James Dennis Roots (1858-1928) M. I. Mech E, maker of engines and motorized vehicles, of James D. Roots and Co and Roots and Venables and presumably Roots Economic Gas Engine Co and Roots Oil Engine Co.
1858 Born, son of James Roots
Educated at Tunbridge Wells
Apprenticed to a nut and bolt works in Hunslet, Leeds
Then was apprenticed to a "medical man" in Leeds
1881 Living at Lower Crofton, Orpington, Kent: James Roots (age 55 born Deal), a Retired Publican. With his wife Eliza Roots (age 49 born Windsor) and their children James Roots (age 22 born Paddington), a Medical Assistant; Mary Roots (age 19 born Penshurst); William H. Roots (age 17 born Orpington); Jane C. Roots (age 14 born Orpington); and Louisa Roots (age 10 born Orpington).[1]
1883 Left medicine and worked in a small workshop in Tottenham and then in Chelsea, experimenting with combustion engines using gas and oil.
1885 Patent for a motor-propelled vehicle.[2]
1885 Married Rosa Skinner in Bromley[3]
1886 Made his first oil engine
1889 First known patent on construction of a blue flame oil lamp - before the days of the thorium and zirconium mantles, this had a fine wire platinum hood.
1890 Applied an internal combustion engine to make a motor boat
1891 Living at 61 Marylebone Road, London: James Roots (age 32 born London), Engineer Designer - Internal Combustion. With his wife Rosa Roots (age 29 born Werburgh, Kent). Two visitors.[4]
1891 Exhibited internal combustion engine at the Stanley Show
1892 J. D. Roots of London built a strange two-stroke tricycle which also ran on "heavy oil":
1893 Made (he claimed) the first internal combustion engined vehicle in the UK
Licensed his oil engine design to Bryan Donkin and Co, Vosper and Co and Clarke's Crank and F. Co.
1895 Formed Roots and Venables; they made the first oil engined vehicle in the winter of that year.
1896 In partnership with Cuthbert Edward Venables trading as Roots and Venables to produce automobiles
1896 November. James D. Roots of Westminster Bridge Road fined 10s for driving a steam motor car in Kennington Road.[5]
1896-7 Flew several models of aeroplane and helicopter (he claimed)
1897 Ran internal combustion engined vehicle in public competition
1898 December. Published 'The Cycles of Gas and Oil Engines'.[6]
1898 Made first commercial internal combustion engined vehicle (he claimed)
1898 Oil motor and oil motor vehicle maker, became an Associate of the Inst of Mech Engineers.
1899 Paper read to the Society of Engineers on experiments with petroleum motor vehicles. Full. text.[7]
1899 Upgraded to Member of I Mech E
1901 Living at 51 Baston Street, Fulham: James Roots (age 42 born Paddington), a Mechanical Engineer and Employer. Married (but no family listed). With one servant and her daughter. Also a boarder.[8]
1903 Petitioned for divorce.
1904 'ROOTS, James D., M.I.Mech.E., Chicheley Street, York Road, Westminster Bridge, London, S.W. Has driven many thousands of miles. Hobby: Bacteriology. Is an expert in internal combustion engines, to which he commenced to apply himself so far back as 1884. Made the first successful oil-engine in 1887. In 1889 and 1890 made and fitted on a launch the first oil-engine used for launch or boat propulsion. Stationary and launch oil-engines to his designs were in use in 1893 in most parts of the world. In 1895 made the first petroleum driven carriage produced in England, being assisted by his partner, Mr. C. E. Venables, B.A. Is the author of "The Cycles of Gas and Oil-Engines." The first paper before the A.C.G.B. & I. was read by Mr. Roots. Club: A.C.G.B. & I. (Founder Member).' [9]
1908 Patent applied for on an improved rotary motor, pump, blower or meter
1911 Living at 58 Avonmore Road, West Kensington. London W.: James Dennis Roots (age 52 born London), Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent. Married (but no family listed). Two servants.[10]
1928 September 24th. Died at Villa Noel, Cimiez, Nice, France
See Also
Sources of Information
- The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X
- Veteran and Vintage Cars by Peter Roberts. Published 1972
- The Early History of Motoring by Claude Johnson
- Claims made by James D. Roots and Co
- Mechanical Engineer Records