Daimler
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:
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 Crossley Motors in 1904.
- 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. Part of the site was then immediately sold to the Great Horseless Carriage Co for more than the total cost of the site.
1896 Issued their first catalogue but only listed Panhard and Peugeot cars and nothing actually made a Coventry.
1897. March. See Daimler: 1897 Extraordinary General meeting
1897. Summer. The first car purchased by anyone unconnected with the motor trade when a car was delivered to Major Montgomery of Winchester.
1897. Henry Sturmey and mechanic Ashley set off from John o'Groats to Land's End on 2nd October and completed the 939 miles in 93.5 hours. The car was a 4 h.p. Daimler.
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. March. Issued a catalogue showing products actually made by the company. All models used the same 4 h.p. engine but with different bodies named Rougemont, Siamese, Wyley, Grafton, Universal and the Jaunting car.
1898 Built a four-cylinder 8 h.p. engine and the first of these was sold to Boverton Redwood - possibly the first four-cylinder car made in the Uk.
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
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
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