Conservation, Fundraising campaign, History

The Daimler Rolling Chassis

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 “The Daimler Rolling Chassis”

Fundraising campaign, History, Memories

When The Queen Came To Town

by Kathi Zarka on 10 June, 2014

Matinee Fundraiser for 12 June

Put on your royal finery and join us at an exclusive film preview that celebrates the 1954 Royal Visit!

Tickets are $25 and include a 1950s style afternoon tea and raffle with fabulous prizes to be won! All proceeds will go towards the Royal Daimler conservation project.

Screening on Thursday, 12 June from 2 – 3.30pm in the Visions Theatre at the National Museum of Australia.

Conservation, Fundraising campaign, History, Memories

The Royal Daimler stripped back

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 “The Royal Daimler stripped back”

condition, Conservation, treatment

A little bit of bling and some very fine work!

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! Continue reading “A little bit of bling and some very fine work!”

condition, Conservation, Fundraising campaign, treatment

Crankshaft – the story so far

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.

Continue reading “Crankshaft – the story so far”
Conservation, Fundraising campaign, Memories

Filming the Royal Daimler

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.

Continue reading “Filming the Royal Daimler”
condition, Conservation, Fundraising campaign, treatment

Interview with the conservators

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. Continue reading “Interview with the conservators”

Conservation, History

Riding in Style

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.

Continue reading “Riding in Style”