Percy Martin (1871-1958) was an American-born British engineer and automobile manufacturer. Born in Columbus, Ohio 19 June 1871 he obtained a degree in mechanical engineering, specializing in electrical engineering, from Ohio State University in 1892.[1]
He worked for General Electric in Milan and Berlin then in 1901 on holiday in England and through a chance meeting he was asked to take up the works manager's position at the Daimler Company in Coventry which he did in October 1901.
The following July he married Alice Helen Heublein from Hartford, Connecticut, they had a son and a daughter.[1]
Daimleredit
Soon rationalising Daimler's range of 10 different models he promptly designed then completed the entry into production of two new cars, Daimler's 22 hp and 12 hp. He established improved incentive payments and improved the management of Daimler's design, operations and materials.[1]
Daimler and B.S.A.edit
On the merging of the businesses of Daimler and arms and munitions manufacturer Birmingham Small Arms Company in October 1910 Percy Martin took up the position of managing director of the combined enterprise.[2] He was to serve more than twenty years in that post.[3]
World War I
In December 1916 he was appointed Controller of Internal Combustion Engines by the Ministry of Munitions and to The Air Board where he represented the Ministry of Munitions.[4]
Airco
In January 1920 B.S.A., on Martin's say so, bought from George Holt Thomas his aircraft business, Airco. In wartime Airco had been producing new aircraft at the rate of one every 45 minutes. The B.S.A. board made the purchase presuming Martin had carried out a due diligence investigation which he hadn't. The Airco companies were on the brink of financial collapse. Though they were closed immediately the losses were so grievous that B.S.A., one of the nation's major industrial combines, was obliged to miss paying a dividend for four years.[5]
Retirement
At the beginning of the 1930s there were boardroom disagreements, a new chairman and, only technically subject to his direction, new executives covering much of his area of responsibility.[5] Martin remained with B.S.A. and its subsidiary Daimler until his retirement from day to day responsibilities in Aprll 1934 at a time when in spite of the depression B.S.A. still directly employed more than 11,000 people.[6] He was appointed chairman of Daimler.[7] He gave up his seat on the B.S.A. board after one more year.[8]
Sleeve valves and Daimler's fluid flywheeledit
Percy Martin was particularly involved in two successful technical developments, the development and introduction in 1908 of sleeve valves for Daimler's engines and, in 1930, their fluid flywheel fitted to all their vehicles in conjunction with Wilsonsepicyclic gearboxes and a forerunner of automatic transmissions.[1]
Deathedit
After retirement Martin remained in England living at Kenilworth near Coventry where he died in November 1958 a few months after his wife.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeRichard A. Storey, ‘Martin, Percy (1871–1958)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
^Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Tuesday 10 April 1934
^The Birmingham Small Arms Company (Limited). The Times Saturday, Oct 13, 1917; pg. 11; Issue 41608
^ abDavenport-Hines, R. P. T. (2004). Dudley Docker: The Life and Times of a Trade Warrior. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-89400-X.
^Birmingham Small Arms Company. The Times, Friday, Nov 17, 1933; pg. 22; Issue 46604
^B.S.A. Appointments. The Times, Tuesday, Jan 30, 1934; pg. 20; Issue 46665
^Birmingham Small Arms Company. The Times, Wednesday, Nov 13, 1935; pg. 19; Issue 47220
January 01, 1970
percy, martin, 1871, 1958, american, born, british, engineer, automobile, manufacturer, born, columbus, ohio, june, 1871, obtained, degree, mechanical, engineering, specializing, electrical, engineering, from, ohio, state, university, 1892, 1911, contents, gen. Percy Martin 1871 1958 was an American born British engineer and automobile manufacturer Born in Columbus Ohio 19 June 1871 he obtained a degree in mechanical engineering specializing in electrical engineering from Ohio State University in 1892 1 Percy Martin 1911 Contents 1 General Electric 2 Daimler 3 Daimler and B S A 3 1 Sleeve valves and Daimler s fluid flywheel 4 Death 5 ReferencesGeneral Electric editHe worked for General Electric in Milan and Berlin then in 1901 on holiday in England and through a chance meeting he was asked to take up the works manager s position at the Daimler Company in Coventry which he did in October 1901 The following July he married Alice Helen Heublein from Hartford Connecticut they had a son and a daughter 1 Daimler editSoon rationalising Daimler s range of 10 different models he promptly designed then completed the entry into production of two new cars Daimler s 22 hp and 12 hp He established improved incentive payments and improved the management of Daimler s design operations and materials 1 Daimler and B S A editOn the merging of the businesses of Daimler and arms and munitions manufacturer Birmingham Small Arms Company in October 1910 Percy Martin took up the position of managing director of the combined enterprise 2 He was to serve more than twenty years in that post 3 World War I In December 1916 he was appointed Controller of Internal Combustion Engines by the Ministry of Munitions and to The Air Board where he represented the Ministry of Munitions 4 Airco In January 1920 B S A on Martin s say so bought from George Holt Thomas his aircraft business Airco In wartime Airco had been producing new aircraft at the rate of one every 45 minutes The B S A board made the purchase presuming Martin had carried out a due diligence investigation which he hadn t The Airco companies were on the brink of financial collapse Though they were closed immediately the losses were so grievous that B S A one of the nation s major industrial combines was obliged to miss paying a dividend for four years 5 Retirement At the beginning of the 1930s there were boardroom disagreements a new chairman and only technically subject to his direction new executives covering much of his area of responsibility 5 Martin remained with B S A and its subsidiary Daimler until his retirement from day to day responsibilities in Aprll 1934 at a time when in spite of the depression B S A still directly employed more than 11 000 people 6 He was appointed chairman of Daimler 7 He gave up his seat on the B S A board after one more year 8 Sleeve valves and Daimler s fluid flywheel edit Percy Martin was particularly involved in two successful technical developments the development and introduction in 1908 of sleeve valves for Daimler s engines and in 1930 their fluid flywheel fitted to all their vehicles in conjunction with Wilsons epicyclic gearboxes and a forerunner of automatic transmissions 1 Death editAfter retirement Martin remained in England living at Kenilworth near Coventry where he died in November 1958 a few months after his wife 1 References edit a b c d e Richard A Storey Martin Percy 1871 1958 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Coventry Herald Friday 30 September 1910 Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Tuesday 10 April 1934 The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited The Times Saturday Oct 13 1917 pg 11 Issue 41608 a b Davenport Hines R P T 2004 Dudley Docker The Life and Times of a Trade Warrior Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 89400 X Birmingham Small Arms Company The Times Friday Nov 17 1933 pg 22 Issue 46604 B S A Appointments The Times Tuesday Jan 30 1934 pg 20 Issue 46665 Birmingham Small Arms Company The Times Wednesday Nov 13 1935 pg 19 Issue 47220 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Percy Martin amp oldid 1159251276, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
