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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 266A

The Royal Warrant Holders Association Medal awarded to Mr F. L. Rapson, late Lance-Corporal, Coldstream Guards, he was the inventor of the unpuncturable 'Rapson Tyre'

Royal Warrant Holder's Association Medal, G.V.R. (Fred Lionel Rapson 22nd December 1921), mounted as worn, good very fine

Frederick Lionel Rapson was born in 1887 at Ryde, Isle of Wight and joined the Army as a clerk in the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards in 1905 and was later discharged as a Lance-Corporal in 1907 due to being medically unfit. Rapson claimed to have acted as the Head Driver Mechanic for H.R.H. Princess Louise until he enlisted in the Army Service Corps Motor Transport Depot upon the outbreak of the Great War. He was stationed in France as a driver for the King's Messenger but was sent home after suffering a wound to the head.

Rapson did not return to the Western Front but instead came up with automobile inventions such as an automatic carjack, quick-action hood, dipping headlights, and most famously a high performance, unpuncturable tyre. After the Armistice, he formed the Rapson Tyre and Jack Company in New Malden to manufacture and distribute his inventions. Rapson obtained a Royal Warrant for his tyres, however, despite initial demand his company began to suffer by the end of the year. Rapson attempted to establish a few new companies to sell his tyres but unfortunately these all eventually failed, and in 1926 he retreated from business and the North British Rubber Company took over the production and distribution of his tyres.

Rapson participated in a publicity stunt with his son to set a new record to traverse 50,000 miles without having to change his tyres and needing to stop only to re-fuel. On 4 April 1928 at the track in Miramas, France, the father-son team successfully beat the previous record of 30,000 miles.

Rapson moved to Eastbourne in 1932 and died there the following year at his home on 97 Victoria Drive. His cause of death was listed as epilepsy, possibly connected to the skull fracture he received in France during the War that invalided him home. Further information on Rapson can be found at the following websites:

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-1970/14/frederick-lionel-rapson-inventor-extraordinary/
http://www.johnathersuch.com/op_website/rapson.htm


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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£60