Clyno

Clyno Engineering Company was founded in 1909 by cousins Frank and Ailwyn Smith at Thrapston, Northamptonshire. Its name evolved from an 'inclined pulley' used in belt drive: 'clined' became Clyno. The company moved to Wolverhampton in 1910 after acquiring former Stevens Brothers premises and became known for motorcycles, including the Spring 8 and First World War machine-gun combinations. War-surplus competition, unpaid Russian business and lost backing pushed the original company into liquidation in 1920. It was re-formed as Clyno Engineering Company (1922) Ltd and concentrated on automobiles; motorcycle manufacture ended by 1923. The first mass-market car was the 10.8 hp family, launched in late 1922 with a 1,368 cc Coventry-Climax Model F side-valve four, cone clutch and separate three-speed gearbox. Early cost-cutting omitted a differential, corrected around 1924. The rating evolved through 11 and 11.9 hp while tourers, saloons, dual-purpose, Colonial and Royal sports/de-luxe bodies expanded the range. Four-wheel brakes appeared during 1925–26. Approximately 35,000 of this family are generally reported, though some retrospective claims near 50,000 conflict with total-company estimates of 36,000–40,000 cars. A larger 1,496 cc 12/13/12/28 family followed during 1923–24 and produced about 8,000. Clyno reached weekly peaks around 350 cars and by 1926 was Britain's third-largest automobile manufacturer; roughly 11,000 of the core light model sold that year. Rootes handled distribution and export. Rapid expansion depended on loans, including construction of a large Bushbury factory opened in 1927, while quality control and cash deteriorated. Clyno entered commercial vehicles in January 1927 with an 8 cwt 11.9 hp delivery van on the wide-track Colonial chassis. The 1928 12/35 used a 1,593 cc side-valve four with a three-bearing crankshaft and Ricardo-type head after Clyno shifted from Coventry-Climax toward cheaper Hillman-derived engines; about 2,000 were built. The small Booth-designed Nine used a 951 cc side-valve four and unit three-speed gearbox, costing £145 as a four-seat tourer or £160 as a fabric saloon; approximately 300 standard Nines are reported. Its 1929 Century cost-reduction targeted a £100 car but actually sold around £112 10s. Angular styling and poor finish inspired the trade nickname 'Cemetery' and failed to reverse the decline. A tested straight-eight prototype intended for 1930 never reached production. Rootes ended its agreement in 1928, competitors Austin and Morris undercut Clyno, and the company entered liquidation in 1929; R. H. Collier purchased assets. Seven automobile rows account for the four production passenger families, Century derivative, delivery van and straight-eight prototype. Royal, Overseas/Colonial and sports presentations remain bodies or derivatives within their mechanical families rather than inflated models. Production figures overlap and remain approximate; no authoritative serial/model ledger reconciles the company's often-quoted total range.

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