James Sidney Drewry
Encyclopedia
James Sidney Drewry was a British engineer, born at Clapton, London.
, having built his first machine at Teddington
in 1902. He founded the Drewry Car Co.
in 1906 with his father Charles Stewart Drewry. By 1910, Drewry was working for the Lacre Motor Company at Letchworth
, Hertfordshire
. In 1922, Drewry, together with Harry Shelvoke
(another Lacre employee) set up the firm of Shelvoke and Drewry
to manufacture road vehicles. He remained at Shelvoke and Drewry until 1936. He held over 60 patents, in his name, or jointly with others, for engineering inventions. James Sidney Drewry died at Letchworth, Hertfordshire on 14 December 1952.
Family history
James Sidney Drewry was the son of Charles Stewart Drewry and Julia Fava Wood. He married Mabel May Hyde and they had two daughters, Barbara and Christine.Career
J. S. Drewry claimed to be the originator of the petrol railcarRailcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
, having built his first machine at Teddington
Teddington
Teddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
in 1902. He founded the Drewry Car Co.
Drewry Car Co.
Drewry Car Co, strictly speaking, was a railway locomotive and railcar sales organisation for most of its life. Only at the start and the end of its life did it build its own products, relying on sub-contractors for the rest of its time...
in 1906 with his father Charles Stewart Drewry. By 1910, Drewry was working for the Lacre Motor Company at Letchworth
Letchworth
Letchworth Garden City, commonly known as Letchworth, is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The town's name is taken from one of the three villages it surrounded - all of which featured in the Domesday Book. The land used was first purchased by Quakers who had intended to farm the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. In 1922, Drewry, together with Harry Shelvoke
Harry Shelvoke
Harry Shelvoke was one of the founding members of the British coachbuilding and engineering company Shelvoke and Drewry. He was one of the last members to bear a family name that is documented to have become extinct in modern times...
(another Lacre employee) set up the firm of Shelvoke and Drewry
Shelvoke and Drewry
Shelvoke & Drewry was a British manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles, now defunct. It was best known for its innovative waste collection vehicles, which were once the preferred choice of municipal authorities in the UK...
to manufacture road vehicles. He remained at Shelvoke and Drewry until 1936. He held over 60 patents, in his name, or jointly with others, for engineering inventions. James Sidney Drewry died at Letchworth, Hertfordshire on 14 December 1952.