Hotchkiss et cie of Courthouse Green, Coventry and of France. Also Hotchkiss Ordnance Co in 1905
General
Early 1860s, during the American Civil War, the Hotchkisses, father and son, were manufacturers of munitions for the Federal Government; the Hotchkiss shell was the standard projectile for muzzle-loading field and garrison artillery.
During the Franco-Prussian War, B. B. Hotchkiss was invited to France by the Committee of National Defence, where he organized a factory at Viviez to manufacture small arms ammunition. At the end of the war, the factory was abandoned. New works were established in Paris, where the Hotchkiss revolving cannon was developed as a defence against the new torpedo boats.
1875 To meet the demands for this weapon, works were established at St. Denis, near Paris. The Hotchkiss quick-firing and semi-automatic guns and the Hotchkiss automatic machine guns were made here.
1889 May. Paris Exhibition. Heavy guns. [1]
1906 Hotchkiss et Cie were pioneers in the application of the live axle and cardan drive to high power cars. Produced 25-29 h.p., 30-25 h.p. and 40-45 h.p. shaft-driven cars. The largest was six-cylinders; the other two were four-cylinders. Agents were the London and Parisian Motor Co. [2]
1914 The Hotchkiss machine gun plant was moved from St. Denis to Lyons.
1915 Established machine gun works in Coventry at the request of the British Government. These machine guns were used in British tanks and by the British cavalry.
1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices see the 1917 Red Book. Sales via London and Parisian Motor Co.
Post War: The Coventry works were adapted to general engineering.
1920 The works were engaged in quantity production of motor engines and gears[3]
1920 See Hotchkiss: 1920.
1923 Morris purchased the works of Hotchkiss et Cie, Coventry, who had been supplying it with engines and gear-boxes since 1920.
1951 Exhibitor at the 1951 Motor Show in the Car Section.
Early Registrations
- 1904 LC 7777
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Engineer of 3rd May 1889 p362
- ↑ The Automobile Vol. III. Edited by Paul N. Hasluck and published by Cassell in 1906.
- ↑ From Coventry Chamber of Commerce Year Book 1920
- [1] MICMA Web Site