Edward J. Hardy and Co of Coventry, makers of the Hardy Spicer universal joint, Thermoid brake linings, and Longuemare-Hardy carburettors.
1903 E. J. Hardy and Co was formed by Edward John Hardy to import motor parts from France[1].
1912 Incorporated as a limited company
1914 Flexible rubber coupling developed and patented [2] that became widely used on British cars and trucks; private company E. J. Hardy and Co Ltd was formed to develop it. Licence to manufacture granted to US Thermoid Rubber Company. US contacts led to link with Spicer Manufacturing Corporation which acquired shareholding in Hardy, who were granted the British rights to Spicer mechanical universal joint [3]. In 1929 there was an application to extend the patent.[4]
1920 November. Exhibited at the Motor Car Show at Olympia and the White City with flexible couplings
1922 Acquired from Bound Brook Oil-Less Bearing Co of USA rights to manufacture oil-less bearings in UK and British Empire[5].
1925 The patent rights, goodwill and assets of the Alpe Patent Couplings, 41, Livery-street, Birmingham, were taken over by the company. The business of the Alpe Company was moved to E. J. Hardy and Company's works at Coventry and Birmingham, where the Alpe couplings were manufactured under the supervision of Mr. R. J. Aple, the patentee. Mr Joseph A. Oldbury was managing director of both concerns.[6]
1925 Arrangement with Spicer Corporation to manufacture mechanical joint under licence[7].
1926 Name changed to Hardy, Spicer and Co[8].
See Also
Sources of Information
- The Engineer of 19th November 1920 p498