Better known for their commercial vehicles, Maudslay built several cars up to the outbreak of The Great War. After the war the company made only commercial vehicles except for a prototype two-litre car in 1923.

Henry Maudslay was born in 1771 and died in Lambeth on the 15th February 1831. Henry had two sons, Joseph (1801-1861) and Thomas Henry (1792-1864).

Henry Maudslay invented the micrometer in 1805. He worked at the Woolwich Arsenal were he invented accurate screw cutting lathes among other machines. He made the first standard threads, work that was continued by his apprentice, Whitworth.

He founded Maudslay, Sons & Field at Lambeth in the early 19th century to make marine engines and after his death the company was involved with Sir Charles Dance's steam carriage and built marine steam engines until 1899. (Including, in 1838, engines for the SS Great Western).

Thomas Henry helped to run Maudslay, Sons & Field until financial difficulties in 1899 led to Henry's grandson WH Maudslay founding a factory in Coventry to build internal combustion engines. Assisted by his son Reginald and his cousin Cyril, (born 1875). In 1901 this became the Maudslay Motor Company where WH Maudslay was chairman until about 1906.

Around 1901 Reginald and his father started the Standard Motor Company. (Named after standardisation of parts). They employed Alexander Craig to design a car and he came up with a three-cylinder engine with a hinged overhead camshaft that enabled valves to be changed in minutes. Craig also designed for Standard, Singer and Lea-Francis. He became a director of Maudslay in 1907. Reginald died in 1934.

Henry's three surviving grandsons, Joseph, Cyril and the Reverend H Maudslay Hordern, Bishop of Lewes, wished to commemorate their grandfathers' name, so in 1942 founded the Maudslay Society to encourage young engineers.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk