Rolls-Royce Orange County HQ

SIR HENRY ROYCE
saved to open his own business
called F.H. Royce & Co. Ernest
Claremont joined him in the business
venture.
During this time, gas provided the
main power source of lighting. F.H.
Royce & Co. focused on small
items for sale and later advanced
to producing dynamos, motors,
winches, and cranes. In the early
1900s, Royce found the market
changing and he directed his
energy on finding a new product
for the company. He focused on
motorcars. He owned a Decaluville,
but felt it could be improved
upon and in early 1903, he took
matters into his own hands and
decided to build his own vehicle.
Henry Edmunds, a friend of Royce
and a member of the Automobile
Club became involved with Royce
Ltd. professionally. He was also
friends with Charles Rolls, another
member of the Automobile club.
He believed that Royce and Rolls
should meet due to their shared
interest in the automobile. Near
the end of March 1904, he wrote
them separate letters on the same
day, appealing to them to combine
their forces. After several correspondences
between the three,
they agreed to meet two months
later for lunch at the Midland Hotel
on May 4, 1904 – a Wednesday.
Acording to weather reports in
the local newspaper, the Manchester
Courier and Lancashire
General Advertiser, May 4 presented
a fair to cloudy morning
with temperatures in the 48 – 55
degrees range.
Courtesy of Rolls-Royce North America
One of three cars Henry Royce built prior to the formation of Rolls-Royce pictured in
Cooke Street, Manchester, 1904.
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