Daimler Hire

Daimler Hire Limited provided a luxury chauffeur-driven Daimler limousine-hire-service from Knightsbridge in London. Incorporated in 1919 to take over the operations of Daimler's hire department, Daimler Hire was a subsidiary of The Daimler Company Limited. The company's services later included self-drive hire cars, which continued to the end of the company's existence. Aviation services introduced in 1919 and motor yacht rental services introduced in 1922 were sold in 1924.

Majority shareholding in Daimler Hire was sold to Thomas Tilling Limited in 1930; in 1949 The Daimler Company sold its remaining shares to the same company. In the 1950s, Humber Pullman and Humber Super Snipe limousines were added to its fleet. In 1958, the company was sold to Hertz, an American car rental company, as a base to enter the British market. Daimler Hire was discontinued in 1976.

Formally inaugurated in December 1907, Daimler's hire department began when half a dozen of the Coventry workforce were ”put through a thorough course of tuition on the motor and driving” so that carriages could be “let out on hire with a competent driver for a period not exceeding three months at a charge of £5 per week – this amount , less driver’s wages to be refunded in the event of purchase”. The London operation began as a reserve pool of cars and staff of drivers to provide support for the mews at Buckingham Palace and other Daimler owners when their cars need servicing. Its services soon extended to prosperous London residents who did not wish to have the trouble of keeping their own car and driver. Visitors toured Europe in their Daimler Hire limousines with chauffeur-guide. Daimler viewed it as “a demonstration to all the world of the utility comfort and reliability of the Daimler car”.

BY APPOINTMENT

DAIMLER HIRE LIMITED

By road or air to anywhere

You can hire a luxurious six-seater Daimler Car for 150 miles with a time limit of 15 hours for 8 guineas. Excess mileage 6d per mile.

Special Theatre or Evening Service 20 miles between 6 p.m. and 12 midnight for 35s.
Write or 'phone for full Hire Tariff.

TO PARIS BY AIR
The Daimler Airway takes you to Paris in 125 minutes. Regular daily service
For time and fares see daily press.

Taxi Planes will take you to anywhere in Europe.
Apply to any Travel Agent, or at

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Wikipedia