A history of Ailsa Craig Ltd, a manufacturer of marine and specialist made-to-order engines from 1891-1972. The company began as a bicycle manufacturer in Glasgow in 1891, later moving to Putney, London, where the owner went into partnership and set about building early vehicles, going on in 1904 to produce the world's first V12 engine intended for a Russian airship. It also collaborated on the production of a petrol engine vacuum cleaner. Under the company name Complete Motor Boats it worked with Thames Boat builders. The Ailsa Craig name, as part of the Warsop, Fram group of companies, ceased trading in 1972.