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We're still receiving materials regarding coachbuilder Vincents of Reading. Richard Peskett is researching the history of his Belsize Van, wich apparently was commissioned by Wellsteeds, also from reading.
"I read with interest your entry on the web site about Vincents of Reading and in particular Louise Vincents interest. I own the Belsize van with Vincent bodywork as per the attached illustration. It is believed the van started life in 1912/13 with Wellsteeds, ladies drapers , Reading. Image of the shop front in the mid 1920s herewith along with copy of an invoice dated 1915 found under the drivers seat during restoration. When I bought the van a couple of years ago the first question was why did a Reading shop buy a van chassis from Manchester ? , the answer was in the 1913 North of England Motor Show catalogue, it would seem that Vincents were agents for Belsize , catalogue entries attached. The van appears to have always been dried stored and was acquired by Veteran Car club member Roy Gilbert back in 1954, eventually being restored previous to my acquisition. (editor: click here for more Wellsteeds vans )
An original image of the van showing its original registration has so far alluded me , this was obviously missing when acquired by Roy and has never been established, I can only assume that it is Reading issued around DP 700 /750. Ironically I have in my library the original 'heavy motor car' registers for Reading 1904/20 but the van is not in this category. In view of no original image available when with Wellsteeds I have had the van written as an exhibit at the 1913 North of England show. The van had already been finished in the Violet/Purple before I acquired it, I assume as it is a somewhat unusual colour it is based on original colour found during restoration, if original , but only conjecture , it is one of the Suffragette colours so was the owner of Wellsteeds in those pre Great War days a Suffragette ?.
Any further information will be much appreciated."
Richard Peskett
Finally we wouldn't be PreWaCar if we also would like to ID the two cars in front of Wellsteeds, the right one being too fast or too late to be fully captured with gelatin silver...