Cross Channel links

摘要

Last month I reported on how the Turner company evolved from being a carmaker to a manufacturer of transmissions before being acquired by Dana in 1978. The US group also owned the French piston ring maker Monopole-Floquet and it was on a visit to its plant at Liancourt north of Paris that I came across another surprising link with British motoring history. A plaque beside the reception doorway recorded the names of the employees deported under 1940s German occupation and the company referred to on the plaque was none other than Austin. Subsequent research revealed that this British company had bought a run down leather factory in this coal mining town in 1919 although quite what Herbert Austin had in mind is unclear. However, in due time it became home to the Austin 20 hp farm tractor that had been driven out of Longbridge as it could not compete on equal terms with rival manufacturer Fordson following some ruthless price cutting.