Mann, Egerton & Company Ltd. was an automotive and aerospace company which was headquartered in
Norwich
Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...
, United Kingdom. During its history the company was variously active in automotive retailing, aircraft manufacturing, automotive coachbuilding, and electrical services.
It was formally founded in 1905 by Gerald Mann, an electrical engineer and Hubert Egerton, although the two had been working in partnership for a number of preceding years (the logo “Tern” used in the 1960s was often accompanied by the statement “ESTD. 1898”). Besides car dealing the company continued electrical installation work.
History
The company supplied its first custom built car body in 1909 for a
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (always hyphenated) may refer to:
* Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of cars and later aero engines, founded in 1906, now defunct
Automobiles
* Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the current car manufacturing company incorporated in ...
chassis. By 1913, it had branches across East Anglia and in London.
Starting in 1915, the company was required to build aeroplanes for the national war effort. Most of the aircraft were built under licence, including 22
Short Admiralty Type 184s and 20
Short Bombers. Towards the end of the conflict the firm built 100
SPAD S.VII
The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and r ...
French designed fighters. The company also produced ten examples of its own
Type B the further development of the Short Type 184.
[Mason 1994, p.72.]
In the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
they built vehicle bodies for the Government, especially the ambulance
Austin K2/Y.
The headquarters were in ''Prince of Wales Road''
Norwich
Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...
where they had one dealership of
British Leyland
British Leyland was an automotive engineering and manufacturing conglomerate formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd (BLMC), following the merger of Leyland Motors and British Motor Holdings. It was partl ...
. The garage in Surrey Street, Norwich had one dealership of Ford and commercial vehicles and the woodworking business were run from premises on Cromer Road, Norwich. Over the years garages in several other towns were opened or acquired, including
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, in England, spanning several boroughs. Over time, a number of definitions have been used to define the scope of Central London for statistics, urban planning and local government. Its characteris ...
where they sold cars of
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (always hyphenated) may refer to:
* Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of cars and later aero engines, founded in 1906, now defunct
Automobiles
* Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the current car manufacturing company incorporated in ...
and
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British designer, manufacturer and marketer of luxury cars and SUVs. Headquartered in Crewe, England, the company was founded as Bentley Motors Limited by W. O. Bentley (1888–1971) in 1919 in Cricklewood, North ...
, Finchley, Lowestoft, Uttoxeter, Leicester, Nottingham (formerly Atkeys), Derby and Worcester.
The electrical department was sold to the
Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company
The Westinghouse Brake & Signal Company Ltd was a British manufacturer of railroad signs. Founded by George Westinghouse, it was registered as "Westinghouse Brake Company" in 1881. The company reorganised in 1920, associating with Evans O'Donnell ...
in 1964. Mann Egerton was acquired by
Inchcape plc
Inchcape plc is a British multinational automotive distribution, retail and services company headquartered in London. An outgrowth of Calcutta-based Mackinnon Mackenzie Company, Inchcape has operations in 32 countries across Asia, Australia, ...
in September 1973, although its woodworking business continued until it was bought out by the management in 1986.
The woodworking business made school furniture. The vehicles made by the coachbuilding business included refrigerated vehicles for companies such as
Findus
Findus () is a frozen food brand which was first sold in Sweden in 1945. Findus products include ready meals, peas and Crispy Pancakes, the latter of which were invented in the early 1970s.
The Swiss food company Nestlé owned the Findus brand ...
and
Birds Eye
Birds Eye is an American international brand of frozen foods owned by Conagra Brands in the United States, by Nomad Foods in Europe, and Simplot in Australia.
The former Birds Eye Company Ltd., originally named "Birdseye Seafood, Inc." had be ...
. The business was sold to ''Bonallack Coachbuilders''.
Aircraft Manufacture
*
Short Type 184
The Short Admiralty Type 184, often called the Short 225 after the power rating of the engine first fitted, was a British two-seat reconnaissance, bombing and torpedo carrying folding-wing seaplane designed by Horace Short of Short Brothers. It ...
(22 Aircraft)
*
Short Bomber (20 Aircraft)
*
SPAD S.VII
The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and r ...
(100 Aircraft)
*
Mann Egerton Type B
The Mann Egerton Type B was a 1910s British maritime patrol aircraft developed from the Short Type 184 by Mann Egerton and Company of Norwich.
Design and development
Mann Egerton were given a contract in 1915 to build the Short Type 184, a t ...
(1916)
*
Mann Egerton Type H (1917)
See also
*
Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom
The aerospace industry of the United Kingdom is the second-largest national aerospace industry in the world (after the United States) and the largest in Europe by turnover, with a global market share of 17% in 2019. In 2020, the industry employed ...
*
Automotive industry in the United Kingdom
The automotive industry in the United Kingdom is now best known for premium and sports car marques including Aston Martin, Bentley, Caterham Cars, Daimler, Jaguar, Lagonda, Land Rover, Lister Cars, Lotus, McLaren, MG, Mini, Morgan and Rolls ...
References
*
*
{{Defunct aerospace companies of the United Kingdom
Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Companies based in Norwich
British companies established in 1905
Manufacturing companies established in 1905
Retail companies established in 1905
Auto dealerships of the United Kingdom
Coachbuilders of the United Kingdom
1905 establishments in England