Chamberlain Australian Innovator - The Life and Works of Alan Hawker 'Bob' Chamberlain, Signed by Bruce Lindsay

Bob Chamberlain was the consummate engineer. Never considering his lack of tertiary training to be an impediment, he was one of those "seat of the pants" engineers in whom innate ability, combined with supreme self-belief, produced some astounding results. Over his 84 years, he energetically pursued lines of enquiry, driven by a lively mind given to lateral thinking. While he was never shy of publicity, much of his incredible output remains unknown, even though his higher profile activities like the Chamberlain tractor project are reasonably well documented. There are other exploits which are perhaps not so well known: the design and production of a pre war special - V twin engined front wheel drive racing car named The Beetle, the manufacture of the Rolloy piston, and the Chamberlain Touring Car 1936-8 fitted with Ford V8 engine. Suggesting the high regard in which he was held by his friends and fellows, the production of his life's story was urged by former employee John Cummins, who was anxious that details of Bob's quite remarkable contributions to the Australian motor components industry be remembered. Certainly in the process of preparing this history it has become apparent that he has never been accorded due credit for many of his works, and in some instances others have claimed accolades which are rightfully his. From surviving documents, this account sets the record straight and records the family history, and also looks at some of the remarkable cars Bob Chamberlain worked on, such as a 1913 Buckingham Chota cyclecar replica, and recreation of the 1904 Napier Samson L48, 1914 Cadillac, and a Prinz Heinrich Benz. There is a DVD contained in the rear of the publication offering a 1953 promotional film ‘Put to the Test’ and images from Chamberlain Sales Material 1949-1974.