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 Brush Electric 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. 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.
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
1899. Took part in the 1899 Richmond Show Trial were awarded gold medals
1899. A 6 h.p. Daimler car owned by the company turned over in the Harrow Road (Grove Hill), London and killed the driver named Edwin Sewell and a Major Richer. Damages of £655 were awarded against the company.
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 H. W. Bamber
1901. April 17. Edward Jenkinson elected as Chairman.
1901. October 23. Percy Martin joined as Works Manager.
1901. November. New 22 h.p. model made its first appearance.
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 joined the board of the company.
1904. Company making 7, 16-20, 18-22, 28-36 h.p. models with the last two available in two types.
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. During the summer they launched the new 45 h.p. model.
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.
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