Chambers and Co
of Cuba Street Works, Belfast
The Chambers brothers had been general engineers since 1897 and made cars from 1904
1904 Makers of the Downshire car
The motorcar manufacturing company, Chambers Motors, then moved in from Cuba Street in east Belfast, where they had outgrown their existing factory. Chambers made cars of the highest quality but with certain eccentricities. Their gearbox, which was located in the rear axle, produced three forward speeds and reverse from an otherwise conventional epicyclic system using sun, planet and annulus gears.
In 1908 the company became Chambers Motors
During the first world war they built ambulances for the Ulster division but could not get government contracts due to the bore of their engines being too narrow. They also made shell cases and hand grenade fuses during the war.
After the war, when supplies were difficult to obtain, they bought in many of their old cars, which had become outdated in bodywork styles but retained useful engines, and refurbished them as commercial vehicles.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Culture Northern Ireland