Online Catalogue last updated 15th of September 2008
By Anthony R. Thomas and Joseph L. Thomas
The Highways Act of 1896 led to the development of a whole new breed of light steam vehicles. Amongst these were the Simpson-Bodman, later to become the Simpson-Bibby.
Alley & Macllelan of Glasgow had been making marine steam engines, air compressors and other ships machinery for more than 30 years before they bought the Simpson-Bibby patents and built the first 'Sentinel' steam waggons in 1905.
In 1915 Alley's moved the steam waggon manufacturing to a new factory at Shrewsbury and in 1918 Stephen Alley sold all his shares in A & M and bought the Shrewsbury works.
The original 'Standard' Sentinels continued to be made until the introduction of a new model in 1923 known as the 'Super-Sentinel', Developments of the Super included tractors, stationary engines and rail locomotives,
Later the Company went on to build the 'DG' (Double Geared) and 'S' model steam waggons; they also tried I.C. (Internal Combustion) engined vehicles with the acquisition of Garners in 1934, which they sold in 1937, and again after the war with their own diesel lorries and buses,
This first photograph album covers the Simpson-Bodman and Simpson-Bibby waggons, the Glasgow and Shrewsbury built Standards, and the Super-Sentinel waggons with their tractor and stationary engine derivatives, the last of which was made in 1930.
Code No. 004720, 155 pages, $43.00