Lanchester Motor Company

The Lanchester Motor Company Limited was a British car manufacturer in trade between 1899 and 1955. It grew from the three Lanchester brothers, Frederick, George and Frank, who incorporated The Lanchester Engine Company in December 1899 with the financial support of Charles and John Pugh of Rudge-Whitworth, and made its first production cars in 1900. In 1902 it became the first company to sell disc brakes to the public. After a liquidation in 1904 it was reorganised as the Lanchester Motor Company, located at Armourer Mills in Sparkbrook, Birmingham until early 1931 and afterwards at Sandy Lane in Coventry. BSA bought it at the end of 1930, after which Daimler built its cars, and with Daimler it became part of Jaguar Cars in 1960; the rights to the Lanchester brand later passed to Jaguar Land Rover. The company is still registered but the marque has been dormant since 1955.