Humber
Thomas Humber was a blacksmith who began making bicycles in 1868, opening a factory in Coventry in 1887. Humber Cycles were world famous before the first car was made by Humber in 1898. Beeston, near Nottingham was also established as a production centre, but it was the mid 1900's before volume production started.
The factory was one of the first to make aero engines during the Great War and afterwards a series of small cars was offered, but later models were within the 12 to 24 hp range which was the mainstay of the Humber business.
Humber acquired Commer Cars in 1926, but was then itself brought under the control of Rootes the following year.
During World War II Humber built numerous scout cars for the Army, along with heavy 4x4 utilities and ambulances.
With the return to peacetime the Humber Pullman limousine had arrived on the scene, and many were produced for the armed services. More models introduced were Hawk, Snipe and Super Snipe.
Many of the convertibles and luxury saloons were fitted by Thrupp & Maberley, the oldest firm in the Rootes Empire, established as carriage builders in the 1780's.
Although not really regarded as a commercial builder, in the fifties Humber made 1 ton trucks for the Army, and the famous "Humber Pig"; a hastily designed armoured vehicle which was pressed into service quickly in Northern Ireland.
