Belsize Motors

Marshall & Company of Clayton Lane, probably Manchester's first automobile manufacturer, built its first car in 1897.

[1] The cars were very similar to the French Hurtu, itself a Benz replica, and were sold badged as Marshalls.

[1] After the First World War they followed a single model policy at first with the 15 hp of 2798 cc but this was joined in 1921 by the Belsize-Bradshaw with a 9 hp 1294 cc V-twin engine made by Dorman and designed by Granville Bradshaw that was partly air-cooled and partly oil-cooled.

[2] The latter was at last an up-to-date car with overhead valves, four-wheel brakes and a four-speed gearbox, but at £415 to £650 it was expensive when compared with the opposition.

[2] The company also tried to build a 2496 cc, straight eight engine but this probably never got past the prototype stage although it was advertised at £1050.

Full page advertisement for Belsize cars, appearing in the 7th edition of "The Autocar Handbook" (London) published during World War I, c. 1917. There is no vehicle visible, only an empty road!
10 hp Belsize of 1912 in the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
10 hp Belsize 10/12 hp Tourer 1912
Debenture stock certificate of Belsize Motors Ltd, issued 16. May 1924