2021 Coventry City of Culture: Pioneering Progress and Advancement
Coventry: The Motor City of History
Ready to explore the coolest relics that showcase Coventry's significant impact on Britain's industrial and cultural history? Dive into Revving Through Time to get the lowdown on Coventry's journey!
Wheels and Rides
Back in the swinging '60s, Coventry was the epicenter of the British car scene, often dubbed the "Motor City." But the love affair with transportation started way before for Coventry, as it was the birthplace of the modern bicycle a century prior.
The Coventry Machinists' Company, initially manufacturing sewing machines, became the first British company to mass-produce bicycles. In 1868, they accepted an order for 400 velocipedes (early forms of bicycles) for the French market, where they were all the rage. Known as 'boneshakers,' these early bicycles were uncomfortable and heavy. James Starley, an inventor and engineer, improved their design, and with his company, Starley and Hillman, created the radical "Ariel" ordinary bicycle, also known as the "Penny Farthing" due to its differently sized wheels.
By the late 1870s, bicycle manufacturers were exploring safer designs that would allow the rider to be closer to the ground. John Kemp Starley (nephew of James Starley) designed the first successful "safety" bicycle in 1885. Known as the "Rover," it boasted all the key features of modern bicycles, including a chain drive, which allowed both wheels to be the same size. The introduction of the safety bicycle skyrocketed bicycling's popularity, allowing women and the working classes, who were previously restricted to the wealthy, to enjoy private travel experiences.
Coventry bicycle manufacturers quickly jumped on the bandwagon, making their own safety bicycles. By the 1890s, Coventry had built the largest bicycle industry on the planet, employing nearly 40,000 workers across 248 firms. The skills and experience gained from making bicycles laid the groundwork for Coventry's leadership in the next shift in personal mobility... motor vehicles!
Between 1895 and 1900, inspired by European developments, Coventry manufacturers experimented with adding engines to their bicycles and tricycles. Motor-powered bicycles eventually evolved into motorcycles, followed by motorcars.
In 1896, inspired by the recent German car invention, Henry Lawson founded the Daimler Motor Company and set up shop in Coventry to become the first mass car manufacturer in Britain. The company's success attracted other automobile firms to the city, who also benefited from the component and machine-tool industries that grew out of the bicycle trade.
While other cities developed their own motor trade, Coventry, with its skilled workforce and specialized equipment, was the ideal place to invest and advance the new industry. Brands like Triumph and Rover thrived in the city, producing a wide range of components and vehicles, including motorcycles, lorries, tractors, and black cabs (London Hackney Carriages) from 1919.
During World War II, Coventry sustained significant air-raid damage, causing some firms like Singer Motors and the Rover Company to halt production in the city. However, like a phoenix reborn, Coventry's motor industry recovered, with Rootes and Standard jointly accounting for a quarter of British car production between 1950 and 1951.
Alas, the golden age eventually came to an end. During the 1970s, a combination of labor disputes, poor management, and international competition pushed Coventry's automotive industry into decline. Despite the widespread collapse, some manufacturers survived, with household names Jaguar and Aston Martin retaining a strong presence in the city today.
To the Skies
During World War I, Coventry's motorcar industry adapted to wartime needs, starting the production of aircraft, aero-engines, and associated equipment. Aircraft production surged in the 1920s with the transfer of Armstrong Whitworth's aircraft and motor sections to Coventry. Through mergers and acquisitions, Armstrong Whitworth became Armstrong-Siddeley and produced a range of low- and mid-powered aircraft engines, named after big cats.
Coventry native Frank Whittle, a cadet in the Royal Air Force in 1928, had the idea for a gas turbine engine. He envisioned that this engine would enable planes to fly higher and faster than with a piston engine and propeller. Whittle faced difficulties in securing funding for his invention, but with the threat of war in the 1930s, rearmament encouraged support for development. In May 1941, Britain's first jet-powered aircraft, the Gloster-Whittle E.28/39, took flight with the experimental Power Jets W.1 engine. The success of these flights led to the assignment of quantity production to the Rover car company, establishing Britain as a key player in the jet age.
Lines of Communication
In 1921, the General Electric Company (GEC), a company dealing in anything electrical, established its Coventry factory to capitalize on the city's growing population and cheap female labor. Focusing on communications equipment, GEC's Peel-Conner Telephone Works produced diverse goods, including the 1923 "GECophone" crystal detector radio set No. 1, an early receiver that used the power in the radio waves to generate sound through the headphones.
As wireless radios and telephones grew in popularity, so did GEC's workforce. Women made up the majority of the factory's manual workers, handling tasks such as coil winding, wiring, testing, and finishing. Although considered unskilled at the time, women were valued for their attention to detail and nimble fingers, capable of producing and handling thousands of identical small parts.
Despite being underpaid compared to their male counterparts, women remained a significant source of employment for Coventry's GEC until the 1970s. However, the introduction of new materials led to decreased piece rates, resulting in a strike by 200 workers in 1973, which successfully resulted in a change in their pay.
GEC played a pivotal role in expanding Britain's telephone network as one of the four (later five) companies supplying the General Post Office with telephone exchanges and equipment, much of which came out of Coventry's factory. While telephone-related goods remained a key output, the factory also developed other equipment, including radar for the Ministry of Defense during World War II, television sets, and later, products for the nuclear industry.
Closing Thoughts
Coventry has a knack for reinvention, leading transport transformations and connecting the world. Although the City of Culture award focuses on the cultural impact of Coventry, the city has left its mark on numerous aspects of our modern lives, from transportation to watch-making to fashion. As it looks towards the future and new emerging industries, we're certain Coventry will continue to play a significant role. 🚀🚗🛰️
- Despite its significance in the car industry, Coventry's impact on transportation dates back to the birthplace of the modern bicycle, a century before the Motor City era.
- The success of Coventry's innovative approach to bicycle manufacturing laid the groundwork for the city's eventual leadership in the motor vehicle industry, notably paving the way for the production of motorcycles, lorries, tractors, and black cabs by renowned brands like Triumph and Rover. Meanwhile, the city's advancements in bicycle and automotive industries were paralleled by developments in finance and communication, further cementing Coventry's status as a hub of industrial innovation.
