Collections Survey
As part of the research for BAC 100 we have been visiting and contacting public and private collections of material relating to BAC and its associated companies. To help other researchers we have compiled the following survey of sources. All of these collections have given their permission for their details to be made public. Other collections we have contacted have requested that they not be included in this list.
We will add to this document during the course of 2010.
Any suggestions for additions to make to this would be gratefully received. The survey can be completed online at
The BAC 100 Team
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BRISTOL AERO COLLECTION
Contact:
Oliver Dearden
Bristol Aero Collection
Hangar E2
Kemble Airfield
Nr Cirencester GL7 6BQ
Tel 0117 9500908
Collection history:
A comprehensive collection of aerospace and other engineering products of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and its successors. The Collection established in1992 contains aircraft, engines, guided missiles, rockets, satellites, models, tools, photographs, and associated Bristol products, a tram, bus, and lorry. There is also a substantial archive containing technical manuals, specifications, drawings, photographs, posters, books, house magazines, etc. The collection covers 15,000 sq ft and many items are from the Bristol aircraft and engine companies going back to their origins in 1910. The items are currently being catalogued and there are some 30 large items and several hundred smaller items on display.
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company
British & Colonial Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aircraft Limited
Bristol Cars Limited
Bristol Aero Engines Limited
Bristol Siddeley Engines
British Aircraft Corporation (Filton)
Rolls-Royce (Bristol)
British Aerospace (Filton)
Airbus (Filton)
Type of material in collection:
Original hardware (complete or in parts)
Original drawings
Company papers (eg minute books or correspondence)
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Manuals
Scale models
Full-size replicas
Audio recordings
Still photographs
Film (DVD and video)
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes (in part)
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes during regular opening hours
Is there an inventory?
Yes – index cards available to visitors
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes –prints and transparencies can be inspected and copied. Copyright either Bristol Aero Collection or Airbus.
Possible activities relating to the collection in 2010.
Various including extended opening hours and special events for families.
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BRISTOL AEROPLANE COMPANY MOTOR CLUB ARCHIVE (TRADING AS BRISTOL PEGASUS MOTOR CLUB)
Contact:
Club Archivist Pete Stowe
Tel 01453 845318
Collection history:
The Club (today known as the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club) was originally formed in 1944 for employees of the BAC, and had a significant influence on motor racing in the UK immediately post-World War 2. In October 1945 members of the Bristol Aeroplane Company Motor Sports Club organised the first sealed-surface speed event to be held in England following the end of WW2, the Bristol Sprint for cars and motorcycles on Filton Airfield. Also in 1945 they created a new racing car formula which led directly to the rise of the F1 World Championship winning Cooper marque, and began the many years dominance of Grand Prix racing by British built cars.
The Club Archive was established approximately 20 years ago, and contains the Club records, event results & magazines, and photographs and film of Club events.
Companies included in collection:
BAC Motor Club members were drawn from all BAC constituent companies from 1944 on
Type of material in collection:
Company papers (eg minute books or correspondence)
Still photographs
Film (transferred to video)
Club magazines
Event results
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
No. Research enquiries should be sent to Archivist.
Is there an inventory?
No
Are there images of items from the collection?
No
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BRISTOLLIBRARIES
Contact:
Jane Bradley (Local Studies Librarian)
Bristol Reference Library
Central Library, College Green
Bristol BS1 5TL
Tel 0117 9037202
Collection history:
The Bristol Local Studies Collection was established in the 19th century and contains thousands of books, pamphlets, pictures, newspapers etc relating to the history of Bristol and its surrounding area.
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company
British & Colonial Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
British Aircraft Corporation (Filton)
Type of material in collection:
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Still photographs
Photocopied articles
Books
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes during regular opening hours
Is there an inventory?
Yes as online and card catalogues
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes - digital files on external website. Copyright status unknown.
Possible activities relating to the collection in 2010.
Exhibition at Central Library
Treasures in Store event
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BRISTOL MUSEUMS
Contact:
Andy King
Museum of Bristol
PrincesWharf
Wapping Road
Bristol BS1 4RN
Tel 0117 9031569
Collection history:
Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives is the responsibility of Bristol City Council, which has collections on display at Blaise Castle House Museum, Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, Georgian House, Kings Weston Roman Villa and Red Lodge and other sites. Much of the material relevant to BAC was formerly displayed or held in store at BristolIndustrialMuseum which has now closed pending redevelopment as the Museum of Bristol which will open in 2011.
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company
British & Colonial Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aircraft Limited
Bristol Cars Limited
Bristol Aero Engines Limited
Bristol Siddeley Engines
British Aircraft Corporation (Filton)
Rolls-Royce (Bristol)
British Aerospace (Filton)
Airbus (Filton)
Type of material in collection:
Original hardware (complete and in parts)
Original drawings
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Manuals
Scale models
Audio recordings
Still photographs
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes (in part – some material on long term loan from owners)
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes by appointment only
The BAC-related material is currently all in store but some is likely to be on display as part of the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Bristol when that opens.
Is there an inventory?
There is a searchable database of all material held by BMGA which currently is only accessible by staff but will shortly be available online. Selections can be printed out in list form.
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes – digital files that can be sent on disk. Various copyright.
Possible activities relating to the collection in 2010
Items from the collection will be included in the exhibition at Bristol’s CityMuseum and Art Gallery 18 September to 28 November.
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BRISTOL TRAM PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION
Contact:
Peter Davey
4 Downs Park East
Bristol BS6 7QD
Tel 0117 9620223
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company
Clifton Rocks Railway Co Ltd
Type of material in collection:
Original hardware (complete and in parts)
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Manuals
Scale models
Audio recordings
Still photographs
Film (eg: video of TV programmes)
Postcards
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes by appointment only
Is there an inventory?
No
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes. Various copyright.
Activities relating to the collection in 2010.
Available to give variety of illustrated talks.
Open days for Clifton Rocks Railway in May and September.
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CONCORDE AT FILTON
Contact:
PO Box 77
Bristol BS99 7AR
Tel 0117 9365485
Email info@
Collection history:
Collection established in 2003/4 following Concorde withdrawal from service
Companies included in collection:
British & Colonial Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aircraft Limited
Bristol Siddeley Engines
British Aircraft Corporation (Filton)
Rolls-Royce (Bristol)
British Aerospace (Filton)
Airbus (Filton)
Type of material in collection:
Original hardware (complete or in parts) – centre of collection is Concorde G-BOAF
Original drawings including framed original design drawing and framed original Cummings cartoon
Audio recordings
Still photographs
Film (DVD)
Display of last flight photographs, design history, company history
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
No
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes during regular opening hours
Is there an inventory?
No
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes – on website. Copyright Airbus.
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OLIVER DEARDEN
Contact:
Oliver Dearden
Tel 0117 9500908
Collection history:
Personal collection of models, photographs, memorabilia and publications associated with the Bristol aircraft industry.
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company
British & Colonial Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aircraft Limited
Bristol Cars Limited
Bristol Aero Engines Limited
Bristol Siddeley Engines
British Aircraft Corporation (Filton)
Rolls-Royce (Bristol)
British Aerospace (Filton)
Airbus (Filton)
Type of material in collection:
Original drawings
Company papers (eg minute books or correspondence)
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Scale models
Still photographs
Film (DVD and video)
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes (in part)
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes by appointment only
Is there an inventory?
No
Are there images of items from the collection?
No
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FINNISHAIRFORCEMUSEUM
Contact:
Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo
Tikkakoskentie 125, FIN 41160 Tikkakoski, Finland
Tel +358 14 3752 125
Collection history:
Finnish Air Force museum was established 1978. Collection contains app. 50 a/c, 60 engines, flight gears, radios, radars etc. One of the “pearls” is Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV, only survived WW II Finnish Bomber. It was assembled in Finland under license. Parts used were mostly produced in Yugoslavian Ikaros factory before WW II.
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Siddeley Engines
Rolls-Royce (Bristol)
Type of material in collection:
Original hardware (complete and in parts)
Original drawings
Manuals
Scale models
Still photographs
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes (in part)
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes during regular opening hours
(see
Is there an inventory?
Yes – currently index cards, changing to database (partly accessible online)
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes – mostly on prints, partly digital. Copyright of the Museum
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GLOUCESTERSHIRE ARCHIVES
Contact:
Clarence Row
Alvin Street
Gloucester GL1 3DW
Tel 01452 425295
Collection history:
Gloucestershire Archives (GA) preserves over 8 million documents for the historic county of Gloucestershire dating from the mid 12th century. GA holds the collections from Gloucestershire Record Office (established in 1936) and from Gloucester City Library (‘The Gloucestershire Collection’, begun in 1900). Among GA’s collections are two relating to Rotol deposited by the Dowty Group (the following details are taken from GA’s online catalogue):
GA Collection reference D6327: Rotol Airscrews Ltd (later Rotol Ltd) AGM minutes 1937-1959 and company seal register 1955-1962; Rotol Incorporated (later Dowty Rotol Incorporated) USA minutes 1957-1962; ledgers 1930s-1950s; newscuttings and papers relating to Rotol Ltd 1937-1984; Dowty Group journal (gaps) 1954-1960; pensioners' newsletter (gaps) 1989-1993 (note that a small part of this collection is uncatalogued and therefore is available by appointment)
GA Collection reference D8347: Administrative records of the Dowty Group, its predecessor, subsidiary and related companies, including minutes, accounts, patents, property records, personnel files and publicity material, 1932-2001; annual reports and accounts, 1976-1998; internal staff magazines, 1961-1999; publicity material, 1952-2001; various Dowty logos, undated (on board); "Rotol... 1943" photograph album 1943; photographs of Arle Court site, mining equipment, landing gear, propellers, and other Dowty products, machinery, equipment and staff; certificates and documents recording name changes from' Dowty Equipment Limited' to 'Dowty Rotol Limited', 1960, and then to 'Dowty Aerospace Gloucester Limited', 1990-1991; Directory of Directors, 1990-1994; Memorandum and Articles of Association of 'Dowty Aerospace Gloucester Limited', 1990; glass lantern slides of landing gear, c.1955 (note that this is an extremely large uncatalogued collection and therefore is only available by appointment to allow staff time to try to identify and locate material)
Companies included in collection:
Rotol/ Dowty
Type of material in collection:
Company papers (eg minute books or correspondence)
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Manuals
Still photographs
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
No
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes either during regular opening hours or by appointment only (see above)
Is there an inventory?
Yes - See online catalogue available at
As mentioned, there is only a summary description for collection D8347 – see above
Are there images of items from the collection?
No
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HELICOPTERMUSEUM
Contact:
Locking Moor Road
Weston-super-Mare
BS27 8PP
Tel 01934 635227
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Siddeley Engines
Rolls-Royce (Bristol)
Westland Helicopters
Type of material in collection:
Original hardware (complete and in parts)
Original drawings
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Manuals
Scale models
Still photographs
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes (in part)
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes some during regular opening hours (on open display) and some by appointment
Is there an inventory?
Not yet but planned
Are there images of items from the collection?
No
Possible activities relating to the collection in 2010
A joint exhibition in 2010 between the HelicopterMuseum and NorthSomersetMuseum detailing the area’s industrial heritage. Events include: exhibition, talks, open days for new volunteers.
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IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM DUXFORD
Contact:
Aircraft, Vehicle and Aero Engines Collection
Duxford Airfield
Cambridgeshire
Tel 01223 835000
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aero Engines Limited
Bristol Siddeley Engines
Type of material in collection:
Original hardware (complete and in parts) including Goblin, Hercules, Jupiter, Olympus and Pegasus engines, and Bristol F2B
Manuals and booklets
Is person responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes during regular opening hours except for stored items which are by appointment only
Is there an inventory?
Yes – most can be viewed via the website
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes – digital files on website. Various copyright, mainly Crown.
Note: there are also collections that are likely to be of relevance at the ImperialWarMuseum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ. Address queries to Collections Enquiries Service.
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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
Contact:
ScienceMuseum
South Kensington
London SW7 2DD
Tel 0207 9424000
Collection history:
Please use the following link for details on the size, nature and history of the ScienceMuseum’s collection:
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company/ Bristol Wagon and Carriage Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aircraft Limited
Bristol Aero Engines Limited
Bristol Siddeley Engines
British Aircraft Corporation (Filton)
Rolls-Royce (Bristol)
British Aerospace (Filton)
Airbus (Filton)
Rotol
Westland Helicopters
Type of material in collection (some or all of the following):
Original hardware (complete or in parts)
Original drawings
Company papers (eg minute books or correspondence)
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Manuals
Scale models
Full-size replicas
Still photographs
Film
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes (in part – some items on loan to the Museum)
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes – main public collection during regular opening hours, storage sites by appointment only
Is there an inventory?
Yes
The ScienceMuseum’s inventory is compiled onto a computer database and is not normally accessible to the public. Requests for information on Museum objects (or objects that maybe in the collections are welcomed in writing or via email). The specific group of objects you are interested namely BAC related material, will not have its own separate inventory, but this could be compiled from the main inventory database and then supplied to an applicant.
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes – various formats. Various copyright.
Possible activities relating to the collection in 2010.
Various including extended opening hours and special events for families.
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ROYALAIRFORCEMUSEUM
Contact:
RAFMuseum
Hendon
LondonNW9 5LL
Tel 0208 2052266
Companies included in collection:
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Type of material in collection
Original hardware (complete or in parts) including Bristol Fighter, M1C, Bulldog, Beaufort, Blenheim, Beaufighter, Sycamore, Belvedere and Bloodhound at London Site plus Bristol 188, Britannia and Bloodhound at Cosford, plus several Bristol engines.
Original drawings
Company papers (eg minute books or correspondence)
Publicity material (eg brochures, advertising artwork)
Manuals
Still photographs
Is organisation responsible for the collection also the owner?
Yes
Is the collection currently accessible to the public?
Yes –by appointment for library and archive – access.cfm . Display galleries open daily 10.00am to 5.00pm.
Is there an inventory?
Not yet but planned
Are there images of items from the collection?
Yes. Contact for copyright information.
Note on the RAF HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Society does not maintain any archives and if any important artefacts or documents ever come its way they would be passed on to some more appropriate body (probably the RAF Museum at Hendon).The Society does talk and write about aspects of RAF history and recordthe proceedings.These are then published in the Society’s Journal (three times a year) and eventually made available on-linevia the RAFMuseum website at: are, of course,constant incidental references to Bristol products embedded in there but the Society’s our aim is to record RAF history. The aeroplanes that were involved are mainly considered only to the extent that they are a means to that end.