieson in Kensington, London. He died in 1969 at Hitchin in Hertfordshire. [4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Star Aircraft". Wolverhampton History and Heritage. 1921-02-14. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  2. ^ "Flight 13 June 1918 Birthday Honours for War Workers". Flight Global. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  3. ^ "National Archives Petition for Divorce". The National Archives. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  4. ^ "Flight International". Flight Global. 1969-05-08. Retrieved 2009-03-28.

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