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Westbury
United Kingdom
2047 Posts |
 Posted - 12/05/2022 : 17:05:16
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When working on my N type Special I found this business card for the late Stuart Tate of Silsden, Yorkshire,inside the bodywork. I bought the car from Stuart’s estate some time ago and wondered if anyone has any memories of Stuart or had any work done by him.
Any information would be gratefully received. I should say that Stuart had quite a passion for the N Magnette and had, over time, collected quite a collection of N type chassis!
Chris
Business card as found:-
Stuart in his workshop:-
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Edited by - Westbury on 12/05/2022 17:07:41 |
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paul55
Luxembourg
732 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2022 : 18:47:54
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Chris, yes! although I never met Stuart in person I did buy one of his N chassis (in perfect condition) and lots of other original pre-war MG parts axles, ENV gearboxes etc, via the guy who was dealing with his estate. At the time Stuart was in a home that was helping with the issues that he had. I remember looking in his workshop / garage with a Lister Special parked there, it was offered to me at what seems now a fantasic price, but I declined!! There were all sorts of machines there, lathes, milling machines, and line boring machines all for sale...wasn't aware that he had passed on. But he was a PROPER MG enthuisast.
Paul |
Edited by - paul55 on 12/05/2022 18:49:06 |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2047 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2022 : 07:50:09
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Thanks, Paul.
Agreed. I met Stuart a number of times, the last being at VSCC Oulton Park, he was taken there by his friend,Peter Sutcliffe in his own N type. It was obvious that Stuart was very poorly then.
His workshop was well equipped with an impressive collection of machines and equipment and he was obviously a very competent engineer.
I remember there being a tremendous amount of MG spares and engineering equipment for sale. Very sad.
Chris |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3114 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2022 : 08:12:08
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Stuart or Stewart?
Sam |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2047 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2022 : 08:18:16
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Thanks, Sam.
I wondered who would be the first to spot my deliberate mistake!!
Chris |
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Colin Butchers
United Kingdom
1487 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2022 : 10:36:33
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Lister or Lester ?
Colin B. |
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spatek
United Kingdom
220 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2022 : 12:38:45
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| Lester surely |
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tonym
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2022 : 17:23:49
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Certainly Stuart and Lester.
To be more specific it was the "Leonard MG"£
I knew Stuart for many, many years - he lived about 150 yards away from me. That was very handy with issues with my cars !
Initially he lived in North Leeds, after a falling out with Mrs Tate he moved to Silsden. Initially, in Silsden, he had his workshop on the top floor of a nearby mill. He had to hire a large crane to get his heavy equipment up there. The mill did have a lift but it was the sort that if you were taking a block up to him, you put the block in the lift, pressed the button and climbed the stairs to collect it on the fourth floor ! After he left the mill all his kit was then transferred to the cellar [which had flat outside access] of his home.
The Lester was in Leeds & Silsden for many years & I was one of the very few to get a ride in it when he finally got it running. I remember it as very low and very fast - even without the supercharge.
Stuart was an excellent MMM engineer - a Stuart job usually [after some time] was perfect He did his own white metalling. I remember once being in his garage when the white metal salesman came to visit - I never knew such a thing existed.
He re-whitemetalled my block about 1969 - the metalling was still perfect when the crank broke in about 2015. He also did engine engineering for Naylor Bros the T-Type lot. I took my VA engine to BNaylors in 1967 for a full rebuild and only discovered, some 30odd years later that Stuart had done the job.
Very sadly the Alzheimers got to him & he died quite q few years ago.
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2047 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2022 : 21:18:21
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Thank you, Tony for your fascinating story, just what I was looking for and much appreciated.
You will be able to read more about the car in the current Yearbook.
Regards and thanks again,
Chris |
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Colin Butchers
United Kingdom
1487 Posts |
Posted - 14/05/2022 : 10:51:00
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My comment about "Lister or Lester" was a bit of a leg-pull. Chris "Westbury" tells me that the car carries a Lester badge on the dashboard, but there is a fairly strong belief that Lionel Leonard was responsible for most of the car - which of course, in Leonard's hands put up some incredible performances in its day. The story I have is that Leonard got Harry Lester to make only the nose-cone for the car, but never paid for it, as he said that it caused overheating.
I don't know whether it is true or not, but it adds a rather delightful "extra" to the history of the car. I am looking forward very much to seeing the car "up and running" again, one of these days.
Colin B. |
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Richard Hardy
United Kingdom
2165 Posts |
Posted - 14/05/2022 : 11:14:31
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I knew Stuart Tate pretty well. Too much to type and quite a character. I took my girlfriend (know the long suffering Jill of VMGP) to Stuart’s workshop 28 years ago. His opening comment was;
‘As beautiful and gorgeous looking as you are, sadly over time, you will change, but you are not expected to know this at the time. They all change’. Stuart then looked at me and said;
‘Do you want me to get you a short piece of rope now and you can escape now whilst the going is good’.
I think Jill thought I had some pretty odd and eccentric friends!
The first time I met him, I was about 16 years old. He pulled up to an event in his Lester N type. Quite an ugly thing. He had broken down on the way. The car was smelling of burning plastic when he arrived. He lifted the bonnet and there was the remains of a plastic handelled screwdriver which had melted through the exhaust manifold!
Rich
Vintage MG Parts |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6168 Posts |
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tonym
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 14/05/2022 : 16:18:42
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Another Sturt snippet.
He was always dressed in a set of blue overalls - usually very grubby. He wore them at home as well.
The next to last time I saw him was at Silverstone and his pal Peter Sutcliffe [not THAT one] had taken him there and he was dressed in a brand new bright blue set of overalls - probably the first new set for 30 years. Stuart announced to me his disease = although I doubt he knew of its ramifications and progress.
The last time we met was in the workshop in Silsden when Peter was starting to reduce the piles of spares. Stuart probably didn't know who I was and just stood there [in the newish blue overalls]
Stuart spent quite some time shifting his kit and spares from Leeds to Silsden without Mrs T realising. Then one day, whilst she was at work he left and she didn't know. He might have left her a note - I don't know. None of us did. The next time I did the 150 yards to his house for a chat, I was met by a very indignant Mrs T. Apparently it was partly my fault for not telling her about "all these women" !!!
I couldn't imagine him as a womaniser - but then what do I know ?
All very sad
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tonym
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 15/05/2022 : 15:16:04
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A final SV Tate comment
In the mid 70's as well as the Lester/Leonard N-type he owned all the following at the same time.
F1117 RHT478 - seemingly now owned by his son Michael
L0252 JB1646 - the 2nd L chassis now owned by Stuarts pat Peter Sutcliff
L0589
NA0469 HHB103
NA0800 MG3949
and maybe NA0514
There was also a Triumph Gloria
Most of the MG's were a pile of chassis leaning against the garage wall.
Obviously Stuart didn't bother much with 4 cylinder cars/. |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2047 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2022 : 16:03:11
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Many thanks to all especially Tony for his insight into the character that was Stewart.
Good news, the car is no longer ‘ugly’ it has been transformed into a very attractive special of which, I am sure, Lionel Leonard would surely approve !
Chris |
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Richard Hardy
United Kingdom
2165 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2022 : 21:44:21
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Tony, I am the current owner of The N engined F1117. I took it away as a complete car a couple of years ago from its final 43 year resting place, just around the corner from you in Leeds. Ten years of chasing paid off.
Mark Boldry remains the long time and current owner of the L type Continental kit of parts.
Rich
Vintage MG Parts |
Edited by - Richard Hardy on 16/05/2022 21:46:27 |
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