- Bristol Aircraft Ltd
- Filton, South Gloucestershire
- In late 1919 the entire assets of British & Colonial Aeroplane Co were transferred to a new company, Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd. The old company was wound up in 1920. An engine department was formed in 1920 and, under pressure from the Air Ministry, the company bought the failing aero-engine division of Cosmos Engineering Co, of Filton, Bristol. Shares in the Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd were offered in 1935, but it was restructured in 1944 with three divisions: Aircraft, Aero‑engines and Armament. During the Second World War the company supplied Beaufighter, Blenheim and Beaufort aircraft to the Royal Air Force. A shadow factory was set up in Weston-Super-Mare during 1940. In response to the Brabazon Committee Report 1949 the company created the unsuccessful Brabazon airliner prototype and later the Britannia. The company’s aircraft and engine operations were split in 1956 as Bristol Aircraft Ltd and Bristol Aero Engines Ltd, both with head offices at Filton. In 1958 Bristol Aero Engines Ltd merged with Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd to form Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd, before finally being purchased by Rolls-Royce in 1966. Bristol Aircraft Ltd remained a key UK aircraft manufacturer until merging into British Aircraft Corporation in 1960.
- Bristol Jupiter II 400hp (1923); Jupiter III 400hp (1923); Jupiter IIV 430hp (1926); Jupiter V 480hp (1925); Jupiter VI 480/520hp (1927); Jupiter VIA 415/440hp (1927); Jupiter VIFH 415/440hp (1932); Jupiter VIFL 415/440hp (1932); Jupiter VIFM 415/440hp (1932); Jupiter VIFS 415/440hp (1932); Jupiter VII 375hp (1928); Jupiter VIIF 375hp (1929); Jupiter VIIF.P 480hp (1930); Jupiter VIII 440hp (1929); Jupiter VIIIF 460hp (1929); Jupiter VIIIF.P 460hp (1929); Jupiter IX 525hp (n.d.); Jupiter IX 550hp (n.d.); Jupiter X 470hp (n.d.); Jupiter XF 540hp (n.d.); Jupiter XFA 483hp (n.d.); Jupiter XFAM 580hp (n.d.); Jupiter XFBM 580hp (n.d.); Jupiter XFS (n.d.); Jupiter XI (n.d.); Jupiter XIF 500hp (n.d.); Jupiter XIF.P 525hp (n.d.); Orion I (1926); Lucifer I (1919); Lucifer II 122hp (n.d.); Lucifer III 118hp (1923); Lucifer IV 140hp (1925); Cherub I 32hp (1923); Cherub II 34hp (1924); Cherub III 36hp (1924); Titan I 205hp (1928); Titan IV 205hp (1928); Neptune I 290hp (1930); Mercury I 808hp (1926); Mercury II 420hp (1928); Mercury IIA 440hp (1928); Mercury III 485hp (1929); Mercury IIIA (n.d.); Mercury IV 485hp (1929); Mercury IVA 510hp (1931); Mercury IVS.2 510hp (1932); Mercury (short stroke) 390hp (n.d.); Mercury V 546hp (n.d.); Mercury VIS 605hp (1933); Mercury VISP 605hp (1931); Mercury VIS.2 605hp (1933); Mercury VIA 575hp (1928); Mercury VII 560hp (n.d.); Mercury VIII 825hp (1935); Mercury VIIIA 825hp (n.d.); Mercury VIIIA 535hp (n.d.); Mercury IX 825hp (1935); Mercury X 820hp (1937); Mercury XI 820hp (1937); Mercury XII 820hp (1937); Mercury XV 825hp (1938); Mercury XVI 830hp (n.d.); Mercury XX 810hp (1940); Mercury 25 825hp (1941); Mercury 26 825hp (1941); Mercury 30 810hp (1941); Mercury 31 810hp (1945); Pegasus IF 546hp (n.d.); Pegasus IM 590hp (1932); Pegasus IM.2 590hp (1933); Pegasus IM.3 590hp (1933); Pegasus IS.2 546hp (n.d.); Pegasus IS.3 550hp (1933); Pegasus IU.2 575hp (1928); Pegasus IU.2P 575hp (n.d.); Pegasus IU.3 575hp (n.d.); Pegasus IU.3P 535hp (n.d.); Pegasus IIL.3 625hp (1934); Pegasus IIM 620hp (1934); Pegasus IIM.2P 625hp (n.d.); Pegasus IIM.3 620hp (1934); Pegasus IIU 595hp (n.d.); Pegasus LC 595hp (n.d.); Pegasus MC 595hp (n.d.); Pegasus IIM.2 690hp (1935); Pegasus IIIM.3 690hp (1935); Pegasus IIIS.2 700hp (1935); Pegasus IV 700hp (1933); Pegasus V 690hp (1935); Pegasus VI 690hp (1937); Pegasus PE.6S 500hp (n.d.); Pegasus VIP 690hp (n.d.); Pegasus VII 620hp (n.d.); Pegasus VIII 700hp (n.d.); Pegasus IX 725hp (1934); Pegasus X 980hp (1936); Pegasus XC 900hp (1936); Pegasus XI 850hp (1936); Pegasus XII 850hp (1936); Pegasus XIII 960hp (n.d.); Pegasus XV 725hp (n.d.); Pegasus XVII 815hp (1937); Pegasus XVIII 815hp (1937); Pegasus XIX 835hp (n.d.); Pegasus XX 835hp (1937); Pegasus 21 835hp (n.d.); Pegasus 22 835hp (1937); Pegasus 22 LR 835hp (1937); Pegasus 23 800hp (n.d.); Pegasus 24 800hp (n.d.); Pegasus 25 1010hp (n.d.); Pegasus 26 1010hp (n.d.); Pegasus 27 1010hp (n.d.); Pegasus 29 1010hp (n.d.); Pegasus 30 775hp (n.d.); Pegasus 32 890hp (n.d.); Pegasus 38 805hp (n.d.); Pegasus 48 805hp (n.d.); Draco 540hp (n.d.); Phoenix I 470hp (1928); Phoenix IIM 470hp (1932); Hydra Double Octagon 870hp (1931); Perseus I 515hp (1932); Perseus I.A 515hp (1932); Perseus II-L 665hp (1932); Perseus III 665hp (1932); Perseus VIII 745hp (1936); Perseus X 750hp (n.d.); Perseus XA 860hp (1939); Perseus XI 745hp (1939); Perseus XII 905hp (1939); Perseus XIIC 815hp (1939); Perseus XII-CI 815hp (1939); Perseus XIV-C 710hp (1939); Perseus XVI 745hp (1939); Perseus XVIC 745hp (1939); Aquila I 600hp (1934); Taurus II 1060hp (1940); Taurus III 935hp (n.d.); Taurus VI 985hp (n.d.); Taurus XII 985hp (1940); Taurus XVI 985hp (1940); Taurus XX (n.d.); Hercules I 1150hp (1936); Hercules II 1375hp (1938); Hercules III 1400hp (1939); Hercules IV 1380hp (1939); Hercules HY1380hp (1939); Hercules V 1380hp (1939); Hercules VI 1615hp (1941); Hercules VII (n.d.); Hercules VIII 1650hp (n.d.); Hercules X 1420hp (1941); Hercules XI 1590hp (1941); Hercules XII (n.d.); Hercules XIV 1500hp (1942); Hercules XVMT 1650hp (n.d.); Hercules XVI 1615hp (1942); Hercules XVII 1725hp (1943); Hercules XVIII (n.d.); Hercules XIX 1725hp (1943); Hercules XX (n.d.); Hercules 36 (n.d.); Hercules 38 (n.d.); Hercules 100 1675hp (n.d.); Hercules 101 1675hp (n.d.); Hercules 105 1675hp (n.d.); Hercules 106 1675hp (n.d.); Hercules 110 (n.d.); Hercules 120 1715hp (n.d.); Hercules 130 1600hp (n.d.); Hercules 134 (n.d.); Hercules 200 (n.d.); Hercules 216 (n.d.); Hercules 230 1925hp (n.d.); Hercules 232 (n.d.); Hercules 234 (n.d.); Hercules 238 (n.d.); Hercules 260 (n.d.); Hercules 264 1950hp (n.d.); Hercules 268 (n.d.); Hercules 270 (n.d.); Hercules 630 1675hp (n.d.); Hercules 632 1690hp (n.d.); Hercules 634 1690hp (n.d.); Hercules 636 (n.d.); Hercules 637-2 (n.d.); Hercules 637-3 (n.d.); Hercules 638 1690hp (n.d.); Hercules 656 (n.d.); Hercules 672 1690hp (n.d.); Hercules 730 2040hp (n.d.); Hercules 732 (n.d.); Hercules 734 1980hp (n.d.); Hercules 736 2040hp (n.d.); Hercules 738 (n.d.); Hercules 739 (n.d.); Hercules 750 (n.d.); Hercules 758 (n.d.); Hercules 760 (n.d.); Hercules 762 2080hp (n.d.); Hercules 772 1965hp (n.d.); Hercules 790 (n.d.); Centaurus I 2000hp (n.d.); Centaurus IV 2300hp (n.d.); Centaurus V 2500hp (n.d.); Centaurus VI 2500hp (n.d.); Centaurus VII 2400hp (n.d.); Centaurus VIII 2500hp (n.d.); Centaurus IX 2500hp (n.d.); Centaurus X 2500hp (n.d.); Centaurus XI 2500hp (n.d.); Centaurus XII 2300hp (n.d.); Centaurus XV 2300hp (n.d.); Centaurus XVIII 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus XX 2360hp (n.d.); Centaurus 57 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 58 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 59 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 70 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 71 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 100 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 130 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 160 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 161 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 165 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 170 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 173 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 175 (n.d.); Centaurus 373 2370hp (n.d.); Centaurus 568 2470hp (n.d.); Centaurus 630 2450hp (n.d.); Centaurus 631 2450hp (n.d.); Centaurus 660 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 661 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 662 2625hp (n.d.); Centaurus 663 2405hp (n.d.).
J Pudney, Bristol fashion (1960); C H Barnes, Bristol Aircraft since 1910 (1964); D N James, The Bristol Aeroplane Company (2001).
Articles of association 1910-61 [RR CO/1]; board and general meeting minutes 1910-69 [RR AD1/1-7]; board meeting minutes: 1922-43 [BAE AD1], engine division 1944-55 [RR AD1/43].; board committee meeting minutes 1919-44 [RR AD1/22-34]; annual general meeting transcripts 1936-40 [RR AD1/11]; Weston-super-Mare factory board meeting minutes 1940-45 [RR AD1/12]; housing division board meeting minutes 1950-54 [RR AD1/13]; share papers 1910-66; [RR CO/2]; registers of seals 1948-69 [CO/6]; quarterly report to board re head office work 1943 [BAE AD10/1]; directors' reports and accounts 1935-65 [BAE AC10]; account book 1920-21 [BAE AC4/1]; expenditure statement, final accounts 1948-71 [BAE AC7]; accounts: 1955-59 [RR AC5/151-155], welfare association 1943-48 [RR AC5/142-144], aircraft division 1947-52 [RR AC5/145-148], car and light engineering division 1947 [RR AC5/149]; ledgers 1920-70 [RR AC1/9-27]; cash books 1920-70 [RR AC2/9-35]; bought day books 1920-37 [RR AC3/19-44]; sales and other journals 1920-60 [RR AC4/17-43]; accounts, reports and cheque registers 1935-72 [RR AC5/5-141]; housing balance sheet and profit and loss account 1947 [RR AC5/151]; technical drawings 20th cent [BAE DO1]; annual training report 1953 [BAE AD10/2]; shadow factory memoranda 1939-45 [RR P4/1]; review of shadow industry production engines 1936-37 [RR P8/1]; maintenance manuals, schedules of spare parts, handling and servicing notes, spare parts catalogues and other related material for various aircraft 20th cent [BAE ET2]; records re Bristol type aircraft production and engines 1911-2006 [BAE ET3]; material re various Bristol projects 20th cent. [BAE HER/1]; publications: Bristol Review 1931-59 [BRIS REV], The Bristol Quarterly 1953-59 [BRIS QUAR]; photographic negatives and prints, incl aircraft, staff, flying school and factory 1910-c.2010 [BAE PH1, BAE PH2 & BAE PH4]; company photographs and other copyright photographs re Bristol companies 1910s-70s [LAM]; company photographs 20th cent. [RR/ADD, RR/PH2]; press and magazine advertisements 1931-39 [BAE P7/3-4]; press cuttings re aviation 1910-2012 [BAE P9]; photographs of company’s posters c.1939-40 [BAE P8/1]; employee register 1937-39 [BAE AD3/6]; salaries books 1923-1937 [BAE AD3/3-5, 7-8]; papers of Eric Ross, company architect, incl photographs, publicity material and plans 1944-59 [KEM C/1]; building and site plans, 20th cent. [BAE DO1/SITE]; visitors book 1917-82 [BAE SP5/VB/2/1]; sources on subjects re aviation and company’s aircraft 20th cent. [KEM REF].
Bristol Aeroplane Trust Co: board meeting minutes 1954-68 [RR AD1/9], general meeting minutes 1930-61 [RR AD1/10], accounts 1954-66 [RR AC5/178].
Bristol Aeroplane Co (Western) Ltd: board meeting minutes and accounts 1956-59 [RR AD1/21]; register of seals 1946-54 [RR CO/5].
Drawings, papers and photographs 1912-63 [X003-8876]; drawing registers re Belvedere helicopter c.1950s [X003-8876]; drawings re Bulldog n.d.[MAC037597-039999; MAC041631-045413; Blenheim test reports n.d. [X003-8876]; tenders for Air Ministry specifications 1935-36 [X003-8876]; type records re Beaufighter, Britannia and Type 170 n.d. [X003-8876]; lecture notes on the Britannia's airframe and systems n.d. [X003-8876]; meeting notes re shadow production of Bristol Hercules engines 1939 [B960]; correspondence with Major J L Cordes 1940s [AC97/75/38]; flying logbooks of C F Uwins, chief test pilot c.1919-49 [B1025-1035]; project brochures submitted to Air Ministry and successors 1950s-70s [AC94/2781-180, 455-456]; house magazines: Bristol Quarterly 1953-58, Bristol Review 1958-59 [Library]; photograph albums and press cuttings n.d. [X003-8876]; company Christmas card 1947 [A490].
Various records 1910-60.
Early books and registers, notebooks, plans and marketing material 1910-38 [bri]; Notebooks containing rough calculations for airscrew and aircraft designs incl F2A, F2C, F3A and Bristol types 92-113 1913-38 [bri/3/3/1]; correspondence and reports re experimental work on hydro aeroplane and winged artillery projectile projects 1912-32 [bri/3/4/1]; F S Barnwell: calculations, reports, etc, on airscrews, wings and aircraft (20 files) 1926-36 [nal hub], papers re McRobertson London-Melbourne air race 1933-34 [w/bri]; design study for Bristol type 173 helicopter to Ministry of Supply specification c.1949 [bri/3/4/3]; miscellaneous general arrangement plans 1931-59 [bri/3/2/3]; consultant reports: no.1253 re sales possibilities of aero engines 1921, no.1258 engine requirements in the light of progress in aeroplane design 1921, no.1319 proposed Bristol 24 seater land plane 1922, no.1363 Bristol fighter claim 1922, no.1386 Bristol 'Bloodhound' 1923, nos.1362, 1368, 1381-3, Bristol 10-seater tests 1922-23, no.1410 Bristol freight carrier 1924, no.1360-61 and 1375-76 Bristol fighter claim 1923 [ogi/4/41, ogi/5/2, ogi/6/9, ogi/7/50-53, 58, 65-66, 71-73, 76, 100]; specifications: Bristol aeroplanes c.1914 [basement pamphlet]; no.39/34 re Bristol type 148 army co-operation aircraft 1935 [library cupboard third floor]; technical data sheets for Hercules 672, 673, 730, 750, 760, 761, 762, 763, Centaurus 18, 57, 568, 660, 661, Theseus and Proteus 2 1950 [archive room bay 1]; construction details of Bristol Bulldog Mk IIA 1933 [basement pamphlet]; design study for Bristol type 173 for Ministry of Supply 1953 [archive room]; notes on installation, running and maintenance re Lucifer series IIIA engine 1926 [basement pamphlet]; maintenance manuals: Jupiter I series IV 1926, Jupiter series VI 1927 [library cupboard]; maintenance notes: Jupiter series VI engine 1927, 31/36hp Bristol Cherub series III 1927, Lucifer series IV 1927, Bristol Mercury air-cooled radial engine 1937 [library cupboard]; instruction book re Bristol Perseus XIIC 1939 [library cupboard]; progress charts and office programme re type 167 Brabazon aircraft 1945 [basement pamphlet]; type record re Beaufighter I, VI and X, addendum no.2 to Beaufighter I AM specification 17/39 1943 [library cupboard]; illustrations, photographs and tables re Jupiter series VII/F 1930 and Fighter Mk IV 1928 [farnborough restricted section]; catalogue of spare parts for Bristol military 80hp two-seater monoplane 1912 [basement pamphlet]; brochures and marketing materials 1910-64 [bri]; pamphlets: Bristol racing biplane and monoplane 1914 [2e pamphlet], Bristol Aeroplane Co, reprinted from The Aeroplane c.1919 [basement pamphlet], Jupiter air-cooled engine 1926 [5e pamphlet], Jupiter series VI 1926 [5e pamphlet], Bristol Mercury 1932 [5e pamphlet], Bristol Bulldog (2) 1933 [2e pamphlet], sleeve-valve and turbine engines c.1948 [f historic pamphlets 52], Brabazon project 1950 [library cupboard third floor], Bristol monoplanes (French) n.d. [basement pamphlet], Bristol aircraft 1957 [basement pamphlet]; Zodiaz aeroplanes n.d. [basement pamphlet]; general description brochures: type 171 Mk IV c.1952, type 173 twin-rotor helicopter c.1952, Britannia four-engine air-liner c.1952, type 171 Mk III c.1950 [basement pamphlet]; marketing brochures: company n.d. [f historic pamphlets 52], Bristol Brabazon souvenir 1950 [NAL hub]; short history of Bristol Aeroplane Co with general information on the Bristol biplane 1911-14 [basement pamphlet]; photographs: general arrangement drawing of Bristol B1/39 bomber project type 159 1939 [M101877]; Fairey Gyrodyne with starboard engine and propellor only n.d. [M101631, M101626], trial loading of Sycamore helicopter into a Bristol Freighter (5) n.d. [M101583-7]; letters to the war office re Filton works extensions 1916-18 [library cupboard]; staff magazines: Bristol Review 1930-36, Bristol Quarterly 1954-59, Bristol Siddeley Journal 1959-67 [bri].
Type record sheets and selected assembly drawings, prototype Mark 1 Brabazon aircraft (171 files) 1945-48 [AVIA47]; Contract for production of Bristol aero engines with Austin Motor Co Ltd, Rootes Securities Ltd, Daimler Co Ltd, Standard Motor Co Ltd, Rover Co Ltd, Wolseley Motor Co Ltd and Singer & Co Ltd 1936-38 [TS28/272]; technical notes for Bristol aero engines 1940 [AIR10/3151].
Descriptive notes, data sheets, manuals, marketing brochures, company reports, service reports, design and manufacturing programmes, schedules of equipment and manuals 1920s-70s [Trade Literature Collection].
Memorandum and articles of association, Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd, 1941-48 [35810/GW/T/29].
Notes and instructions re Bristol Hercules engine n.d. [YA1987.637].
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
Bristol Pegasus air-cooled radial engine 1939-40, Bristol Hercules 130-131 n.d., Bristol Hercules 630 series n.d.
Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum
Manuals: Hercules XII engine n.d. [1985/229.1], Hercules engines n.d. [2002/51.10], Hercules sleeve-valve engines n.d. [2001/103.1] Centaurus series engines n.d. [2002/307.3], Hercules Mk230 engine-AP4261A n.d. [2004/355.65], Hercules 630 and 672 engine maintenance n.d. [2007/266.3], Pegasus 38 and 48 engines issue 334 n.d. [2009/208.23], AP102B-4230-6A Hercules 230 engine n.d. 2017/1.2], AP102B-4216-1B Hercules 216 engine n.d. [2017/1.5]; Hercules XI engine notes n.d. [2002/307.1]; booklets: Bristol engines n.d. [2003/362.3], Bristol Mercury and Pegasus engines n.d. [2004/355.71]; RAF Training School Bristol Hercules general and handling course notes n.d. [2025/38.3].