[D]

AO Lord was an engineer who had previously designed the Albert (the name was taken from the nearby Albert Embankment).

In 1922 the first Loyd-Lord appeared at Olympia. Displayed by Loyd-Lord Ltd. of Grosvenor Works, 327a High Road, Chiswick. They also had a sales office at 166 Piccadilly.

Vivian Loyd, born in 1894, was the son of a Berkshire magistrate. His great-grandfather had been named Lloyd but had dropped the second L. Loyd worked for a bank in Canada before returning home on the outbreak of World War I and gaining a commission in the Royal Field Artillery.

In August 1924 the company applied for voluntary liquidation, but it seems that Loyd's money averted disaster and paid all the debts.

AO Lord later formed Messrs Lord Six Motors in West Kensington where he designed 1.5 litre six-cylinder engine and offered it to motor manufacturers.

Loyd formed Carden-Loyd to develop light tanks with John Carden (designer of Carden, AV & Tamplin). This business was so successful that in 1928 it was bought by Vickers-Armstrong.

Loyd died, aged 78 in 1972.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk