Daimler

February 1905

March 1906.

December 1906.

December 1906.

1913. 7-70hp engine.

1913. 5-90hp engine.

April 1916.

September 1916.

Daimler of Coventry has, since 1896, been the motor car marque of the British Daimler Motor Company.

General

1896. On 17th February 1896 the public were invited to subscribe for shares in the new company. In the prospectus the directors were named as:

• Gottlieb Daimler
• Evelyn Ellis
• William Wright J.P.
• J. H. Mace
• Henry Sturmey
• H. E. Sherwin Holt

After the formation of the company they appointed:

• Harry Lawson Chairman
• J. S. Bradshaw (James A. Bradshaw?)
• Charles Osborn became the first company secretary
• James S. Critchley was employed as Works Manager until he joined Brush Traction in 1900.
• Frederick Simms Consulting Engineer
• A. J. Drake was sub-manager
• J. Van Toll was Marine Engineer
• A. H. D. Altree as Secretary
• Otto Mayer from Canstatt to assist

1896. April. The company purchased a lease for sixty-two and a half years on the former premises of the Coventry Cotton Spinning and Weaving Co which occupied a site of 13 acres with a newly re-build factory. The premises were four stories measuring 162 ft. by 102 ft. and was in 12 acres of ground. Part of the site was then immediately sold to the Great Horseless Carriage Co for more than the total cost of the site.

1897. March. See Daimler: 1897 Extraordinary General meeting

1897. A. H. D. Altree became the General Manager and Ernest Instone was appointed Secretary.

1897. Frederick Simms resigned as Consulting Engineer and Harry Lawson as Chairman.

1898. Gottlieb Daimler and J. A. Bradshaw resigned

1899. February. A. H. D. Altree and E. M. C. Instone resigned from the board of directors and Evelyn Ellis and William Wright resigned by rotation and did not seek re-election.

1899. May. Henry Sturmey resigns.

1899 June. Extraordinary Meeting to update the the financial situation of the company. Present were:

• E. H. Bayley, Director, Presided
• Edward G. Jenkinson, Sir, Director
• J. H. Mace, Director,
• H. E. Sherwin Holt, Director,
• John Ware, Secretary
• Harvey George Shareholder
• Henry Sturmey Shareholder
• ? Heap
• ? Rawlinson

1900. Foster Pedley became General Manager and Percy Richardson the London Manager.

1900 December 21. Fourth AGM. Directors were E. H. Bayley (Chairman), Thomas Bayley, J. H. Mace and Sherwin Holt.

1901 February. Thomas Bayley and Sherwin Holt resign as Directors. Sidney Straker who had acted as the Consulting Engineer resigned and was replaced by Herbert W. Bamber

1901. April 17. Edward Jenkinson elected as Chairman.

1901. October 23. Percy Martin joined as Works Manager.

1902. January. New depot at Brownlow Mews, Guildford Street opened.

1902. February. Prospectus to raise £60,00 shows directors as Edward Jenkinson, Edward Manville and C. C. Longridge.

1902. April. H. W. Bamber resigned after just over one year to join Brush Traction

1902. November 27. '6th AGM. Directors are Jenkinson, Longridge, Manville and John Marshall Gorham.

1903. April. Fire in the paint and finishing shop destroyed seven completed cars.

1903. Percy Richardson resigned as London Manager and U. Stratton replaced him. John M. Gorham re-joined the board of the company.

1904. They purchased the buildings of the Motor Manufacturing Co as it went in to liquidation for £14,000.

1904. December 8. 8th AGM. To improve the company's finances it was sold to the Daimler Motor Company (1904) Ltd.

1905. At the AGM there we new directors - A. H. E. Wood and G. S. Barwick

1906. Jenkinson resigns as chairman and he was replaced by Manville.

1906 They started Societa Anonima Officine de Luca Daimler in Italy.

1906. Bristol depot opened.

1906 Decision to enter commercial vehicle market using the 'Auto-Mixte' system. Planned to produce next year a 28, 30, 35 and 45 h.p. chassis.

1906. Percy Martin made a director.

1907. Employed 2,750 persons

1908. December. First issue of 'The Daimler Bulletin' issued.

1909. March. Extensive trials of the Knight Engine under the control of the RAC.

1909. Formed Societe Francais de la Daimler Motor Company based in Paris

1909. Frederick Lanchester joined as Consulting Engineer.

1910. Acquired by BSA. At that time the directors appointed were:

BSA

• Halewell Rogers
• Lincoln Chandler
• Albert Eadie
• F. Dudley Docker

Daimler

• Edward Manville Chairman
• A. H. E. Wood
• Percy Martin Managing Director

WWI. Made the 80 h.p. Gnome engine and the 70 h.p. Renault for the aeroplane industry. Produced the engine and transmission for the new military tanks. Produced shells in large numbers.

1919. Set up Daimler Hire Ltd. with a fleet of 250 cars and based at the old Prince's Skating Rink at Knightsbridge.

1921. Ernest Instone resigned after 24 years.

1929. Lawrence Pomeroy appointed Managing Director having been the Chief Engineer. Percy Martin becomes Chairman.

1931. The Lanchester Motor Co is taken over.

1933. The sleeve-valve or Knight Engine is finally abandoned for the more conventional poppet valve type.

1939. Absorbed the Birtley Co, Hooper and Co and barker and Co.

The company was a subsidiary of BSA from 1910 up until 1960, when it became part of Jaguar and the brand was used for their luxury models. It is now a subsidiary of the Premier Automotive Group, making it part of Ford.

Cars

See Daimler: Cars

Commercial Vehicles

See Daimler: Commercial Vehicles

• Note: 1904. Gear-cutting machine built for them by Lanchester Motor Co. (Exhibit at Birmingham Thinktank museum)

See Also

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Sources of Information

• [1] Wikipedia
• Ian Allan - British Buses Since 1900 - Aldridge and Morris
• 1961 Guide to Key British Enterprises: Motor, Motor-Cycle and Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers
• British Motor Cars 1950/51
• Daimler 1896-1946 by St. John C. Nixon. Published by G. T. Foulis in 1946