Rhode motor car

[NZChris]

This is the plan. I have to work out the practicalities. Have you met Hugh or Geoffery, the other Rhode owners in England?

 

[cornish steve]

This is the plan. I have to work out the practicalities. Have you met Hugh or Geoffery, the other Rhode owners in England?

if i lived closer i would of given you a hand to get started,no i havent meet hugh or geoffery,

 

[NZChris]

Steve,
please email me at [email protected]. I have the details of the other Rhode owners mentioned, I can pass these on to you. Although these contacts are quite old and may have moved or passed on.

 

[NZChris]

Anyone interested in this thread, I currently have a very select list of 4 Rhode owners. I have also found an old list of owners, there may be 11 complete cars remaining across the world.

 

[Astoness]

Anyone interested in this thread, I currently have a very select list of 4 Rhode owners. I have also found an old list of owners, there may be 11 complete cars remaining across the world.

nzchris..this is an old thread and since it started one of the posters is now deceased and two other posters are no longer members so this explains why they have not picked up the thread and replied...

lyn

 

[Paddy Jags]

(from my FiL John D Barnes who writes......) Henry B Denley (pictured) was apprenticed to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wolseley_Sheep_Shearing_Machine_Company in Birmingham precursors to the Wolseley (see picture) with Herbert Austin. https://www.wolseley.com/index.asp?pageid=24&year=1880 Henry trialled the three wheel Morgan. After WW2 he did trials with Rhode cars. The Rhode Motor Company started in 1920 by Henry and his brother-in-Law, Fred Mead (see Rosemary Ramm above). Henry did some original designing. The business was run from a small factory in Blythwood Road Tyseley as posted above.
Most firms, like the Rhode Co, purchased chassis frames from Rubery Owen, engines from Meadowlines , steering gear from Burmans, gear boxes from Moss and Villiers of Wolverhampton. Tyseley was where the Rhodes saloon bodies were constructed using ash , beech etc. panelled and roofs covered with fabric before being fitted to the chassis. Models during the late 1920s were tested over a measured mile on the Stratford Road just beyond Hockley Heath.
The cars consisted of a driveable chassis, wheels, engine, but no body, four wooden planks as mudwings and a square box behind the seats to hold lead weights equal to body weight.
In 1928 Henry left the company after a disagreement with his partner over proposed design. In 1929 Rhodes went into liquidation. Henry purchased the goodwill, stores etc . , from the Receiver and moved everything to Webb Lane Hall Green. There a McKenzie had a factory making wickerwork invalid carriages, bath chairs and kitchen furniture. The business of McKenzie and Denley was formed with the aim of repairing Rhode cars. The firm was absorbed by the Star Cycle Co. The first Star was built in 1899 at the Star Cycle works in Stewart Street, Wolverhampton. In 1904 it moved to Frederick Street where they earned a reputation for well engineered and robust vehicles ranking in quality and style with neighbouring Sunbeam.
Between 1933 and 1936 Henry purchased a garage in the High Street, Kings Heath. Next he bought out McKenzie and the Rhode and Star business of Kings Heath, forming a family business H.B. Denley Ltd. The attraction of the Kings Heath site was the very large workshop and stores. Henry employed a number of the original Star men who travelled daily from Wolverhampton."

 

[Heartland]

I have three locations for Rhode
Blythewood Road 1921-8
Rushey Lane 1929-1930
Webb Lane 1931- 1935

Actually the name is topical at the moment- as stated the name is derived from Cecil Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia.

Was the picture taken in 2011?. When I was chasing up models in 2006 I was told no complete vehicle existed.

 

[Pedrocut]

October 1926...

 

[Pedrocut]

White City 1921...

 

[Pedrocut]

I have three locations for Rhode
Blythewood Road 1921-8
Rushey Lane 1929-1930
Webb Lane 1931- 1935

Actually the name is topical at the moment- as stated the name is derived from Cecil Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia.

Was the picture taken in 2011?. When I was chasing up models in 2006 I was told no complete vehicle existed.

I just wonder whether it was actually named after Cecil Rhodes, as in the majority of cases the Company names has no “s”.

 

[Pedrocut]

Here is what Grace’s Guide say about the Rhode Co and also HB Denley.

Interesting that it says HB Denley went on to produce 50 Hawk cars.

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Rhode_Motor_Co

(from my FiL John D Barnes who writes......) Henry B Denley (pictured) was apprenticed to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wolseley_Sheep_Shearing_Machine_Company in Birmingham precursors to the Wolseley (see picture) with Herbert Austin. https://www.wolseley.com/index.asp?pageid=24&year=1880 Henry trialled the three wheel Morgan. After WW2 he did trials with Rhode cars. The Rhode Motor Company started in 1920 by Henry and his brother-in-Law, Fred Mead (see Rosemary Ramm above). Henry did some original designing. The business was run from a small factory in Blythwood Road Tyseley as posted above.
Most firms, like the Rhode Co, purchased chassis frames from Rubery Owen, engines from Meadowlines , steering gear from Burmans, gear boxes from Moss and Villiers of Wolverhampton. Tyseley was where the Rhodes saloon bodies were constructed using ash , beech etc. panelled and roofs covered with fabric before being fitted to the chassis. Models during the late 1920s were tested over a measured mile on the Stratford Road just beyond Hockley Heath.
The cars consisted of a driveable chassis, wheels, engine, but no body, four wooden planks as mudwings and a square box behind the seats to hold lead weights equal to body weight.
In 1928 Henry left the company after a disagreement with his partner over proposed design. In 1929 Rhodes went into liquidation. Henry purchased the goodwill, stores etc . , from the Receiver and moved everything to Webb Lane Hall Green. There a McKenzie had a factory making wickerwork invalid carriages, bath chairs and kitchen furniture. The business of McKenzie and Denley was formed with the aim of repairing Rhode cars. The firm was absorbed by the Star Cycle Co. The first Star was built in 1899 at the Star Cycle works in Stewart Street, Wolverhampton. In 1904 it moved to Frederick Street where they earned a reputation for well engineered and robust vehicles ranking in quality and style with neighbouring Sunbeam.
Between 1933 and 1936 Henry purchased a garage in the High Street, Kings Heath. Next he bought out McKenzie and the Rhode and Star business of Kings Heath, forming a family business H.B. Denley Ltd. The attraction of the Kings Heath site was the very large workshop and stores. Henry employed a number of the original Star men who travelled daily from Wolverhampton."

 

[Johnfromstaffs]

To quote the late Bill Boddy, founder editor of Motor Sport magazine,

”If you’d rode in a Rhode you’d have knowed!”