VETERAN CAR GUIDE
itself a reputation by participating in numerous endurance races. The partnership disintegrated, but Haynes continued to manufacture Haynes-Appersons with rear-mounted twin cylinder engines of 8hp and 12hp. In 1904, a four-cylinder model was introduced, and the Apperson name was dropped.
Humber and Humberette Humber was one of the earliest cycle manufacturers, initially located in Nottingham, and later in Coventry and Wolverhampton. Plans to make the Léon Bollée three-wheeler were interrupted when a fire destroyed the Coventry factory, but the Coventry Bollée and the Coventry Motette did appear at the end of 1896, making Humber the first maker of series-production cars in England. Numerous prototype four-wheeled motor cars appeared at shows, but it was 1901 before the first conventional vehicle arrived, powered by a 4.5hp De Dion Bouton engine, with shaft drive, and a rear entrance tonneau body. Single spoke steering wheels were a feature of Humbers until 1910, and cars with four-cylinder engines of 12hp and 20hp appeared in 1902 and 1903. The latter was pivotal for the company; it introduced a lightweight Humberette with a 6hp De Dion Bouton engine, a two-speed gearbox, a tubular frame and shaft drive. A larger engine and three-speed gearbox arrived in 1904.
Hurtu The company was founded in 1880 as Hurtu, Hautin et Diligeon, as a maker of sewing machines and bicycles. The first car, a version of a Léon Bollée tricar, was made in 1896, followed by a version of the German Benz the following year. In 1900, the Benz was replaced by a new model powered by a 3.5hp De Dion Bouton engine with shaft drive. Two- or fourseater bodies were available, the latter a rear entrance tonneau. The company also used Aster engines with one, two or four cylinders.
International Charette The International Motor Co. Ltd., of High Street, Marylebone, London, was established in 1894, and initially assembled motor vehicles from imported components. In the early years the Parisien, Émile Roger, provided all the essential parts for a vehicle that the company marketed as the‘ International Benz’. The first vehicle that International could claim to have had a role in the design of was the Charette light car, which was constructed by Coventry-based Allard & Co. Launched in 1901, it had a 3.5hp De Dion Bouton engine which drove the rear wheels by belt, and had rack and pinion steering, and the option of a two- or three-speed gearbox. It was priced at £ 165.
1901 Hurtu.
James & Browne James & Browne Ltd of Hammersmith, London, England was registered in January 1902. The earliest motor car had a 9hp twin cylinder engine with a transverse crankshaft and the flywheel was positioned between the cylinders, there was a four-speed gearbox and chain final drive. This car and a 18hp four-cylinder model had conventional bonnets, but the engine was placed under the front seat. Later the company installed four-cylinder vertical engines at the front of the chassis.
Knox The Knox Automobile Co. of Springfield, Massachusetts began production in 1900 with a three-wheel car, the Model A, which was powered by a 1562cc, 5hp, horizontal air-cooled single cylinder engine that drove the rear axle by a single chain. The engine used cooling rods rather than fins, leading to the nickname‘ Old Porcupine’. In 1902 the fourwheel Model B was introduced, and then the Model C, all single cylinder cars. The Type D, launched in 1904, had a two-cylinder engine of 16 / 18hp.
Lacoste et Battmann Lacoste et Battmann had their beginnings in 1897 when Jacques Lacoste founded a business at Levallois, Paris under the name of J. Lacoste & Cie. Emile Battmann joined the concern in 1900 at which point there was a change of name to Lacoste et Battmann. Mechanical components were manufactured as well as complete cars usually equipped with De Dion or Aster engines. These were re-badged by scores of‘ manufacturers’ around Europe. Standard configurations of 6hp and 8hp engines were available. Later, larger engined vehicles were available bearing the Lacoste et Battmann brand.
52 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run