Ambi-Budd

Budd was a company founded by Edward Gowen Budd in Philadelphia, USA. Budd studied at the University of Pennsylvania and his first work was at a company making automobile wheels from pressed steel rather than by casting. Steel-shaping technology progressed rapidly at the time and soon the company also made parts like doors and front walls in pressed steel. In 1912, Budd started his own company after he found out how to make complex shaped parts in pressed steel. The company's chief engineer was Joseph Ledwinka, a relative of Hans Ledwinka. The company managed to land several large orders like an all-steel body for Buick and 2000 Oakland superstructures. Later Budd also made bodies for Cadillac, Chrysler, Delage, Citroën, Mercedes, Morris and Nash as well as the doors of the Ford Model T. In 1916 Budd also started the Budd Wheel Company making wheels for Dodge. In 1935 they made ventilated disc brakes, first for racing, but later also for passenger cars.

Due to the high demand of parts for Ford Model T and A, the company started another factory in Detroit in 1925.

Louis Renault used Budd patents in France, but was sued in Germany and was forced to pay royalties. Other license users were Peugeot, Simca, Tatra, Austin, and Fiat.

In 1925, William Morris visited the Budd factory and when he returned home he started the Pressed Steel Company in Coventry in partnership with Edward G Budd.

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