Lucas Automotive: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT [[Lucas Industries plc]] |
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'''Lucas Automotive''' was a famous [[United Kingdom|British]] manufacturer of [[automobile|automotive]] components for the motor industry. |
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==History== |
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The company based in King Street, [[Birmingham]] founded by [[Joseph Lucas]] and his son Harry in 1872 at first made general pressed metal merchandise including [[lamp]]s for ships and coaches, later moving into oil and [[acetylene]] lamps for [[bicycle]]s. In 1902, what was now '''Joseph Lucas Ltd''' started making automotive electrical components such as [[Magneto (electrical)|magneto]]s, [[alternator]]s, [[windshield wipers|windscreen wipers]], horns, lighting, wiring and [[starter motor]]s. The company started its main growth in 1914 with a contract to supply the [[Morris Motor Company]] with electrical equipment. During the [[First World War]] Lucas made [[shell (projectile)|shells]] and fuses as well as electrical equipment for military vehicles. After the war they expanded rapidly but not only by gaining new business - in 1926 they gained an exclusive contract with [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]] - but also by swallowing up most of their British rivals. |
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Around 1930, Lucas and [[Smiths Industries|Smiths]] established a trading agreement to avoid competition in each others markets. |
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Lucas marketed its early headlights under the brand name "King of the Road". In the [[1960s]] in the [[United States]] the legendary unreliability of Lucas electrics fitted to imported British cars such as [[MG (car)|MG]]s, [[Triumph Motor Company|Triumph]]s, [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar]]s and [[Rover (car)|Rover]]s led to the coining of the nickname - "Lord Lucas - Prince of Darkness". As such Lucas is the butt of many jokes, but the unreliability of Lucas electrics is overstated. The fact that many cars employing Lucas electrics are still on the road 30, 40, or more years after manufacture is proof of their durability. It is often said that the biggest problem that Lucas electrics suffer is that of previous "repairs" and "improvements" by unskilled car owners. |
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In the UK, Lucas had a substantial part of the market with its major competitor being [[AC-Delco]] (part of [[General Motors]]) from the late [[1950s]] |
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[[Lucas Industries plc]] also owned the [[Girling]], [[CAV diesel]] (from a pre-war agreement with [[Bosch]]), [[Simms]], [[Crosland]] companies and acquired the [[Varity Corporation]] in [[1996]]. After a series of disposals, the remains of Lucas merged in 1996 with the [[U.S.]] company [[Varity]] to become [[LucasVarity]] plc who were in 1999 taken over by the US automotive supplier [[TRW]] Inc. |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.triple-c.com/Page.cfm?InfoID=5276 history of Great King Street site] |
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*[http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1960_1969/fulltext/025c03.pdf History of Lucas contained in report by UK Competition Commission] |
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{{auto-company-stub}} |
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{{UK-stub}} |
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[[Category:Auto parts suppliers]] |
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[[Category:Motor vehicle companies]] |
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[[Category:Automotive companies of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Defunct companies of the United Kingdom]] |
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Revision as of 22:23, 8 December 2006
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