by Catrina Vignando on 29 July, 2014
A close up of the Royal Daimler chassis
The Royal Daimler has left the building!
After a short sojourn in the Museum’s Hall, today the Royal Daimler returned to the offsite conservation lab for ongoing work. Continue reading
by Catrina Vignando on 24 July, 2014
In 2012, we set out to raise $60,000 by July 2014 for the Royal Daimler Project. It might have looked like a blue-sky target back then, but I am happy to say that due to the overwhelming support we have had from our Royal Daimler Conservation Partners, and all the Royal Daimler Project followers, we have not only reached our target, but we have exceeded our goal and have raised $61,863.80. Continue reading
by Catrina Vignando on 19 June, 2014
The Royal Daimler chassis is all chromed up and on display for a limited time in the main hall at the National Museum in Canberra.
With as much fanfare as we could muster, we made a short video of the chassis being set up for display by our registration team. Continue reading
by Kathi Zarka on 10 June, 2014
Conserved Chassis in the Hall
The chassis of this grand old car is now on display in the Museum’s Main Hall until 27 July 2014. Don’t miss this last opportunity to see the ‘craftsmanship behind the car’ before it goes back to the workshop for final conservation treatment. Continue reading
by Vicki Humphrey on 22 May, 2014
Compare this to the before photo in our earlier post: What is it?..and why does it affect our treatment approach?
The excitement is building as we prepare the Daimler chassis for a public viewing for the Queen’s birthday weekend. And the Daimler is getting its bling on!
We decided to keep as much of the original chrome work as possible – we discovered a good polish brought it up beautifully. There is some evidence of pitting but as there was no underlying corrosion, the chrome work is sound and important as a record of the original craftsmanship. Unfortunately there were some parts that had underlying corrosion and needed treatment. The ongoing corrosion would have resulted in continuing loss of chrome and deterioration of original parts. For these reasons we had to treat the metal and have it rechromed. Continue reading
by Vicki Humphrey on 20 April, 2014
In the beginning was a cylinder of solid steel, soon to be a crankshaft.
On the 7-8th April, Ainslie Greiner and Ian Stewart travelled to Melbourne to visit Crankshaft Rebuilders. They took the original block from the Royal Daimler with them. The idea was to get the block line-bored and the new crankshaft test fitted to the block – this allows for finalised fitting to the bearings. This also provided Ian with the necessary information to manufacture a new rear main oil seal carrier on his return to the Museum.
Ainslie and Ian were very impressed with the work to date on the crankshaft. It has been made from one piece of metal (billeted) and is a precision piece of engineering. Continue reading
by Catrina Vignando on 17 April, 2014
Filming the Royal Daimler chassis at the conservation lab, photo by G Serras
The Museum’s Royal Daimler is the subject of a new feature film called When the Queen Came to Town that celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 1954 Royal visit.
The film looks at the legacy and the impact of this Royal visit on Australian popular culture and features the Museum’s Royal Daimler car. The film includes footage of the work the dedicated conservation team at the Museum have undertaken to bring this special car back to its former glory. Continue reading
by Catrina Vignando on 28 March, 2014
The Royal Daimler Project is speeding along and we are getting close to our fundraising finishing line.
We have developed a video documenting some of the work we have been doing with the support we have received from members of the public. This video includes interviews with the National Museums’ automotive engineers and conservators and gives a sense of the work involved in bringing the Royal Daimler back to its former glory.
We need to raise a further $30,000to reach our goal of $60,000 by July this year.
Help us get the car over the line and become a Royal Daimler Conservation Partner.
by Catrina Vignando on 6 March, 2014
RACA members at the NMA
The dust covers came off, the conservation team were on hand and the engines came to life at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
It was one of those rare moments when the spark of history is tangible. Where the smell of old engines conjures bygone stories and brings history racing in to the present. This was the rare experience witnessed by the members of the Royal Automobile Club Car Motoring Enthusiasts Group who came to Hear History Hum at the National Museum. Continue reading
by Vicki Humphrey on 19 February, 2014
Chris van Schaardenburgh (left) and Stuart Wilkinson (right) with the Daimler de 36 at Coventry Transport Museum.
On the 13th February, I had the good fortune to visit the Coventry Transport Museum to see the Daimler de36 Landaulette in their collection. Many thanks to Stuart Wilkinson, the Chairman of the Transport for organising the visit, driving me there and accompanying me throughout the visit. As usual with the vehicle community, he was really generous with time and information and has continued to chase up Daimler related things for us. Thanks also to Peter Grant for putting me in touch with Stuart. This really is a car community effort.
Thanks also to Chris van Schaardenburgh, the curator of vehicles at the Museum. Continue reading
