Notable Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers in Britain
Most motor manufacturers produced 'commercial' versions of their motor cars, usually a simple van body with everything from the drivers dashboard forward similar to the parent motor car. When talking about larger vehicles however things get rather more complicated as most heavy commercial vehicle firms concentrated on building the chassis (an in some cases the engine), the body then being added elsewhere by a separate firm. This makes sense when you consider the range of bodies that might be required, from tipping trucks to large vans. It would be impractical for a small manufacturer to offer these specialised body types on their chassis when they might only sell a small number of that type.
Auto Carrier (AC)
Auto Carriers Ltd. is one of the oldest independent car marques founded in Britain. They built their first car in about 1903.The small parcels delivery machine shown below was in production between 1904 and 1914 and had what was in effect the rear end of a motorbike with the load carried in a box between the front wheels, the GWR and LNWR were both customers and other lines probably used these handy vehicles.
By the later 1930s they were making only cars, in limited numbers, and this continued after World War Two (including the remarkable AC Cobra sports cars). In the 1990s the company got into difficulties and relocated to Malta for a time, I understand they are now once again producing high end sports cars in limited numbers but I am not sure where they are based.
Associated Equipment Company Limited (AEC)
AEC Ltd was formed in 1912. The company really started in 1908 when the London Motor Omnibus Co Ltd and the London General Omnibus Co Ltd merged their activities. The LGOC built bus chassis to its own design at Walthamstow and when the LGOC was taken over by the Underground Electric Railways Co of London Ltd in 1912 the chassis-building activities were separated off to form the A.E.C. With manufacturing sites in London and Birmingham this company was notable for being the largest supplier of the London type bus.
In 1948 they became part of Associated Commercial Vehicles (ACV) but the AEC name remained in use (which I think was part of Leyland). The illustration below shows an AEC 'Mercury' 14 tonner in the later 1950s delivering recycled wool to a spinning mill.
Albion Motor Co
Formed in 1899 to make motor cars, based in Scotstoun, Glasgow, it was taken over by Leyland in 1951. Lorry and bus production continued at the Scotstoun works until 1980. The company, now American owned, makes components, notably axles.
The illustration below shows the Albion 'Caledonian' operating as a bulk flour carrier in the later 1950s.
Alvis
Established in Coventry in 1920, as well as a successful range of motor cars they were heavily involved in aero engines, especially during the First World War, and in the late 1930's moved into light armoured vehicles. In the post war period they continued to build motor cars and armoured vehicles, Alvis was bought by Rover in 1965, and hence became part of British Leyland (the last Alvis badged car was produced in 1967, the 1965 Alvis TE 21). Alvis was then purchased from Rover by United Scientific Holdings plc in 1981, Alvis acquired the British commercial vehicle company Unipower in 1994. In 2002 Alvis merged with part of Vickers Defence Systems to form Alvis Vickers which was purchased by BAE Systems in 2004. The Alvis name is probably best known these days for the 1950s S series wheeled military vehicles (Saladin, Saracen, Stalwart and Salamander) and the 1970's tracked 'Scorpion' series (Scorpion, Scimitar, Sapper, Samaritan, Sultan and Striker). The distinctive Alvis badge was dropped in about 2004.
Alvis Stalwart amphibious load carrier
Atkinson
Based in Preston, est 1907, in 1970 amalgamated to form to Seddon Atkinson, their lorries retained the Atkinson 'A' logo on the radiator. The Atkinson Seddon operation was then bought out by International Harvester and the name changed again to Seddon Atkinson Vehicles. The illustration shows a waggon operated in the late 1950s by Yorkshire Imperial Metals Co (a division of ICI,who entered this field when they bought out the Yorkshire Metals Co (a copper company) in 1958)
Austin
Based at Longbridge, existed as an independent company from 1908 until 1951 then became part of BMC. The example below dates from the later 1950s.
The company was probably better known for its range of small commercial vans based on its motor car chassis, the examples shown date from the 1960s.
Aveling Barford was formed in 1934 by Aveling & Porter merging with Barford & Perkins following the collase of the AGE grouping of agricultural equipment makers (discussed under 'Farm Machinery and Agricultural Engineers'). The mainly built steam (later diesel) road rollers but in the post war era expanded into other construction plant, including a grader built under licence from an American firm. The company was bought by Leyland in 1968 who later merged the Marshall road roller business with them, branding the road rollers Aveling Marshall but still using the Aveling Barford name for dumper trucks and graders.
Bean
Based in Tipton near Dudley in the Black Country the company was set up by components suppliers to produce cars, they made commercial vehicles from 1923 until 1931 but when Morris entered the market they folded. The firm then reverted to supplying components. In the 1990s they purchased the ailing Reliant motor car company.
Bedford
The commercial vehicle branch of General Motors in the UK (that is part of Vauxhall) bedfords was formed in about 1930. The company had factories in Luton & Dunstable, it was part of AWD from 1986.
The examples shown below (taken from adverts in the mid (left) and later (right) 1950s show a pick up truck and tractor unit.
Bristol Commercial Vehicles Ltd
Based in Bristol this company grew out of a local bus company who built their first bus in about 1908. Technically the company has existed from 1874 (Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company) until 1968 when it became part of BLMC. More associated with busses than trucks.
Bristol C&W Co This railway equipment company produced a limited range of commercial vehicles from 1904-1908
Clayton & Co The company was set up in 1904 by Herbert and Reginald Clayton, based at a factory in Huddersfield. By 1908 they were selling 'Karrier Cars'. During World War One the firm produced over 2000 WDS subsidy 3 or 4 ton chassis. By 1920 the name had been changed to Karrier Motors Limited and it quickly established itself as a provider of chassis for municipal dustcarts and road sweepers. See under Karrier below for the subsequent history.
Commer Cars
Formed in 1903 (as the Commercial Car Company) based in Luton and Dunstable, I believe the make ceased to exist in 1979 (they were bought by Humber in 1926 and that firm merged with the Rootes Group in 1927, but the commercial vehicle business continued to operate separately). Commer designed and built its own diesel engine for its heavy commercial vehicles. Commer acquired the Karrier company as part of Rootes acquisition of Karrier in 1934. This company was then bought out by the US firm Dodge and in 1965 production moved to Dunstable where Commer, Dodge (UK) and Karrier were all brought together. From 1976 all vehicles from Dunstable were rebadged Dodge. The Dodge business was purchased by Renault in 1981 and in 1987 the dodge name was dropped, I believe the Karrier trademark is now owned by Peugeot. The example shown below is a mid 1950s dump truck, lorries then were smaller than those we see today, this chassis had a wheel base of around nine and a half feet.
Crossley Motors Mcr
Based in Manchester, they started making cars in 1904 and lorries in about 1912, from the 1930s they also built busses. In 1948 they were taken over by AEC and production at the Manchester factories ceased in the late 1950s.
Chrysler UK This company ownded Dodge, who produced commercial vehicles in the UK from 1922, Chrisler built Plymoth cars at kew from the 1920s. In 1964 they aquired a 30 percent stake in the Rootes Group, and bouth the remaining shares in 1967. They produced some small commercial vehicles from 1970-79 but I understand the commercial vencle side was then sold to Peugeot.
Dennis Bros
Set up in 1904 and based at Guilford. In 1989 the firm was sold to Trinity Holdings then in 1998 to Mayflower group. The example shown here dates from the 1920s.
Dodge
Dodge were part of the Chrisler Corp from 1928 but the firm began building light commercial vehicles in the UK in 1922, setting up a factory in Fulham, London, to assemble parts imported from the US. The works was transferred to the Chrisler works at Kew in (I think) 1933. Over time the Dodge range incoporated more British made parts. After World War Two they began uising a British cab (produced by Motor Panels Ltd) and the new heavier lorries looked a lot like Leylands, they also adopted the perkins diesel engine in about 1957. The examples shown below date from the later 1950s and the larger lorry has the British cab and perkins engine.
In 1965 production moved to Dunstable where Commer, Dodge (UK) and Karrier were all brought together. From 1976 all vehicles from Dunstable were rebadged Dodge. The Dodge business was purchased by Renault in 1981 and in 1987 the dodge name was dropped
ERF
Based at Sandbach in Cheshire. set up in 1933, in 1996 they were bought out by Western Star (Canada) then to MAN in 2000. The example shown is a 6 tonner from 1951.
I understand the company was purchased by the German firm MAN in 2000 and the factory closed in 2002.
Foden
Fodens were based at Sandbach in Cheshire, the firm was founded by Walter Hanckock who set up Elsworth Iron Works where he built has famous steam powered coaches in the 1840's. He took on a man called Edwin Foden who took over the business in the 1880's.
Fig ___ Foden steam lorry
The company name changed to Fodens Ltd. in 1902 by which time they were established traction engine and farm machinery builders. They built steam lorries which earned a reputation for reliability but these were phased out soon after they built their first diesel lorry in 1931.
Fodens had a good reputation amongst the lorry owners and just down the road was ERF which was formed in 1932 by E. R. Foden who left the family business to set up on his own following a disagreement. The tipper shown below dates from 1950.
Foden was sold to an American company Paccar in 1980, who renamed the company Sandbach Motors.
Ford
Ford set up in the UK in 1911, initially with a Factory in Manchester, later from a large plant at Dagenham. The Model T Ford light truck shown below was by far the most common single make of machine in Britain from about 1912 through to after the First World War.
See also Fordson below
Fordson
This was the separate commercial vehicle division of Ford UK, which operated from the Dagenham factory from 1933 until 1957 when they re-branded as Thames
The example shown is a Thames lorry from the later 1950s.
In 1986 the name changed to Iveco Ford - production ended 1996.
Fowler Leeds 1880-1935 then folded
Guy Motors Ltd
Established in 1913, they were based in Wolverhampton. During the First World War production was co-ordinated over by the Ministry of Munitions and Guy’s produced military vehicles, depth charge firing mechanisms and aero engines. The war established the company and when it ended Guy's resumed commercial production of lorries and charabancs (open topped 'busses' used for excursions). For a couple of years in the early 1920s they did produce a single type of motor car, but this was less successful and they remained a firm noted for their lorries and buses. In the later 1920s they branched out into trolley buses.
By the time the second world war started Guy's were an established supplier of military vehicles and were one of the few firms to make buses during the war.
After this war, in 1948, they acquired Sunbeam-Karrier and did well for a time in a very competitive market. They then hit hard times and in 1961 they were bought out by Jaguar (who also owned Daimler, a major bus maker) and renamed Guy Motors (Europe) Ltd.. The Guy badge was dropped in 1964 (replaced by 'Big Jaguar'). The Guy factory finally closed in 1978.
Hillman 1907-1978 (part of Rootes from 1928)
Commercial production was limited to vans, perhaps the most successful being the Husky estate car which was bought in fairly large numbers by the British Army.
Humber
Based in Coventry from 1898 until 1976 but part of Rootes from 1926.
Starting as a bicycle manufacturer the firm built their first car in the 1890s. As well as cars they offered their chassis as the basis for commercial vehicles such as light vans. The Humber factory was one of the first to make aero engines during the Great War and afterwards a series of small cars was offered, but later models were within the 12 to 24 hp range which was the mainstay of the Humber business.
Humber acquired Commer Cars in 1926, but was then itself brought under the control of Rootes the following year.
During World War II Humber built numerous scout cars for the Army, along with heavy 4x4 utilities and ambulances.
With the return to peacetime the Humber Pullman limousine had arrived on the scene, and many were produced for the armed services. More models introduced were Hawk, Snipe and Super Snipe.
Many of the convertibles and luxury saloons were fitted by Thrupp & Maberley, the oldest firm in the Rootes Empire, established as carriage builders in the 1780's.
Although not really regarded as a commercial builder, in the fifties Humber made 1 ton trucks for the Army, and the famous "Humber Pig"; a hastily designed armoured vehicle which was pressed into service quickly in Northern Ireland.
Jaguar
Jaguar (who bought Daimler, a major bus maker, in 1957) bought out Guy in 1961 and renamed it Guy Motors (Europe) Ltd.. The Guy badge was dropped in 1964 (replaced by 'Big Jaguar'). The Guy factory finally closed in 1978.
Karrier
Originally set up as Clayton & Co in 1907 and based in Huddersfield), they sold Karrier Cars and in 1920 they renamed the company Karrier Motors Ltd - Traded as Karrier from 1920-74 (although they owned by Rootes from 1934, Chrysler in 1970 and Peugeot in 79). I understand the name was dropped by Guy's in the early 1950s. Scammel and Karrier merged in XXXX )
The firm quickly established itself as a provider of chassis for municipal dustcarts and road sweepers. They also provided four and six wheel bus chassis. From 1926 they were also building trolleybuses, working with Clough, Smith & Co. Ltd (who produced the electrical equipment and who's earlier supplier (the Straker Squire Company) had gone bust). In 1934 they were taken over by the larger Rootes Group, who closed the Huddersfield operations and moved production to the existing Commer factory in Luton. This company was then bought out by the US form Dodge and in 1965 production moved to Dunstable where Commer, Dodge (UK) and Karrier were all brought together. There was a tie in with Renault at one point and the Karrier trademark is now owned by Peugeot. I understand that the Karrier brand was dropped by Guy's (who bought Sunbeam Karrier in 1948) in the early 1950s.
Kerr Stuart
(Stoke) 1929-30 folded
Landrover
Based in Sollihul. Operated independently from 1948, to BAE in 88, to BMW in 94, to Ford in 2000
Leyland
Formed in 1896 as the Lancashire Steam Motor Co, based at Leyland in Lancashire the firm changed its name to Leyland Motors in about 1900. Leyland grew into a major firm by purchasing several existing companies and by the time it became British Leyland in 1968 they owned the AEC, Albion, Bison, Guy, Scammel, Thornycroft, Daimler and Aveling Berford. The example shown below is a lorry from the early 1960s
The popular eight wheeled Leyland Octopus was introduced in 1935 and were noted for their reliability and longevity. Such was the popularity of the Octopus that its driveline was basically unchanged from 1945 until 1960. The type was finally phased out in 1979, the illustration below shows a 1950s version (left) and the 1960s version (right).
In 1969 Leyland formed part of BLMC, the commercial vehicle division was spun off to form Leyland Daff in 1986.
Leyland Daf 1986-1996 then to Paccar
Maudslay Motor Company
Based in Coventry, founded in 1903 it was taken over by AEC in 1948 (when AEC also bought out Crossley Motors) and I understand the name was dropped in about 1951.
Pagefield Based in Wigan this firm made commercial vehicles from 1907 until 1947 when it was bought out by Walker.
Scammell
The Scammell company was late-Victorian period wheelwright and coach-building business based in London. They started making commercial motor vehicles in 1919 and in 1921, the company exhibited their first articulated vehicle (capable of carrying 7.5 tons) at the Olympia Motor Show. The sketch shows their articulated 2000 gallon tanker, when first produced these had a rectangular tank trailer on a full length chassis, by the mid 1920s the self supporting cylindrical tank as shown was in use.
With a demand for the vehicle the company first moved to a new works in Watford and then formed Scammell Lorries Ltd in July 1922. Producing mainly articulated and rigid bodied eight-wheeler lorries, although their 1927 6-wheeled Pioneer tractor gained favour with civilian contractors and the military (this is the vehicle in the Airfix 'tank transporter' kit). The front axle could rock from side to side and the rear wheels were on a pivoted sub assembly that could move up to two feet in either direction, this gave it exceptional off-road capabilities. Ex military vehicles remained popular with contractors for many years after the Second World War. After the war Scammel were absorbed by Leyland in 1955. although the distinctive designs were still sold under the Scammel brand. The Watford factory closed in 1988 and production under the Scammel name came to an end.
Seddon
Originally Foster and Seddon. Based in Oldham and established in 1938. The illustration shows a 1957 'service van'.
In 1970 they merged to form Seddon Atkinson.
Seddon Atkinson This firm was set up my a merger in 1970, in 1974 they were bought out by Harvester International, who sold them to Pegaso in 1983 and they were then sold to Iveco in 1992. The example shown below is a Seddon Atkinson tractor unit from about 1970.
Sentinel
Based at Glasgow and Shrewsbury 1906-57 then to Transport Vehicles (Warrington)
In the Victorian and Edwardian eras; Glasgow was synonymous with heavy industry including steam railway locomotives, and Alley & MacLellan entered steam road waggon building in 1906 by introducing a 5 ton vertical boiler wagon, featured a 2 cylinder undertype engine and chain drive. The company also had another side of the business which built steam railway locomotives and some railcars, for the LMS and industrial customers.
Following a move to Shrewsbury in 1915 the company changed its name to Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd, though there were several slight changes to the names over the years. They produced a six wheeler in about 1920 and an eight wheeler in 1929 (the first British eight wheeler although in practise it carried no more than a six wheeler because of weight restrictions of the time). By 1930 there was pressure on the remaining steam road vehicle builders, though Sentinel were able to introduce a series of improved machines in the early 1930s and production continued to some extent until the outbreak of the war. The example shown is a 1933 S6 type.
Sentinel made their first diesel truck, the 'DV44', in 1948. A light six wheel 'DV46' was then developed and an improved DV66 6 wheeler appeared in 1952. Sentinel were still producing steam vehicles for export into the 1950s (Argentina was a major client where some Sentinel steam lorries were operating until about 1960 in the coal fields) Sales were not sufficient to keep the diesel truck side going and it was sold to Rolls Royce, who built soma 'Sentinel' tugs for the RAF before switching the factory to diesel engine production. Sentinel's main agent North Cheshire Motors Ltd. and this firm purchased the remaining stocks of vehicles and parts and set up its own company TVW (Transport Vehicles (Warrington) Ltd) in 1957. Most sales went to a group of former Sentinel customers who had financially supported the venture but this firm closed in 1961.
Shelvoke & Drewry
Based in Letchworth, established in 1922, called Shelvoke Dempster from 1984 I believe the company closed down in 1990. The examples shown below are the popular 'freighter', a small motor truck introduced in the 1920s. This vehicle remained in production (over time gaining a fully enclosed cab) until the early 1960s and it was widely used by municipal corporations fitted with a range of bodies from bin lorries to street-washing tankers (see also Appendix One - Water Supply, Sewage Treatment & Household Waste Collection). S&D went on to produce fire engines as well as other municipal vehicles in the 1970s and was bought out by the US firm Dempster Brothers, from when it traded as Shelvoke Dempster. A few years later the British operation was sold out to Dennis (its arch rival) and the S&D name disappeared in about 1992.
Singer George Singer has been a bicycle maker in Coventry since 1875 which developed into motorcycle production and then motor cars. Commercial vehicle production was attempted in 1929 with a 2 ton lorry and a 20 seat bus being offered, but by 1932 commercial production had been abandoned.
Standard 1903-63 then to Leyland
Thames
This was the brand used by Ford/Fordson after 1957. See Ford above.
Thorycroft
Based in Basingstoke. Set up in 1896, Thornycroft were bought out by AEC in 1961 and in the same year Guy Motors went bust and the remains were bought up by Jaguar.
Fig ___ 1920 Thornycroft 6 ton brewery lorry
Trojan Based in Croydon and established in 1920, the company folded in 1964.
The 1928 Trojan van is typical of the period.
The Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. was a steam wagon manufacturer based in Leeds. They started building steam lorries in 1901 and employed an unusual and distinctive design with a double-ended horizontal boiler run across the front of the cab. From 1911 they called themselves the Yorkshire Commercial Motor Co., but reverted to Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. in 1922. They stoped making steam lorries in 1937 but continued as a body building firm until about 1993.
Vulcan Motor & Engineering Company Founded in 1901 and based in Southport, Lancashire, by 1906 they were building over 100 vehicles a year. During World War One they made aircraft frames and aero engines and also some commercial vehicles, but they reverted to motor cars after the war (until 1927). They produced a number of low floored municipal vehicles in the later 1920s but in the 1930s they got into difficulties and were taken over by Tilling-Stevens in 1937 and production moved to Maidstone. The commercial vehicles included the 'Jubilee' and 'Retriever', both two tonners produced in the 1930s. I believe the last Vulcan branded lorry was built in about 1950, by which time the company was part of the Rootes group, and the name was dropped from about 1953.
