By A. R. Walsh
This article was published by the Rolls-Royce Enthusiast's Club of the U.K. in Nov./Dec. 1988.
An updated version appears below.

    Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950) was the most successful star of the English music halls in the first quarter of the twentieth century (Photo's #1-3).This success demanded perfection of performance and it was inevitable that he eventually insisted on "The best motor car in the world".

    Sir Harry Lauder first owned two Decauvilles (cf. Sir Henry Royce) which were essential to his hectic Edwardian pace. In a two and a half hour period, he could cover twelve miles and do four private London engagements with the help of "my sweet running Decauville" (Note #1).

    After two rewarding American tours, he next purchased a 1909 35/40 Nagent-Hobson
(Photo #4) from H.M. Hobson Ltd., 29 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, "Sole Concessionnaires and English Home of the Decauville Cars" (Note #2).

    When Sir Harry Lauder and wife were guests of Henry Ford in late 1915, they expressed admiration for the latest product of the Detroit works. Mr. Ford offered one as a gift (Photo #5). The arrival in Scotland of only a sedan body necessitated the purchase of a chassis in Manchester (Note #3). This was probably chassis no. 439573 with registration no. N9312 (Note #4).

    While living in Argylshire, Sir Harry Lauder had a twin-cam 3 litre Sunbeam circa 1925 and registered it as SB2514 (Photo #6). The chassis is believed to be 4030FE (Note #5).

    During a 1920 tour of South Africa Sir Harry Lauder received "the biggest cheque I had ever taken for a week's work" and "ear-marked it for a new Rolls-Royce on my return home" (Note #6). In 1920 Mr. Hugh Lyon Smith of Wardend Motor and Coach Works, Kilmarnock built a new body for this car (Photo #7) and according to his daughter, Mrs Elizabeth Miller of Edinburgh, it was then registered AK2216. I suspect that this was the 1907 chassis no. 60547 that Sir Harry Lauder owned according to Mr. W. J. Oldham (Note #7) and which was first registered AK797 (Note #8). The issue is further complicated by the chauffeur's notes (transcript to follow) which declare Sir Harry Lauder's first Rolls-Royce was registered RK406. In summation, it appears chassis no. 60547 was first registered AK797 by its first owner, Mr. Arthur Harry Briggs of Bradford, but was AK2216 when purchased by Sir Harry Lauder who must of changed it to RK406 while living in Tooting, London. I have not been able to substantiate Mr. Oldham's allegation that Sir Harry Lauder was a "great Austin enthusiast". In 1999, the chassis was extant in Tampa, Florida with yet another car body.

     Sir Harry Lauder's second Rolls-Royce was a 1925 Phantom registered SB2538
(Photo #8) which places it a little after the Sunbeam. The chassis number was 52LC (Note #9). Both Mr. Arthur McCrone of Edinburgh and Mr. James Christie of Cupar, Fife claim to have built a motor body for Sir Harry Lauder while they were employed by John Croall & Son of Edinburgh and I believe that it was for SB2538.

    Sir Harry Lauder's last Rolls-Royce was a 20-25 h.p. with chassis no. GDP77 and registration no. US334 (Photo #9). It was first purchased in 1930 as a demonstrator by the Clyde Automobile Co. Ltd., Glasgow and sold by their junior salesman, Mr. R.D.McChleary. During negotiations Mr. McChleary recalls Sir Harry Lauder remarking "Its an awfy guid caur but its an awfy big price" and "strickly cash mind you my boy - that's me, I'll have no debts" (Photo #10) . Dr. Mary C. McEwan of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire used the car (Photo #11) in her general practice in 1949 and 1950 (She later emigrated to Canada, studied psychiatry and became the first woman president of Toronto's Academy of Medicine.). After serving as a taxi in the early 1950's with George Jeffery & Sons of Stirling (Photo #12), the car was purchased by Mr. John Victory, Scottish comic
(Photo #13), (Photo #14). In 1966, Mr. Ralph Harding of Ontario/British Columbia imported the car into Canada and it was obtained by the writer in 1967.

    The following details were mostly obtained from the son of Mr. Harry Vallance, chauffeur and brother-in-law to Sir Harry Lauder.

"Mileage Covered with Rolls-Royce"

#1 Car	RK406 Reg.	40/50 Silver Ghost Model	#60547 Chassis	128,015 miles
#2	SB2538	40/50 Phantom I	#52LC	018,125
#3	US334	20/25 HP.	#GDP77, "and still in my care"	033,370
Total				179,510

"Decarb. and valve grinding these cars maintained and cared for at home:"

#1 Car	four times
#2	once
#3	twice

"Up to Aug. 10, 1935      Harry Vallance"

Notes  1) Lauder Harry, Harry Lauder At Home And On Tour, 1907, p. 98-99
 2) Irving Gordon, Great Scot, 1968, p. 158
 3) Lauder Harry, Roamin' in the Gloamin', 1928, p. 244-245
 4) Lot no. 29 at Christies' Beaulieu Auction of July 10, 1975 (sold to a Mr. L.J. Serle for
    £3150)
 5) Photograph and details are from Mr. Harry Vallance of Strathaven Lanarkshire, son of
    Sir Harry Lauder's chauffeur
 6) Lauder Harry, Roamin' in the Gloamin', 1928, p. 261-262
 7) Oldham W.J., The Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp-Ghosts, Phantoms and Spectres, 1974, p. 16
 8) Dickinson Steve, Rolls-Royce Enthusiast's Club Bulletin, No.123, p. 29-30
 9) Peirson John, Rolls-Royce Enthusiast's Club Bulletin, No.175, p. 64