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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6546 Posts |
 Posted - 03/02/2025 : 22:02:07
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Frank Ashby & Sons offered Brooklands 'flare screens', described as “quickly detachable supplementary windscreens for cars having fold flat screens” and costing 12/6d each. The chrome plated mounting brackets were screwed to the dashboard and presumably the brackets on the screen itself slid into or clipped onto the dashboard mounted ones.
Has anyone ever come across such screens
Simon J
J3437
P.S. It definitely looks as though there’s an air bag in the passenger's seat. |
Edited by - Simon Johnston on 03/02/2025 22:03:33 |
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tholden
United Kingdom
1669 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2025 : 22:56:33
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Simon I have never seen any of these in use but the ad certainly explains why one of J2's I restored had holes in these positions in its original dash. The door top protection plates shown were also very popular back then.
Terry
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6546 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2025 : 23:15:04
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Thanks, Terry. I’m not sure I’d fit them that way!
Simon J
J3437 |
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Cris DaBica
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2025 : 12:29:49
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Our NB had a windscreen similar to that in period:
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Allan Bentley
United Kingdom
259 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2025 : 12:46:15
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c0294 had these fitted for the 1934 Alpine Trial.
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DK6780
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2025 : 12:53:43
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There was a Advertorial on them in MotorSport June 1933:
quote:
HERE AND THERE
Brooklands Flarescreens.
Nowadays practically every sports car is fitted with a windscreen which can be folded flat. Pleasant and exhilarating as the rush of unimpeded air undoubtedly is, at speeds of over 60 m.p.h. some form of protection is necessary.
It is for this purpose that Frank Ashby & Sons, Ltd., Stirchley, Birmingham, have recently added to their extensive range of ” Brooklands ” equipment for sports cars an accessory known as the ” Flarescreen.” Its design is simplicity itself, for it consists of two sockets, which are permanently fixed to the scuttle, and into which can be fitted the screen itself, a piece of non-inflammable and non-discolouring material known as Bexoid, rimmed with a thin chromium-plated frame. When not required the screen can easily be carried in door pocket or cubbyhole.
The Flarescreen has practically no effect of spoiling stream-lining, and provides adequate protection from insects, dust, and excessive wind-rush so that really high speeds can be indulged in with safety and comfort.
The price is 12s. 6d. each, and the make of car and type of body should be specified When ordering.
An interesting alternative to the more common models, but hard to mount on a lot of cars with a recessed dashboard and narrow combing across the top of the scuttle. I presume that had to bend the tabs on the screen to get a suitable angle. I've never heard of "Bexoid" but bet that it decayed to a yellow finish if left in the sun.
The item in the marvelous period picture of Cris's NB appears to be a variation on the more normal aeroscreen as the glass isn't fully surrounded by the frame. |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2214 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2025 : 14:35:48
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AVRO aeroscreens.
Chris
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DanPA
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2025 : 16:30:16
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Interesting but a bit off-topic: The Chevy trucks used by the Long Range Desert Group carried aero screens, shown in all the photos and models, but no photos I have seen show them actually being used. Normally they are folded down with a canvas cover protecting them. I wonder if they were made by one of our 1930s vendors. Someone thought they would be useful in the desert.
The trucks were made in Canada with right-hand-drive and sourced through Egypt. Cabs and windscreens were removed. These were 1.5 ton trucks, or 30-hundredweight in proper English. Generally overloaded with 2 tons of fuel, supplies, spares and machine guns.
Cheers,
Daniel Shockey |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2214 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2025 : 16:46:49
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Hello, Dan.
Interesting. These same trucks were used by other British Regiments in the Middle East during WW2. I have a picture somewhere of my dad with one of these vehicles where he is wearing goggles.
Chris
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6546 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2025 : 17:56:18
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Not Ashby Brooklands screens, I’m afraid!
So does anyone actually have one of these by any chance?
Simon J
J3437 |
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Simon
United Kingdom
472 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2025 : 15:55:37
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| And still off topic, as a REME N.S. mechanic in 1958 we were still using WW2 trucks including the Bedford 15cwt open cab with flat screens but can't remember much about them. I used to work on the wonderful old Austin K5 4WD forward control "3 tonners". Crash box and they were known as screamers for the back axle noise. Simon C. |
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DanPA
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2025 : 22:00:13
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I happened to come across the attached, a wind wing that could be also used as an aero screen. Looks like a marketing ploy to me. Can't believe it would be useful and the plastic would soon be pitted, I think.
Cheers,
Daniel Shockey |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6546 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2025 : 22:15:45
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Thanks, Dan. An interesting comparison but it’s the Ashby Brooklands one I’m trying to track down.
Simon J
J3437 |
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Topic |
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Ashby 'aero' screens
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