Hampton (car)
Encyclopedia
The Hampton was a British car
made by the Hampton Engineering Company which was based in Kings Norton
, Birmingham from 1912 to 1918 and at Dudbridge
in Stroud, Gloucestershire
from 1918 to 1933
, Warwickshire where he sold cars and also offered to manufacture light cars and motorcycles. It is not known how many were actually made. In 1912 the Crowdy car company of Birmingham failed and the remains of that company was merged with Hampton Engineering and production moved to Kings Norton. The Crowdy 12/14 was fitted with a larger 1726 cc engine to become the Hampton 12/16. A belt driven cyclecar, apparently designed by Paddon, the Hampton 8 with 968 cc V-twin-cylinder air-cooled engine joined the range in 1913 followed in 1914 by the Hampton 10, a 1244 cc water-cooled version with shaft drive.
Production stopped with the outbreak of World War I and the company went into receivership in 1915.
between William Paddon and Charles Apperley of the Stroud Metal and Plating Company and production was transferred to Dudbridge
, Stroud. The first post war car was the Hampton 11.9 with either a 1496 cc or 1795 cc Dorman four-cylinder engine but only a few were made before the money ran out and the company was bought by a major shareholder John Daniel and re-registered as Hampton Engineering Co (1920) Ltd. William Paddon left to join the Autocrat car company of Birmingham.
William Millward who had been with Charron-Laycock joined as Works manager and designer in 1923 and John Leno, son of music hall star Dan Leno
became sales manager. In spite of sales of around 300 cars a year, Hampton failed again in 1924 but was reformed by Millward and Leno as the Stroud Motor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. A new, larger, model the Hampton 14, still with a 1496 cc engine, but now from Henry Meadows
, was announced.
In 1925 a receiver was appointed yet again but Hampton bounced back again as Hampton Cars (London) Ltd with finance from businessman John Hatton-Hall..
The company moved to smaller premises at Selsley Hill and introduced a more up-market three-litre car with Meadows six-cylinder engine alongside the old 14 which was now called the 12/40 or with smaller 1247 cc engine, the Nine. This did not help finances and the receiver was in again in 1930.
Miraculously, Hampton rose again now registered as the Safety Suspension Car Co. Fifty Straight 8 2496 cc engines and 100 chassis were ordered from Rohr of Germany to make the Empire Sportsman model. The spare 50 chassis were to be fitted with Continental 2414 cc six-cylinder engines. One or two at most were made before the company failed for the last time and closed in 1933.
During its history, Hampton made about 1100 cars. Five cars are thought to survive.
or Chapuis-Dornier.
The standard body built by Hampton was an open two-seater available in dark biscuit or lavender and priced at GBP520.. The suspension used semi-elliptic leaf springs at the front and three-quarter elliptic at the rear.
Several of the cars were used in motor sport competition.
A tourer cost GBP500 in 1923 but the price fell over the years to GBP315. A supercharger was possibly an option on some of the late cars showing Hampton still had sporting interests.
Tourer and saloon bodies were available from GBP450..
Few cars, probably less than 100 were made.
Although 50 of the eight-cylinder engine were ordered it is thought that very few cars were made.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
made by the Hampton Engineering Company which was based in Kings Norton
Kings Norton
Kings Norton is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a Birmingham City Council ward within the formal district of Northfield.-History:...
, Birmingham from 1912 to 1918 and at Dudbridge
Dudbridge
Dudbridge is a suburb on the southern edge of Stroud in Gloucestershire, England.-History:Dudbridge gains its name from the first bridge in the location, which spanned the River Frome...
in Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
from 1918 to 1933
Early history
The company was founded by William Paddon who lived in Hampton-in-ArdenHampton-in-Arden
Hampton-in-Arden is a village and civil parish located within the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the West Midlands of England. The village was previously located within the county of Warwickshire, until the 1974 county boundary changes. It lies in the countryside between Birmingham and Coventry...
, Warwickshire where he sold cars and also offered to manufacture light cars and motorcycles. It is not known how many were actually made. In 1912 the Crowdy car company of Birmingham failed and the remains of that company was merged with Hampton Engineering and production moved to Kings Norton. The Crowdy 12/14 was fitted with a larger 1726 cc engine to become the Hampton 12/16. A belt driven cyclecar, apparently designed by Paddon, the Hampton 8 with 968 cc V-twin-cylinder air-cooled engine joined the range in 1913 followed in 1914 by the Hampton 10, a 1244 cc water-cooled version with shaft drive.
Production stopped with the outbreak of World War I and the company went into receivership in 1915.
Post war
In 1919 the company was re-established as a joint ventureJoint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
between William Paddon and Charles Apperley of the Stroud Metal and Plating Company and production was transferred to Dudbridge
Dudbridge
Dudbridge is a suburb on the southern edge of Stroud in Gloucestershire, England.-History:Dudbridge gains its name from the first bridge in the location, which spanned the River Frome...
, Stroud. The first post war car was the Hampton 11.9 with either a 1496 cc or 1795 cc Dorman four-cylinder engine but only a few were made before the money ran out and the company was bought by a major shareholder John Daniel and re-registered as Hampton Engineering Co (1920) Ltd. William Paddon left to join the Autocrat car company of Birmingham.
William Millward who had been with Charron-Laycock joined as Works manager and designer in 1923 and John Leno, son of music hall star Dan Leno
Dan Leno
Dan Leno , born George Wild Galvin, was an English comedian and actor, famous for appearing in music hall and dozens of comic plays, pantomimes, Victorian burlesques and musical comedies during the Victorian era...
became sales manager. In spite of sales of around 300 cars a year, Hampton failed again in 1924 but was reformed by Millward and Leno as the Stroud Motor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. A new, larger, model the Hampton 14, still with a 1496 cc engine, but now from Henry Meadows
Henry Meadows
Henry Meadows of Wolverhampton, England were major suppliers of engines and transmissions, to the smaller companies in the British motor industry...
, was announced.
In 1925 a receiver was appointed yet again but Hampton bounced back again as Hampton Cars (London) Ltd with finance from businessman John Hatton-Hall..
The company moved to smaller premises at Selsley Hill and introduced a more up-market three-litre car with Meadows six-cylinder engine alongside the old 14 which was now called the 12/40 or with smaller 1247 cc engine, the Nine. This did not help finances and the receiver was in again in 1930.
Miraculously, Hampton rose again now registered as the Safety Suspension Car Co. Fifty Straight 8 2496 cc engines and 100 chassis were ordered from Rohr of Germany to make the Empire Sportsman model. The spare 50 chassis were to be fitted with Continental 2414 cc six-cylinder engines. One or two at most were made before the company failed for the last time and closed in 1933.
During its history, Hampton made about 1100 cars. Five cars are thought to survive.
Hampton 12/16
The 12/16 was a design obtained from the failed Crowdy car company fitted with a new side-valve engine. The company brochure shows an open tourer model priced at GBP295.Hampton 8
The Hampton 8 was a lightweight Cyclecar with two-cylinder engine bought in from Precision. The car had belt drive to the ear wheels.Hampton 10
The Hampton 14 was offered for one year only and had a four-cylinder engine from either BallotBallot (automobile)
Ballot was a French automobile manufacturer who made cars between 1921 and 1932.The Ballot brothers, Edouard and Maurice, founded their company in 1905. Before World War I they manufactured automobile and marine engines. The company was re-founded as Etablissements Ballot SA in 1910.Edouard...
or Chapuis-Dornier.
Hampton 10/16
This model had a variety of names, the 9.8, 10/16, 11.9 and 11/35. The 10/16 had a 1496 cc and the 11.9 and 11/35 a 1795 cc four-cylinder engine both bought in from Dorman. Although both models shared the same chassis the larger-engined car was longer overall by 12 inches (3050 mm).The standard body built by Hampton was an open two-seater available in dark biscuit or lavender and priced at GBP520.. The suspension used semi-elliptic leaf springs at the front and three-quarter elliptic at the rear.
Several of the cars were used in motor sport competition.
Hampton 14
The 14 was a larger-engined and longer version of the 9/21 with the engine now made by Henry Meadows but probably to the Dorman design used previously. The gearbox now had four speeds. The suspension used half elliptic springs on both axles.A tourer cost GBP500 in 1923 but the price fell over the years to GBP315. A supercharger was possibly an option on some of the late cars showing Hampton still had sporting interests.
Hampton nine
The Nine, also called the Junior, T10, 9/21 or 10 was a smaller version of the 14 with a shorter chassis.Hampton 20
The 20 was the first of a new range of larger cars with a Meadows engine and twin Zenith carburettors. It was also available with a German Röhr eighth cylinder engine of 2262 cc as the 8/18 model.Tourer and saloon bodies were available from GBP450..
Few cars, probably less than 100 were made.
Hampton Eight/Empire Sportsman
The final model used a Röhr chassis with independent suspension all round. At the front a transverse leaf spring was used. Servo brakes were fitted. The eight-cylinder engine was also by Röhr but the six was probably a Continental unit.Although 50 of the eight-cylinder engine were ordered it is thought that very few cars were made.