Century

GB, 1899 – 1907

(1) Century Engineering & Motor Co Ltd, Altrincham, Cheshire, 1899 – 1901

(2) Century Engineering & Motor Co Ltd, Willesden, London N.W., 1901 – 1904

(3) Century Engineering Co Ltd, Willesden, London N.W., 1904 – 1907

Ralph Jackson of Altrincham, a bicycle makder since 1885, began vehicle manufacture with the Century Tandem, a two-seater tricar with 2¼hp single-cylinder engine and wheel steering which sold for £115. After the move to London, the Century car company was taken over by Sydney Begbie who had introduced Aster engines to England. He extended the range of Century tandems to three; they used engines by De Dion (3½hp), Aster and M.M.C. (both 5hp). In 1903 he introduced the Century car with 8hp and 12hp Aster 2-cylinder engines and 22hp Mutel 4-cylinder engines and English chassis an bodies. 1905 saw a range of improved Century trandems with 2-cylinder engines and two radiators, one on each side of the rear wheel. In 1906 the Century company was making Princess cars with 4-cylinder 16hp engines.

US, 1899 – 1903

Century Motor Vehicle Co, Syracuse, N.Y.

The first car produced by the American Century company was a light steamer powered by a 4¾hp 2-cylinder vertical engine. Final drive of this Century car was by bevel gear instead of the more usual single chain. This model was made until 1903 when it was succeeded by the petrol-engined Century Tourist. This was also a tiller-steered two seater, but had a single-cylinder engine and chain drive.

US, 1911 – 1915

(1) Century Motor Co, Detroit, Mich., 1911 – 1913

(2) Century Electric Car Co, Detroit, Mich., 1913 – 1915

The Century was an electric car with an underslung chassis. It was tiller-operated, and the customer had a choice of  solid or pneumatic tyres. The speed controller gave a choice of six speeds, and the series-wound Westinghouse motor was geared directly to the rear axle.

GB, 1928 – 1929

Century Cars Ltd, London N.W.1

The Century light car was one of several attempts in the late 1920s to make a £100 car. This Century car used a 2-troke engine of the same dimensions as the Austin Seven and had a light open two-seater body on a chassis of 7ft 3in wheelbase.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; GNG, GMN

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