madeinpe


Coal Gas Bus in Perth (1937)   Recently updated !

A Highland Scotland gas driven bus demonstrated at Perth, filmed by British Pathé. Various shots of an ordinary looking bus. Various shots of engine and mechanisms inside bus. The bus is unusual as it is powered by gas produced from coal (“anthracite”). The coal converted into gas inside the bus. […]


The Kay Gyroplane (Autogyro)

The First Kay Gyroplane (Type 32/1) was designed by David Kay of Blackford and John Grieve of Scone. (Kay was, with his brother Andrew, partners in Kay’s Garage, located in Moray Street, Blackford.) The gyroplane was built at Shields Garage on Perth’s Dunkeld Road and was powered by an ABC […]


Blackburn R.B.3A Perth Flying Boat

In 1933, a gigantic (for the time) and very powerful ‘flying battleship’ for the RAF named the Blackburn Perth was built and launched. The cost was about £50,000 (equivalent to £4.5 million today). The Perth flying boat was created mainly for over-sea observation, reconnaissance and coastal patrol, but it had […]


RAF Airfields in (& close) to Perthshire during the Second World War   Recently updated !

Some abbreviations used: SLG – Satellite Landing Ground OTU – Operational Training Unit PAFU – (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit SNCO – Senior Non-Commissioned Officer OR – Other Ranks WAAF – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force EFTS – Elementary Flying Training School ERFTS – Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School MU – […]


Royal Naval Stores Depot at Almondbank

By 15 January 1946, all naval stores had been transferred from Perth Ice Rink to a new depot at Almondbank. They had been temporarily kept at the Ice Rink following their dispersion from Coventry due to the bombing by the Luftwaffe. The decision to move all naval stores was taken […]


Big Tanks on Tour in Perth 1941

On Monday 4 August 1941 a tank tour of the UK arrived to in Perth to show to the public three of the latest British tanks, a Valentine and two Matilda’s. The tanks were on show for three days at North and South St. John’s Place, outside St. John’s Kirk […]


The Perth Tank

Perth’s Unwanted Tank. The British Government realised it could capitalise on the public’s fascination with the exciting new fighting ‘tank’ vehicles and raise funds to build more, so it used 6 of them to travel around towns and cities in the UK. A tank would arrive with a fanfare – […]


Perth Silver Band

Perth Silver Band was formed in 1861, /previously known as: Perth Masonic Band and Perth Trades Silver Band. Perth Silver Band, Pictures courtesy of Ken Bruce Bottom row, on the far right is my uncle, Ronnie Spiers, next to him my father, James (Jimmy) Bruce (died 1964). Behind the bandmaster […]