In memory of Joseph Lucas and his products

[TruChaos]

If any of you have ever used Lucas electrical products in the past you'll appreciate the following...


Joseph Lucas The Prince of Darkness
1842-1903

A few Lucas quips:

The Lucas motto: Get home before dark.

Lucas is the patent holder for the short circuit.

Lucas - Inventor of the first intermittent wiper.

Lucas - Inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.

The three-position Lucas switch--DIM, FLICKER and OFF. The other three switch settings--SMOKE, SMOLDER and IGNITE.

The Original Anti-Theft Device - Lucas Electrics.

If Lucas made guns, wars would not start

Back in the 70s, Lucas decided to diversify its product line and began manufacturing vacuum cleaners. It was the only product they offered which did not suck.

Q: Why do the British drink warm beer? A: Because Lucas makes their refrigerators.

 

[studor]

Having had an MGB and having friends with Austins I appreciate the humour:thumbsup::thumbsup: I sometimes wonder if the folks at Jinma stole the intellectual property for their electrics from Lucas.

 

[TruChaos]

Having had an MGB and having friends with Austins I appreciate the humour:thumbsup::thumbsup: I sometimes wonder if the folks at Jinma stole the intellectual property for their electrics from Lucas.

Ditto, I had a Herald 1200.

But I have to say, I once pulled the engine put in a new clutch and was driving the car again in 45 minutes. No joke. There was only something like 6 or 8 bolts to remove to pull the engine and they were all right out in the open. I did that before I was old enough to have a license. I drove the car for two years on dirt roads before I turned 16.

 

[Baby Grand]

My first car was a Volvo P1800S.
It had Lucas electric.
My introduction to "The Prince of Darkness".

 

[not2old]

My first car was a Volvo P1800S.
It had Lucas electric.
My introduction to "The Prince of Darkness".

My first car was a 1962 Volvo and when the headlights went out I reached under the hood, wiggled a few wires near the headlight and they would work again for a month or two.

 

[Rich Waugh]

Yeah, I had an Austin Mini Cooper and an MG-TD, both with Lucas electrics. The usual complaints, and frequently. A later Triumph Spitfire had better electrics, somewhat. A friend's Land Rover (1960's vintage) caught fire parked in the garage due to a faulty Lucas voltage regulator. Lucky he didn't lose the house.

I used to ride old Triumph motorcycles, too. Same Lucas issues with them. Of course, you didn't notice the Lucas electric issues as much because they also had Amal carburetors that often rendered the electrics moot.

English oil-strainers, you gotta love 'em!

 

[psj12]

I have a Nuffield tractor that still has Lucas electrical on it. The only thing that works is the American made starter when hooked directly to the battery all other electrical is non functioning.

 

[studor]

If Lucas made flashlights you would have to carry two large batteries in your hip pockets and have a six foot cord to the lamp and oh yeah -- Lucas did not invent the intermittant wiper -- they invented the first headlight - wiper interface though

 

[Travelover]

When I was a kid my brother had an MG and a Norton, both with Lucas electrics. Neither would start on a damp morning. :laughing:

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Do I get the sense there is a high correlation between current Chinese tractor ownership and prior British car ownership? What does that say?

I used to own a Triumph.