Alex Moulton facts for kids

Alexander Eric Moulton (April 9, 1920 – December 9, 2012) was a brilliant English engineer and inventor. He was especially known for designing suspension systems for vehicles. Suspension systems are what help a car or bike ride smoothly over bumps.

A 1965/66 Moulton "New Look" Standard M1 bicycle

Early Life and Education

Alex Moulton's great-grandfather, Stephen Moulton, started a family business. This company, George Spencer, Moulton & Co. Ltd, made rubber products. It was located in Bradford-on-Avon, England.

Alex went to Marlborough College for his schooling. Later, he studied at the University of Cambridge. He attended King's College there.

What Did Alex Moulton Do?

During World War II, Alex Moulton worked on designing engines. He worked for the Bristol Aeroplane Company. After the war, he joined his family's company. They made rubber parts, like those used in train suspensions. Alex helped the company focus on rubber suspension systems for road vehicles.

Inventing New Suspension Systems

In the mid-1950s, Moulton created an experimental rubber suspension. It was tested on a Morris Minor car. His friend, Alec Issigonis, heard about his work. Together, they designed a special fluid and rubber suspension. This was for a new Alvis car, but it was never produced.

Moulton also designed "Flexitor" rubber springs. These were used in the 1958 Austin Gipsy. This was a tough off-road vehicle.

The Mini Car and Hydrolastic Suspension

In 1956, the family business was bought by the Avon Rubber Company. After this, Moulton started his own company. It was called Moulton Developments Limited. His goal was to design the suspension for the British Motor Corporation's new small car, the Mini. Alec Issigonis was designing the Mini.

Moulton's design used special conical rubber springs and small wheels. This was a very clever idea. It helped Issigonis make the Mini very small overall. This design was later improved. It became the hydrolastic and hydragas suspension systems. These systems were used in many later British Leyland cars. Some examples include the Austin Maxi and the Rover Metro.

The Moulton Bicycle

Alex Moulton also designed a unique bicycle. It was called the Moulton bicycle and came out in 1962. Like his car suspensions, it used rubber suspension and small wheels. A factory was built in Bradford-on-Avon. Soon, Moulton Bicycles Ltd became one of the biggest bike frame makers in the country.

Awards and Honours

Alex Moulton received many awards for his engineering work.

• He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1976. This was for his great work in industry.
• He won the Queen's Award for Technical Innovation in 1967.
• He received honorary degrees from several universities. These included the Royal College of Art and the University of Bath.
• He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in 1980.

Personal Life

Alex Moulton lived in a beautiful 17th-century house. It was called The Hall, Bradford-on-Avon. He was a member of Brooks's gentlemen's club in London.

Moulton passed away on December 9, 2012, in Bath. His funeral was attended by many "Moultoneers." These were people from all over the world who admired his work. He was buried in the family grave in Bradford-on-Avon. He never married and had no children.

Legacy

Alex Moulton left his home, The Hall, to a charitable trust. This trust is now called the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust. It works to keep the Hall and its collections safe. It also helps promote engineering and design.

The Moulton Bicycle name has continued to be used. Since 2008, a company has been making Moulton Bicycles. Their factory is near The Hall.