Siddeley-Deasy
Encyclopedia
Siddeley-Deasy was a British automobile, engine and aircraft company based in Coventry
in the early 20th century. It was central to the formation, by merger and buy-out, of the later Armstrong Sideleley Motor and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft companies.
in the factory that had previously been used to manufacture Iden cars. Deasy left in 1908 following disagreements with his Chief Engineer. The company changed its name from Deasy to Siddeley-Deasy after J D Siddeley
joined the company from Wolseley
in 1910.
Siddeley-Deasy grew rapidly using Rover
chassis
and Daimler
and Aster
engines. During World War I, Siddeley-Deasy grew to have 5,000 workers producing ambulances and aircraft engines which included the Puma, a water-cooled straight-6 and the Tiger. The latter was a water-cooled V-12, basically two Pumas on a common crankshaft. They were one of six companies to produce the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
aircraft from 1916. In 1917 three staff from the Royal Aircraft Factory joined Siddeley-Deasy and began to design fixed-wing aircraft. They were S.D.Heron, an engine designer, F.M.Green, who became the chief engineer, and John Lloyd, who became chief aircraft designer. These last two stayed with Siddeley Deasy and its successor for many years. During 1917–18 the team led by Lloyd had designed three aircraft, one of which, the Siskin, was to become well known.
After the war, conditions for manufactures were difficult, and in 1919 Siddeley suggested a merger with Armstrong-Whitworth who had been a supplier of Siddeley-Deasy engine castings. Armstrong Whitworth had themselves made aircraft, chiefly designed by Frederick Koolhoven
who left the company in 1917 and then by F.M Murphy, but by 1919 they had decided to abandon aircraft manufacture and shed the associated staff. The merger in May 1919 initially produced an Armstrong Whitworth subsidiary called the Armstrong Whitworth Development Co. Ltd, which in turn produced its own subsidiary, Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd, essentially the old Siddeley-Deasy Company. Armstrong-Siddeley produced radial aircraft engines throughout its life, together with turbojets after the war. In April 1920 or slightly later, it produced its own subsidiary, The Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co. Ltd.
This last company went on to produce Siskins
in large numbers, together with all the later Armstrong Whitworth designs.
In March 1927, John Siddeley bought the parent Armstrong Whitworth Development Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries from Armstrong Whitworth, renaming it the Armstrong Siddeley Development Co. Ltd. The name of the aircraft subsidiary, Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co. Ltd. remained the same. The two key members of the Siddeley Deasy design team stayed with the reamed company for many years. John Lloyd was chief designer until 1948 and retired as technical director in 1959. F.M. Green retired in 1933.
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in the early 20th century. It was central to the formation, by merger and buy-out, of the later Armstrong Sideleley Motor and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft companies.
History
The Deasy Motor Company was founded by Henry Hugh Peter DeasyHenry Hugh Peter Deasy
Henry Hugh Peter Deasy was an army officer, founder of the Deasy Motor Car Company and a writer. He was born in Dublin.He served as a British Army Captain , mostly in India, between 1888 and 1897, when he retired....
in the factory that had previously been used to manufacture Iden cars. Deasy left in 1908 following disagreements with his Chief Engineer. The company changed its name from Deasy to Siddeley-Deasy after J D Siddeley
John Davenport Siddeley, 1st Baron Kenilworth
John Davenport Siddeley, 1st Baron Kenilworth , was a captain of the automobile industry in the United Kingdom.-Career:...
joined the company from Wolseley
Wolseley Motor Company
The Wolseley Motor Company was a British automobile manufacturer founded in 1901. After 1935 it was incorporated into larger companies but the Wolseley name remained as an upmarket marque until 1975.-History:...
in 1910.
Siddeley-Deasy grew rapidly using Rover
Rover (car)
The Rover Company is a former British car manufacturing company founded as Starley & Sutton Co. of Coventry in 1878. After developing the template for the modern bicycle with its Rover Safety Bicycle of 1885, the company moved into the automotive industry...
chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
and Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
and Aster
Aster (auto parts company)
Aster was a French manufacturer of automobile parts; from 1900 to 1910 the company produced chassis, though it is not known if they built complete cars.The firm whose full name was Ateliers de Construction Mecanique l'Aster from St...
engines. During World War I, Siddeley-Deasy grew to have 5,000 workers producing ambulances and aircraft engines which included the Puma, a water-cooled straight-6 and the Tiger. The latter was a water-cooled V-12, basically two Pumas on a common crankshaft. They were one of six companies to produce the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War designed by John Kenworthy. Intended as a replacement for the vulnerable B.E.2, the R.E.8 was more difficult to fly, and was regarded with great suspicion at first in the Royal...
aircraft from 1916. In 1917 three staff from the Royal Aircraft Factory joined Siddeley-Deasy and began to design fixed-wing aircraft. They were S.D.Heron, an engine designer, F.M.Green, who became the chief engineer, and John Lloyd, who became chief aircraft designer. These last two stayed with Siddeley Deasy and its successor for many years. During 1917–18 the team led by Lloyd had designed three aircraft, one of which, the Siskin, was to become well known.
After the war, conditions for manufactures were difficult, and in 1919 Siddeley suggested a merger with Armstrong-Whitworth who had been a supplier of Siddeley-Deasy engine castings. Armstrong Whitworth had themselves made aircraft, chiefly designed by Frederick Koolhoven
Koolhoven
N.V. Koolhoven was an aircraft manufacturer based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. From its conception in 1926 to is destruction in the Blitzkrieg in May 1940, the company remained the Netherlands' second major aircraft manufacturer...
who left the company in 1917 and then by F.M Murphy, but by 1919 they had decided to abandon aircraft manufacture and shed the associated staff. The merger in May 1919 initially produced an Armstrong Whitworth subsidiary called the Armstrong Whitworth Development Co. Ltd, which in turn produced its own subsidiary, Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd, essentially the old Siddeley-Deasy Company. Armstrong-Siddeley produced radial aircraft engines throughout its life, together with turbojets after the war. In April 1920 or slightly later, it produced its own subsidiary, The Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co. Ltd.
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft
Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company, or Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, was a British aircraft manufacturer.-History:Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft was established as the Aerial Department of the Sir W. G Armstrong Whitworth & Company engineering group in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1912, and...
This last company went on to produce Siskins
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
The Armstrong Whitworth Siskin was a British biplane single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1920s produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. The Siskin was one of the first new RAF fighters to enter service after the First World War; it was noted for its aerobatic qualities.-Design and development:The...
in large numbers, together with all the later Armstrong Whitworth designs.
In March 1927, John Siddeley bought the parent Armstrong Whitworth Development Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries from Armstrong Whitworth, renaming it the Armstrong Siddeley Development Co. Ltd. The name of the aircraft subsidiary, Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co. Ltd. remained the same. The two key members of the Siddeley Deasy design team stayed with the reamed company for many years. John Lloyd was chief designer until 1948 and retired as technical director in 1959. F.M. Green retired in 1933.
Aircraft
- Siddeley-Deasy R.T.1Siddeley-Deasy R.T.1The Siddeley Deasy R.T.1 was designed in 1917 as a R.E.8 replacement. Like the R.E.8, it was a two seat single engined biplane built for reconnaissance work.-Development:...
- Armstrong Whitworth SiskinArmstrong Whitworth SiskinThe Armstrong Whitworth Siskin was a British biplane single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1920s produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. The Siskin was one of the first new RAF fighters to enter service after the First World War; it was noted for its aerobatic qualities.-Design and development:The...
- Siddeley-Deasy Siniai