Henry Meadows of Wolverhampton were major suppliers of engines and gearboxes to the smaller companies in the British motor industry.
1917 registered as a company[1]
1920 Founded in Park Lane, Wolverhampton, as a car gearbox maker
1921 Mr John E. Dorman joined the board of Henry Meadows.[2]
1922 They expanded into petrol engines
1922 Prevented by legal action from using the name Dorman for their engines[3]
1929 Public company.
1930s Built a large factory in Fallings Park, Wolverhampton.
1935 Introduced their first diesel engine
1938 Introduced a six-cylinder diesel engine
1944 Producing 100 bhp six-cylinder diesel engine for marine use
After World War II they started making diesel engines both for the vehicle, marine and stationary markets. Many were supplied to their neighbour in Fallings Park, Guy Motors for use in their buses and trucks.
1949 The company began working with the Associated British Oil Engines Group, and there has been an interchange of directors.
1952 The company became part of Associated British Engineering
1955 Following reorganistion, as well as making engines for rail and traction, the company also provided spares and service[4]
1956 Private company.
1957 They produced the Frisky micro-car powered by a 328 cc Villiers two-cylinder two-stroke engine. They were produced at Henry Meadows (Vehicles) Ltd, Cannock Road. Bodies were made at the nearby Guy factory.
1958 Introduced the 'Frisky Sprint' at the motor show but it did not enter production
1959 Company sold by ABE; ABE retained a holding in the company[5]
1959 They set up a separate company called Frisky Cars (1959) Ltd
1960 The company closed
1961 Manufacturing a range of 5 diesel engines from 100 to 300 hp, a range of gearboxes for automotive, industrial and marine purposes. 520 employees.
1965 The company was acquired by Jaguar Cars Ltd; Henry Meadows was principally known as a maker of diesel engines; its factory adjoined that of Guy Motors[6]
Cars
- Sport 1957-61
- Family Three 1960-64
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- The Modern Diesel edited by Geoffrey Smith. Published by Iliffe & Sons 1944
- 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- Powered Vehicles made in the Black Country by Jim Boulton and Harold Parsons. Published 1990. ISBN 0 904015 30 0