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Ailsa Craig Engines

It was a manufacturer of marine and specialist made-to-order engines from 1891 to 1972

Ailsa Craig Engines was a manufacturer of marine and specialist made-to-order engines from 1891 to 1972. Named after the island off the coast of Ayr, Scotland, Ailsa Craig, the company began as a bicycle manufacturer in Glasgow in 1891, later moving to Putney, London, where the then owner went into partnership and set about building early vehicles, going on in 1904 to produce the world's first V12 engine intended for a Russian airship and even a petrol engined vacuum cleaner for Hubert Cecil Booth in 1904.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1891Founded1

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Ailsa Craig Engines was a manufacturer of marine and specialist made-to-order engines from 1891 to 1972. Named after the island off the coast of Ayr, Scotland, Ailsa Craig, the company began as a bicycle manufacturer in Glasgow in 1891, later moving to Putney, London, where the then owner went into partnership and set about building early vehicles, going on in 1904 to produce the world's first V12 engine intended for a Russian airship and even a petrol engined vacuum cleaner for Hubert Cecil Booth in 1904.2

Products and brands

Trading as the Putney Motor Company around 12 cars were made between 1902 and 1912. Each was individually designed to order. The smallest was a single cylinder engined light car made in 1902. At the other extreme was a 50 hp four-cylinder fitted with a luxury body and supplied to the Earl of Norbury.

Between 1906 and 1907 they also sold the Mayfair car which was imported from an unknown source probably French.

From Wikipedia’s article on Ailsa Craig Engines, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1891Founded Founded1

Sources

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