Ashton (Jim) James Ward Spilsbury

• b- Oct. 8, 1905 , Findern, Derbyshire, England
• d- Apr 20, 2003 , West Vancouver

Jim Spilsbury was a radio repairman from Savary Island. He founded Queen Charlotte Airlines to service his coastal radios.

He also operated a floating Radio Lab, the 50ft diesel powered, 37 ton, “Blithe Spirit” which he bought in Oct 1955

In 1956 he was manufacturing 15, 25 and 100 watt High Frequency Radio Transmitters

His Radio Company became Spilsbury Communications Ltd.

He also became an acclaimed pastel painter, the covers on 2 of his books are from his paintings.

In 1957 he went into a car dealership business,selling a midget BMW Isetta, for $1050.00, 13 hp, sounds like the original smart car. The whole front of the car opened for the door.

Family immigrated in 1907 to Canada. Started out in Whonnock then in 1911 the family moved to Savary Island, BC. Spilsbury family's old home stands at the T of the wharf and the road. He later moved to the Horseshoe Bay area.

By age 17 he made his first Crystal Radio set, and from there, his radio career grew.

Received Order of BC, see link below,and the 50th Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

His Books

Order of BC, 1993

Society for the Preservation of Antique Radio in Canada

You tube video: JIM SPILSBURY, Spilsbury's Coast

Obituary

spilsbury-equip-dev-sales-1982_recog.pdf -An internal Spilsbury paper entitled “Spilsbury Equipment Development and Sales” providing an historical overview of the Spilsbury company's development and sales efforts, written in 1982 by Jim Spilsbury. Courtesy of Matthew Kendall

Ashton Willmot Spilsbury

• b- bet May-June 1871, Burton Reg dist., Findern, Derbyshire, England
• d-July 12, 1960 in North Vancouver

• Attended Willington Village School, Willington, Derbyshire

at age 9.

• Appointed Justice of the Peace in 1903 in New Westminster.

Father & Mother (Jim's Grandparents)

• Benjamin Ward “Governor” Spilsbury
  • Church of England Clergyman
• Hannah Warren Smallwood

Alice Maud Blizard

• b-1871, London England, (Tipperary Ireland in one record)
• d-Feb 3, 1957, North Vancouver BC, age 88

• married Sept 1, 1897 in BC
• daughter of George Blizard, and Fanny Newman

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