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Dennis Company is a former brass era automobile maker based in Guildford, Britain. ==History== Originally known as Dennis Brothers Ltd, the company was founded in 1895 by John (1871–1939) and Raymond Dennis (1878–1939). The brothers who made Speed King bicycles〔Wise, David Burgess. "Dennis: Bicycles, Motor Cycles, and Fire Engines", in Ward, Ian, executive editor. ''World of Automobiles'' (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 5, p.527.〕 which they sold from their shop, the Universal Athletic Stores, in Guildford. They made their first motor vehicle in 1898, a De Dion-powered tricycle which they exhibited at the National Cycle Show, which they offered for sale, along with a quadricycle.〔 In 1899, the first Dennis car proper appeared, the Speed-King Light Doctors' Car,〔 a four-wheeler with a a rear-mounted de Dion engine and three-speed gearbox for speeds of .〔 Intended for use on unpaved roads by the likes of doctors, surveyors, or travelling salesmen, it had an offering price of ₤135; though shown at the National Cycle Show, it was never produced or sold.〔 At the 1900 National Cycle Show, Dennis displayed only motor tricycles and quadricycles, with the tricycles claimed to be capable of a (then-remarkable) , three times Britain's speed limit.〔 The next year, a de Dion engine was offered in the tricycle, while there was a choice of two light cars, both with tube frames, three-speed gearbox, and shaft drive: an de Dion single and a Aster twin.〔 About this time John Dennis built the Rodboro Buildings, the first purpose-built motor vehicle factory in Britain, to manufacture motorcars in the town centre.〔(Guidford Heritage )〕 The 1903 London Motor Show saw the debut of an Aster-powered four, the 16/20 hp, which joined a de Dion, offered as a hansom, making it one of the very first motorized taxicabs.〔 It was also in this period Dennis offered its first and only sports racer, powered by a Simms, while the tricycles and quadricycles were discontinued.〔 They were replaced by commercial vehicles, with the first bus being made in 1903. In 1905, Dennis entered the inaugural Tourist Trophy with a pair of standard (stock) tourers, which came sixteenth and eighteenth, competing against specialist racers.〔 The next year, a ''Roi de Belges'' phaeton covered which earned it the 1907 Dewar Trophy, and it became a production model.〔 24/30 and 30/35 White and Poppe engines were offered, and soon became usual, indicative of a gradual climb in market status.〔 Two models, a and a 35/40, both fours, appeared in 1908,〔 while on the commercial vehicle side, the first Dennis d fire engine appeared the same year. For 1909, these were replaced by all new , , , and models in 1910.〔 Of these, only the 40 survived; the larger and , as well as a "monstrous" six, disappeared for 1912.〔 The was renamed the 20, and a new appeared at the end of 1911;〔 they were joined in 1913 by a , which survived until the start of the First World War.〔 In 1913 Dennis moved to a larger factory at Woodbridge, on the outskirts of Guildford.〔 After the war, car production did not resume, and in 1919 Dennis bought White and Poppe and transferred engine production from Coventry to Guildford. The company would also make a foray into the production of lawn tractors.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dennis (automobile)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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