Charles Ernest Hain Friswell
Sir Charles Ernest Hain Friswell (1871–1926), Managing Director of the Standard Motor Co and Friswells
1871 December 30th. Born at 17 Buckingham Street, Marylebone, the son of George Friswell, advertising agent, and his wife, Jane Street.
He married Edith Kate Frewer - they had no children.
Friswell entered the world of the automobile from that of the cycle, at first combining an agency for cycles with other business interests.
1896 Established Friswells Ltd in London, specializing in the imported French Peugeot car.
1901 By now he was a prominent figure in autombiles, so he was selected by the Automobile Mutual Protection Association Ltd to fight a test case against H. J. Lawson's monopolistic British Motor Traction Company Ltd., in which he succeeded.
By this time he was operating on a large scale: Friswell's Automobile Palace Ltd, a five-storey building, could accommodate hundreds of vehicles in garage and showroom space, with repair and paint shops, accessory sales and auction facilities, and other provisions for the convenience of the clientele.
1901 Living at 35 Madeley Road, Christchurch, Ealing (age 29 born London W.), an Engineer and Employer. With his wife Edith K. (age 29 born London W.). Plus three servants. [1]
1903 'Journeyed to Russia, where he dug the Passe Partout car out of the frozen snow at Nivigovorod, and brought it to England.'
1904 'FRISWELL, Charles, 1, Albany Street, London, N.W.; Holborn Viaduct, London, E.C. Is managing director of Friswell, Ltd.'[2]
1905 He was made sole distributor for Standard cars and became chairman of that company, a position he held until November 1912.
1909 He was knighted in November 1909.
In mid-1912 Friswell's sole agency agreement with Standard was terminated and, soon after, his offer to buy out Reginald Maudslay, founder of Standard, failed.
Friswell left the motor industry; his reconstructed dealership, Friswells Ltd, went into voluntary liquidation in November 1915.
He died on 15 December 1926 at Eagle House Nursing Home, Woodford Green, Essex. He was survived by his wife.
1926 Obituary[3] Died aged 54 years. Formerly Managing Director of the Standard Motor Co. Married in 1915 to Edith. He travelled extensively in India and South Africa.
See Friswell
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] DNB
- Motoring Annual and Motorist’s Year Book 1903