Duryea of USA and of Coventry
Originally of American construction; made cars in the UK from 1902.
See Charles Edgar Duryea and J. Frank Duryea
1895 A Duryea car took part in the 1895 One Hundred Miles Motor Car Trial
1896 established a company, the Duryea Motor Wagon Company, to build the Duryea model automobile, the first auto ever commercially manufactured.
Charles Duryea sought out investors and buyers while his brother, Frank Duryea, primarily handled the mechanical side of the business.
1898 Falling out between Frank and his brother Charles who went their separate ways
1900 Frank set up the Hampden Automobile and Launch Company (Springfield), while Charles joined J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company, who were about to start developing cars; they took over the factory of steam car and bicycle maker Overman (car company), sharing the premises for several months, to make the Stevens-Duryea car.
1901 Stevens-Duryea's first product was a two-cylinder, 5 hp Runabout that sold for $1,200 in 1901. No production numbers are known for 1901 but the firm produced 61 cars in 1902 and 483 in 1903. (A 1903 example can be seen at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI).
1902 Stevens-Duryea's runabout was imported to Britain by Joseph Baker and Sons[1] but did not succeed there; in the U.S.A. it survived several years.
1902 Henry Sturmey set up the Duryea Co in Coventry which built the car under licence for a few years The engines were made by Willans and Robinson in Rugby.[2]
1902 Advert: Motor Carriages from the Duryea Co of Coventry.
1906 Last model from Duryea Co was the Lotis-Duryea of 15-18 h.p. [3]
Notes from a correspondent[4]
The page above says that after the Duryea brothers separated, Charles Duryea went to work with the J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company and that Frank Duryea started the Hampden Automobile and Launch Company. I believe further research will show that Charles Duryea formed the Duryea Power Company around 1898 and continued to build Duryea autos for another ten years or so. Charles was too cantankerous to work for or with anyone else, in my humble opinion.
Frank Duryea worked in the Hampden Automobile and Launch Company 1898-1901 but they produced few vehicles. By 1903 Frank had moved to the Stevens Arms Company and HE was the Duryea in the Stevens-Duryea name, not Charles. The first Stevens-Duryea was produced in 1904, meanwhile, Charles was producing 3 and 4 wheeled vehicles, very little advanced from the first Duryea wagon.
Frank Duryea retired from work "due to ill health' around 1915 and did not work in the auto industry except as an advisor. He died in 1967 at age 97.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wikipedia
- Motor Cycling and Motoring 1902/12/03