Nuffield Organisation
Encyclopedia
The Nuffield Organisation was a vehicle
manufacturing company in the United Kingdom
. Named after its founder, William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield
, it was formed in 1938 as the merger of Nuffield's Morris Motor Company
(already having acquired Wolseley Motors
in 1927), another of Nuffield's companies the MG Car Company
and Riley
.
Morris Motors Ltd included Morris Commercial Cars
which made light commercial vehicles such as van
s.
In 1937, Nuffield Mechanisations Ltd was formed for the purpose of development and production of tanks. The Cruiser Mk III
was their first product.
Nuffield was engaged in military production. Among their activities was production of the Liberty L-12
engine for use in British tanks of the period. In 1939 one of their subsidiaries was given the opportunity to take part in production of the Covenanter tank
then being designed but opted to develop their own version of the design which became the Crusader tank
. They followed this with the Cavalier tank
which used the Liberty engine as well. The tank was built but the power of the Liberty was limited and with the increase in tank weight the Cavalier was not used in combat. The last tank the Liberty was produced for was the A27L Centaur tank, effectively an underpowered Cromwell tank
.
Commercial vehicles in the Morris range were produced for military use - such as the Morris C8
and Morris Commercial also built vehicles such as the Terrapin amphibious carrier
Post war, Nuffield vice chairman, Sir Miles Thomas, announced to the I.S.M.A at Hull in 1946 "Nuffield to Make Tractors". Production started in 1948 with the Nuffield Universal
tractor
, launched at the Smithfield show in December 1948. Designed by former David Brown Ltd.
tractor designer Dr. H E Merritt, who had been involved in tank design during the war.
Tractor manufacture was undertaken at the former Wolseley factory in Birmingham.
The Nuffield Organisation merged with the Austin Motor Company
to form the British Motor Corporation
in 1952.
Following the Merger of BMC with Leyland Motors the Nuffield tractor brand became Leyland tractors
in 1968, production was transferred to Bathgate
in Scotland.
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
manufacturing company in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Named after its founder, William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield
William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield
William Richard Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield GBE, CH , known as Sir William Morris, Bt, between 1929 and 1934 and as The Lord Nuffield between 1934 and 1938, was a British motor manufacturer and philanthropist...
, it was formed in 1938 as the merger of Nuffield's Morris Motor Company
Morris Motor Company
The Morris Motor Company was a British car manufacturing company. After the incorporation of the company into larger corporations, the Morris name remained in use as a marque until 1984 when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to concentrate on the more popular Austin marque...
(already having acquired Wolseley Motors
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 1927), another of Nuffield's companies the MG Car Company
MG (car)
The MG Car Company is a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber. Best known for its two-seat open sports cars, MG also produced saloons and coupés....
and Riley
Riley (automobile)
Riley was a British motorcar and bicycle manufacturer from 1890. The company became part of the Nuffield Organisation in 1938 and was later merged into British Leyland: late in 1969 British Leyland announced their discontinuance of Riley production, although 1969 was a difficult year for the UK...
.
Morris Motors Ltd included Morris Commercial Cars
Morris Commercial Cars
Morris Commercial Cars Limited was a British manufacturer of commercial vehicles founded by William Morris, who was also the founder of the Morris Motor Company.-History:...
which made light commercial vehicles such as van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
s.
In 1937, Nuffield Mechanisations Ltd was formed for the purpose of development and production of tanks. The Cruiser Mk III
Cruiser Mk III
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk III was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. It was the first British cruiser tank to use the Christie suspension system which gave higher speeds and better cross-country performance, previous models of cruiser tanks having used triple wheeled bogie...
was their first product.
Second World War
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Nuffield was engaged in military production. Among their activities was production of the Liberty L-12
Liberty L-12
The Liberty L-12 was a 27 litre water-cooled 45° V-12 aircraft engine of 400 horsepower designed both for a high power-to-weight ratio and for ease of mass production.-History:...
engine for use in British tanks of the period. In 1939 one of their subsidiaries was given the opportunity to take part in production of the Covenanter tank
Covenanter tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk V, Covenanter was a British Cruiser tank of the Second World War. It was named for the Covenanters, a Scottish religious faction in the British Isles at the time of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
then being designed but opted to develop their own version of the design which became the Crusader tank
Crusader tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks of the early part Second World War and perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign...
. They followed this with the Cavalier tank
Cavalier tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VII Cavalier was an unsuccessful design of British cruiser tank during World War II. It suffered from an underpowered engine, and problems because of the rush to design and build it.- Development :...
which used the Liberty engine as well. The tank was built but the power of the Liberty was limited and with the increase in tank weight the Cavalier was not used in combat. The last tank the Liberty was produced for was the A27L Centaur tank, effectively an underpowered Cromwell tank
Cromwell tank
Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell ,The designation as the eighth Cruiser tank design, its name given for ease of reference and its General Staff specification number respectively and the related Centaur tank, were one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in the Second...
.
Commercial vehicles in the Morris range were produced for military use - such as the Morris C8
Morris C8
The Morris Commercial C8 FAT commonly known as a Quad was an artillery tractor of the British and Commonwealth forces during World War II....
and Morris Commercial also built vehicles such as the Terrapin amphibious carrier
Terrapin (amphibious vehicle)
The Terrapin "4-ton amphibian" was a British-manufactured, amphibious armoured transport vehicle of the Second World War. It was first used at Antwerp in 1944, and to great effect during the Battle of the Scheldt....
Post war
Automobile production of Morris, MG, Wolseley and Riley marques restarted in the 1940s.Post war, Nuffield vice chairman, Sir Miles Thomas, announced to the I.S.M.A at Hull in 1946 "Nuffield to Make Tractors". Production started in 1948 with the Nuffield Universal
Nuffield Universal
The Nuffield Universal was a tractor produced by the British Nuffield Organisation and its successor the British Motor Corporation from 1948. When William Morris the founder of the Morris Motor Company was honoured with a title and elevated to the peerage he chose to become Lord Nuffield and so...
tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
, launched at the Smithfield show in December 1948. Designed by former David Brown Ltd.
David Brown Ltd.
David Brown Engineering Limited is a British engineering company, principally engaged in the manufacture of gears and gearboxes. Their major gear manufacturing plant is in Swan Lane, Lockwood, Huddersfield, adjacent to Lockwood railway station...
tractor designer Dr. H E Merritt, who had been involved in tank design during the war.
Tractor manufacture was undertaken at the former Wolseley factory in Birmingham.
The Nuffield Organisation merged with the Austin Motor Company
Austin Motor Company
The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
to form the British Motor Corporation
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
in 1952.
Following the Merger of BMC with Leyland Motors the Nuffield tractor brand became Leyland tractors
Leyland tractors
Leyland tractors was created after the merger of the British Motor Corporation with Leyland Motors to form British Leyland in 1968. Nuffield tractors had been started after World War II by Lord Nuffield owner of the Morris Motor Company which had become part of BMC in 1951.After the merger Leyland...
in 1968, production was transferred to Bathgate
Bathgate
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...
in Scotland.
See also
- Marshall, Sons & Co.Marshall, Sons & Co.-External links:* – at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia...
- Part taken over by Leyland, - Track MarshallTrack MarshallTrack Marshall was a brand of earthmoving equipment who were active during WWII building tanks. Later, they produced a range of crawler tractors, based on the wheeled tractor Field Marshall brand...
- Nuffield tractors renamed Marshall after sale by Leyland. - Pressed Steel CompanyPressed Steel CompanyThe Pressed Steel Company Limited was a British car body manufacturing company founded at Cowley near Oxford in 1926 as a joint venture between William Morris, the Budd Corporation and an American bank. Today at what was the company's Cowley plant, the BMW new MINI is assembled, this site is...