Alex Moulton
Encyclopedia
Dr. Alexander Eric Moulton CBE
(born 9 April 1920) is an English engineer
and inventor, specialising in suspension
design.
Moulton is the great-grandson of the rubber pioneer Stephen Moulton
, the founder of the family business George Spencer Moulton & Co. Ltd., in which he worked after World War II
, specialising in rubber suspension systems for vehicles.
In the late 1950s, after the acquisition of the family business by the Avon Rubber Company, Moulton started up a new company, Moulton Developments Limited
, to design the suspension system for British Motor Corporation
's new small car, the Mini
, being designed by his friend Sir Alec Issigonis
. The combination of conical rubber springs and small wheels was one of the many innovative developments which allowed Issigonis to achieve the Mini's small overall size. This was later refined into the hydrolastic
and hydragas suspension systems used on later British Leyland cars such as the Austin Maxi
and Rover Metro
, and more recently on the MGF
.
Moulton also designed the Moulton Bicycle
, again using rubber suspension and small wheels. Alex Moulton Bicycles is based in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.
, which he signed when he was 71.
for services to industry. Other honours include:
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 9 April 1920) is an English engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and inventor, specialising in suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
design.
Moulton is the great-grandson of the rubber pioneer Stephen Moulton
Stephen Moulton
Stephen Moulton was an Englishman who, as an agent of the U.S. rubber pioneer Charles Goodyear, first brought samples of vulcanized rubber to the UK...
, the founder of the family business George Spencer Moulton & Co. Ltd., in which he worked after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, specialising in rubber suspension systems for vehicles.
In the late 1950s, after the acquisition of the family business by the Avon Rubber Company, Moulton started up a new company, Moulton Developments Limited
Moulton Developments Limited
Moulton Developments Limited is a British company formed by Alex Moulton in the late 1950s to work on the design and development of the suspension system for Alec Issigonis's BMC Mini project, and other projects....
, to design the suspension system for British Motor Corporation
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
's new small car, the Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
, being designed by his friend Sir Alec Issigonis
Alec Issigonis
Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS was a Greek-British designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the groundbreaking and influential development of the Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959.- Early life:Issigonis was born into the Greek community of Smyrna ...
. The combination of conical rubber springs and small wheels was one of the many innovative developments which allowed Issigonis to achieve the Mini's small overall size. This was later refined into the hydrolastic
Hydrolastic
Hydrolastic is a type of space-efficient automotive suspension system used in many cars produced by British Motor Corporation and its successor companies....
and hydragas suspension systems used on later British Leyland cars such as the Austin Maxi
Austin Maxi
The Austin Maxi was a medium sized 5-door hatchback car from British Leyland for the 1970s. It was the first British five speed five-door hatchback.-History:...
and Rover Metro
Rover Metro
The Metro is a supermini car that was produced by the Austin Rover Group division of British Leyland and its successors. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin miniMetro. It was intended to complement the Mini, and was developed under the codename LC8....
, and more recently on the MGF
MGF
MGF may stand for:* MG F, a 1995 mid-engined, rear wheel drive roadster manufactured by the Rover Group* Machine Gun Fellatio, an Australian alternative band* Magnesium fluoride...
.
Moulton also designed the Moulton Bicycle
Moulton Bicycle
Moulton is an English bicycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1962 by Dr Alex Moulton, who designed the "Hydrolastic" and rubber cone suspension systems for the BMC Mini motorcar, and the later "Hydragas" system used by its successor companies....
, again using rubber suspension and small wheels. Alex Moulton Bicycles is based in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.
Golden Book of Cycling
He has an entry in the Golden Book of CyclingGolden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
, which he signed when he was 71.
Honours
In 1976, Moulton was awarded the CBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to industry. Other honours include:
- The Diploma di Medagli d'Oro, Milan (1964)
- Queen's Award for Technical InnovationQueen's Awards for EnterpriseThe Queen's Awards for Enterprise is an awards programme for British businesses and other organizations who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. They are the highest official UK awards for British businesses...
(1967) - Honorary Doctorates from the Royal College of ArtRoyal College of ArtThe Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
(1967), University of BathUniversity of BathThe University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
(1971) and Cranfield UniversityCranfield UniversityCranfield University is a British postgraduate university based on two campuses, with a research-oriented focus. The main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire and the second is the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom based at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. The main campus is unique in the United...
(1994) - Elected to the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry (1968), Master of the Faculty from 1981-1983
- Fellow of The Royal Academy of EngineeringRoyal Academy of Engineering-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
(1980) - Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 1985 to 1988.
External links
- Alex Moulton's Memoir
- Moulton Bicycles corporate website
- Loughborough University Honorary Degree Oration presenting Dr. Moulton the degree of Doctor of Technology.