Elliots of Newbury grew out of an old-established joinery works that had existed oa a part of the Albert Works, Newbury, Berkshire site since the mid-nineteenth century. After the 1914-18 wat a change to furniture manufacture was made. During the Second World War Elliots became involved with glider manufacture, one of a number of furniture manufacturers that co-operated in the building of the large transport gliders. Elliots built about one third of the total Horsa production including the development of the hinged nose for the Mark 2 version, and it was also responsible for powered version of the Hamilcar glider. However, Elliots prime interest was the making of furniture. At the end of the war, when the contracts for transport gliders were coming to an end, the firm was hoping to resume furniture manufacture but, for technical reasons, was not “designated” by the Board of Trade for the manufacture of “Utility” furniture.
Early in 1945 the company was approached by Chilton Aircraft Ltd to make one pair of wings for the Chilton Olympia. Elliots had, by then, already planned to manufacture the Newbury Eon four-seat light aircraft but they agreed to make one pair of wings only for the Chilton prototype. Elliots refused to sell Chilton’s the wing jigs and maintained legal rights and ownership of their own manufactured jigs. Chilton’s later gave up all aircraft work and an agreement was subsequently reached whereby Elliots purchased from Chilton the production rights, fuselage jigs, and work in hand on all Olympia sailplanes.
Quantity production of the Eon Olympia commenced in 1946, and was followed in 1948 by the production of two further ex-German designs, the Grunau Baby sailplane and the SG.38 primary glider. Elliots, and their design consultants Aviation & Engineering Products Ltd, introduced improvements in each of the designs before commencing production.
Meanwhile, the Newbury Eon aircraft had its first flight in August 1947, and, in conjunction with their consultants, they produced a Design Study and tendered to the Air Ministry specification T.16/48 for a two-seat training aircraft in competition with Percival, Handley Page, and Auster. No further aircraft were produced by Elliots but aircraft parts were made, under sub-contract.
In 1954 a new version of the Olympia was produced as the original design was nearly fifteen years old. The Olympia 4, later known as the 401, was the first in a series of gradual stages of improvement and led to the 402 in 1956, the 403 in 1957, and finally, in 1958, to the Open Class 419 with its companion the 415 for the fifteen-metre Standard Class. Limited production of these latter types was then initiated. A completely new Standard Class sailplane was introduced in 1961 known as the Type 460. This was put into production and became very popular in Britain, resulting in a special version, the Type 465, being developed for the 1965 World Championships.
In the summer of 1965 the Managing Director of Elliots, M H.C.G. Buckingham died. He had been a keen supporter of the gliding movement for many years. After his death Elliots carried out a review of the firm’s activities and decided that it was time to end glider production due to its increasing unprofitability. A joint advertisement in the April 1966 “Sailplane & Gliding” announced that Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd had taken over the production of Eon Sailplanes. However, no Elliots designed gliders were ever built at Kirkbymoorside although spares were supplied and repairs undertaken.
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