Francis Claude Blake facts for kids

Francis Claude Blake (born March 19, 1867 – died April 10, 1954) was a clever British engineer. He was famous for designing and building cars, boats, and even railway engines. Blake was born in Putney in 1867. He learned his skills at the Nine Elms Locomotive Works. Later, he worked as a designer before starting his own company.

Blake's Engineering Company

In 1896, Francis Blake started his own engineering company. It was called Blake Motors. His first workshop was in Hammersmith, London. The company designed "oil motor carriages." These were early cars powered by engines. Blake even shared designs so people could build their own cars.

By 1901, Blake Motors needed more space. The company moved to a bigger factory in Kew. This new location was right next to Kew Gardens station. Here, Blake's company started making engine parts. They also built complete engines for different uses.

Blake Motors closed down in 1906. The factory in Kew was sold. However, it seems Blake kept working there. He applied for a car patent in 1920. He also sold engineering equipment from the same address in 1922. This suggests he continued making engines and parts for many years.

Car Engines by Blake

Blake designed his first car engine to be very flexible. It could have 1, 2, or 4 cylinders. These engines were cooled by water. They produced 3, 6, or 12 horsepower. The engines usually ran at 800 revolutions per minute (rpm).

Blake's engines had special valves that opened automatically. The main part of the engine, called the crankcase, could be made from cast iron or lighter aluminum. While many engines were for cars, Blake also found uses for them in factories and boats. Some London car makers, like Pritchett and Gold, used Blake's engines.

Early Hybrid Car Engine

In 1904, a special car was built using a Blake engine. It was a prototype petrol-electric car. This means it used both petrol and electricity. The car had a 4-cylinder Blake engine. It produced 14 horsepower. This engine powered a special machine called a dynamo. The dynamo made electricity.

This car was a true hybrid. It had 40 battery cells to store the electricity. It could travel up to 20 miles just on battery power.

Railway Locomotives

In 1902, Blake built a special engine for the Richmond Main Sewerage Board. This was a local water treatment plant. The engine was a small train, called a locomotive. It was used to move coal, chemicals, and sludge. It ran on a narrow railway track.

This locomotive had a 6-horsepower, two-cylinder petrol engine. It was cooled by water. Chains connected the engine to all four wheels. It had two speeds, going 5 or 7 miles per hour. The engine could pull 4.5 tons up a hill. It could pull 10 tons on flat ground. Blake also offered a more powerful 12-horsepower version.

This was one of the first successful petrol locomotives ever built. Another company, Maudslay Motor Company, built an earlier one in 1902. Blake also built at least one more locomotive. It was sent to Port Elizabeth in South Africa. It helped build a dam there. These might be the only railway engines Blake ever made.

Marine Engines for Boats

Blake's engines became very popular for motor boats. In 1903, he created a new, larger range of engines. These were rated from 40 to 50 horsepower. These bigger engines had more advanced valves. They were expected to produce 65 horsepower. Blake also planned a mid-sized engine of 24 to 30 horsepower.

At a big show in 1905, Blake displayed his "well-known Blake marine motors." These were available in 18-24hp and 25-35hp sizes. Blake was very interested in engines for boats. In 1905, he received a patent for a special gear. This gear helped boats go backward. By 1906, his company advertised engines for "Auxiliary Yacht and Launch Work."

Blake engines were even used in some of the first motorized lifeboats. These lifeboats helped save lives at sea. They were used in places like Walton-on-the-Naze, Stronsay, and Donaghadee.

Airship Engine

In 1903, a very different kind of vehicle used a Blake engine. It was an airship built by Captain William Beedle. This airship was like a giant cigar-shaped balloon. It was filled with hydrogen gas. The airship was 93 feet long and 23 feet wide.

A frame hung below the balloon. At the back of this frame was a 12-horsepower Blake motor. This engine powered the main propeller. Other propellers helped steer the airship. The engine was made mostly of lightweight aluminum. It weighed only 180 pounds. The airship itself was not successful. However, the Blake engine worked well.

Images for kids

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  Probably the earliest internal combustion narrow gauge locomotive, the 1902 Blake loco

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  The 1902 Blake narrow gauge locomotive

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  Mechanical details of the Blake loco