South Australia's 1921 Model 27L

1921 Milburn Light Electric
Side-front photo Side-rear photo

 Click on the thumbnails below to see larger images of the vehicle's identity plates
Thumbnail of photo of ID plate Thumbnail of photo of ID plate Thumbnail of photo of ID plate

Click here to see photos of the car when in original condition,
when being restored, and when the restoration was first completed.
Owner: Unknown---was on loan to The National Motor Museum --- Sold, Dec. 2010
Email: Unknown
Location: Unknown, South Australia
Serial number (oval plate): 2-2515-7
Motor number (title): 1040781
Body number (square plate): 16636
Model: Milburn Light Electric (body # 16636 -- see image above)
Wheels: Wire
Color: Black, with black wheels and black running gear
Upholstery: Blue
Seating capacity: 4/5 -- Rear seat for 2 or 3; auxiliary, fold-down front seats for 2 additional under the windshield
Windows:  
Steering control: Lever (tiller)
Speed control: Lever
Top speed:  
Range:  
Forward speeds:  
Reverse speeds:  
Length overall:  
Width overall:  
Height overall:  
Wheelbase:  
Track:  
Tires:  
Tread:  
Brake systems:  
Curb weight:  
Instrumentation:  
Lights:  
Heater:  
Motor:  
Drive train: Worm
Controller:  
Springs:  
Axles:  
Batteries:  
System voltage:  
Charger:  
Additional features: Left and right door windows are lowered by cranks
Price, new:  

Earlier remarks from Curator at NMM: "The Milburn was first registered in 1921 with plate number 12378 to an Elizabeth Bowman of East Terrace Adelaide. I think the precise date is September 9th, but that is unclear." --- Rob Pilgrim, Senior Curator

Webmaster remarks 100709: This is a 1921 Model 27L and given the history mentioned above will be shown as such unless confirmed to have the 1922 new features.  Interestingly, this 1921 car may well have incorporated at least one feature of the 1922 Model 27L's----note in the pictures the existence of a Model-T style snubber mounted between the forward center frame and axle.  This could have been an after-market add-on or something that was requested of the factory or perhaps the factory built a few with this before deciding with the 1922 models that the Gabriel Snubbers were preferred and less conspicuous.  This friction snubber was likely added after-market and perhaps when the car was given a RH steering wheel, etc.

Update 122210: This car has been auctioned off in the past couple weeks...listed price was $60,000.  IT was also noted that it was first purchased in Adelaide by Peter Waite of Urbrae, South Australia.  It was also noted that it was fully restored in 1984 by Eric Rainsford.  Current owner unknown.

Update 042211: The Feb. 1991, v8n12 issue of "The Automobile" (ISSN 0955-1328), U.K., has a several page article entitled "Battery-Powered Brougham, the story of a 1922 Milburn Light Electric, by Dennis Harrison".  This article is mostly educational/historical on early electrics and Milburn as lead-in to describing briefly this Australian car.  There are also pictures showing the car as lowered.

Apr 2024 update from correspondence: This Milburn was originally imported into Australia by agriculturist Peter Waite for use by his 3 remaining daughters.  His daughter Elizabeth Bowman (nee Waite) was the registered owner.  In the earlier 1980's industrialist Eric Rainsford rescued the Milburn from a ditch as a wrecked chassis.  During this time Rainsford hired Brian Diener to restore several of his cars including the Milburn which required a complete coach body built from scratch from photographs of similar cars [NOTE: this explains how this car got its shorter top].  After restoration, Eric Rainsford loaned the Milburn to the National Motor Museum where it remained on display for nearly 30 years.  After Rainsford passed, many of his cars were sold at auction, including the Milburn.  The car is likely now in private hands and not on display.   Information from a relative of Brian Diener.