Dennis Specialist Vehicles
The later style of Dennis badge
|
|
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Fate | Merged with Alexander and Plaxton |
| Successor |
Alexander Dennis Limited (Chassis Group) John Dennis Coachbuilders Dennis Eagle Limited |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Founder | Dennis Brothers |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Guildford, England |
| Parent | Hestair Group (1972-1989) Trinity Holdings (1989-1998) Mayflower Corporation (1998-2004) |
| Website | www |
Dennis Specialist Vehicles Limited was a major British manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles based in Guildford, England. The company was best known as the manufacturer of fire engines, although its other major product lines were buses, dustcarts and airport service vehicles.
Originally known as Dennis Brothers Ltd, the company was founded in 1895 by brothers John Cawsey (1871–1939) and (Herbert) Raymond (1878–1939) Dennis who made Speed King bicycles which they sold from their shop, the Universal Athletic Stores, in Guildford. They made their first motor vehicle in 1898, and in 1899, their first car; though shown at the National Cycle Show, it was never produced or sold. They entered car production around 1900. About this time John Dennis built the 30,000 square foot three storey building with lift between floors later known as the Rodboro Buildings, the first purpose-built motor vehicle factory in Britain, to manufacture motor vehicles in Onslow Street in the centre of Guildford. Larger models followed with a 35 hp (26 kW; 35 PS) model in 1906 powered by a White and Poppe engine; this power unit was soon fitted to all their models.
Commercial vehicle activity was increasing with the first bus being made in 1903 and fire engine in 1908. Cars soon took second place and it is doubtful if any were made after about 1915.
In 1913 Dennis Brothers moved to a new much larger building of almost four acres on a twelve-acre site at Woodbridge on the outskirts of Guildford leaving Onslow Street solely for repairs. The rate of expansion of the business may be gauged from the following expansions at Woodbridge in 1907, 1910, 1912and 1913. In mid-1913 an offer of shares to the public made the business owner a public listed company. At that time the business was described as manufacturers of motor-vans, motor-lorries, motor-fire-engines, motor-cars etc.
Wartime production was reduced to military lorries for the War Office and the Dennis turbine fire engine. New buildings were added to contain the manufacture of munitions.
White and Poppe in Coventry has always supplied engines for Dennis Brothers motor vehicles. It had been under consideration from before the war and it was announced in April 1919 that Dennis Brothers and White and Poppe had agreed to an exchange of shares in each other's business. the fact being to give Dennis Brothers a controlling interest in the other company. Mr White and Mr Poppe joined the Dennis Brothers board.and transferred engine production from Coventry to Guildford.
...
Wikipedia