122 Austin (Flying A) Badge - History

Austin Motor Company
AUTOMOTIVE BADGES ALBUM
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AUSTIN ALBUM
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Founded in 1905 by Herbert Austin a former manager of the Wolseley tool and motor company, in Longbidge, Birmingham in 1905.
The first car was a conventional 5-litre four-cylinder model with chain drive, of which about 200 were made in the first five years. Austin grew enormously during the First World War, fulfilling government contracts for everything from artillery to aircraft, and the workforce expanded from around 2,500 to 22,000.
After the war Herbert Austin decided on a one-model policy based on the 3620 cc 20 hp engine.but volumes were never eneough to to maintain the company, which fell into receivership in 1922, and directors were appointed by with the backing of the Midland Bank.
In a quest to expand market share, smaller cars were introduced, the 1661 cc Twelve in 1922 and, later the same year, the Seven, an inexpensive, simple small car and one of the earliest to be directed at a mass market. At one point, the "Baby Austin" was built under licence by the fledgling BMW of Germany (as the Dixi); by the Japanese manufacturer Datsun; as the Bantam in the United States; and as the Rosengart in France. And in England the Austin was the most produced car in 1930
With the help of the Seven, Austin weathered the worst of the depression and remained profitable through the 1930s, producing a wider range of cars which was steadily updated by the introduction of all-steel bodies, Girling brakes, and synchromesh gearboxes. However, all the engines retained the same side-valve conformation. Deputy chairman Ernest Payton became chairman in 1941 on the death of Lord Austin. In 1938 Leonard Lord joined the company board and became chairman in 1946.
The post-war car range was announced in 1944, and production started in 1945. The immediate post-war range was mainly similar to that of the late 1930s but did include the 16 hp, significant for having the company's first overhead valve engine.
In 1952 The Austin Motor Company Limited merged with the Morris Motors Limited in The British Motor Corporation Limited . Also in 1952, Austin did a deal with Donald Healey, the renowned automotive engineer. It led to a new marque, Austin-Healey, and a range of sports cars.
With the threat to fuel supplies resulting from the 1956 Suez Crisis Lord asked Alec Issigonis who had been with Morris from 1936 to 1952, to design a small car; the result was the revolutionary Mini, launched in 1959.
In September 1965 BMC completed the purchase of its major supplier, Pressed Steel. Twelve months later it completed the purchase of Jaguar and in December 1966 changed its name from BMC to BMH, British Motor Holdings Limited. In early 1968 under government pressure BMH merged with Leyland Motors Limited and Austin became a part of the large British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC) combine.

Many thanks for a Supersonic
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Shot 29.05.2016 at Gaydon Motor Museum, Transport Show REF 119-122.

Taken in: UK / England / Stratford-on-Avon District / Gaydon (show map)

Taken on: May 29, 2016

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Sets appears in: • Automotive Badges. • Austin more » • Gaydon Transport Show 05-2016 « less

Groups appears in: • AutomotivePhoto • Car Emblems and Badges more » • Flickr Automotive • 1,000,000 Car Photos • All about Cars • BMC and British Leyland fans • Motoring • ALL CARS AND ANY TRANSPORTATION FROM AROUND THE WORLD! • Cars, planes, motorbikes, boats, trains and trucks of the whole • A Passion For Cars... • car radiator badges • Great British Cars « less

Camera: Canon EOS 100D, f/5.0, 1/80 sec, 42mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 100D
Aperture:	f/5.0
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	42mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
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