Foden

Foden produced Lorries and Trucks from 1899 at the Elworth Works at Sandbach which had been taken over from Plant and Hancock

1882 Edwin Foden designed his first steam tractor
1887 Regular production of the steam tractors commences
1900 The first Foden steam lorry produced and continued until 1932
1902 Production of the 5ton lorry commenced until 1923
1931 Commenced diesel powered lorries using the Gardner engine but later used other makes also
1932 Produced vehicles from 4ton to 15ton payload until the outbreak of WW2
WW2 Produced 1,750 vehicles for the War Department including 6x4 Army lorries and 770 Centaur and Crusader tanks. Also 7.5 million 20mm shells.
1964 Received order from the Steel Conmpany of Wales for large-capacity tip lorry and this led to many giant dump trucks being produced
1964 The Foden two-stroke diesel engine produced and continued until 1977
1974 Opened new factory
1977 New Fleetmaster (with Cummins or Rolls-Royce 290bhp engine) and Haulmaster (with Cummins) models with introduced.
1980 Financial difficulties and Paccar International acquired control

Buses

Foden were based in Sandbach in Cheshire.
Foden introduced diesels in the early 1930's.
In 1933 the first PSV chassis The Bandmaster carried the famous Foden brass band.
It had forward control layout with Gardner 4LW engine to the rearside of the driver.
Foden built three double-deckers and a small number of single-deckers with larger Gardner 4LW.
1945 a PVD6 double-decker demonstrator was made.
This model had a full width bonnet, a concealed radiator, hydraulic brakes, and a speedometer in the middle of the steering wheel.
1946 a single-decker was launched, the PVSC6.
1948 Foden exhibited a two-stroke engine, 4.1 litre unit called the FD6.
1950 developed a single-deck coach chassis, it had full-front bodywork with a setback front axle.
1954 production of rear-engined Fodens had ceased.
1955 saw Foden produce five PVD6 double-deckers, 450 of these were built in the space of ten years.
Seventy five of these were exports that were mainly sent to Australia.