White and Poppe

Many early motor vehicle manufacturers bought in their major components so the company supplied up to 15 customers and employed around 350 people by 1914.

Market changes reduced the customer-base but Dennis Brothers, always an important customer, took much of their output and purchased the company in 1919.

This business was established in 1899 by Coventry-born Alfred James White (1870-) and Norwegian Peter August Poppe (1870-1933).

The petrol jet orifice and the air supply (throttle opening) were designed to cover the whole range of speeds.

[3] In August 1910 Autocar had noted that at the previous Olympia Motor Show one-third of the manufacturers exhibiting fitted White and Poppe carburettors as standard.

[4] The White and Poppe stand at the 1910 Olympia Motor Show was centred on their new 2.6-litre 16 hp (tax rating) four-cylinder engine.

[9] At the end of 1921 the shareholders were told the Coventry factory had not been adequately employed and there was a search for new type of work away from motor transport.

[12] By the end of 1924 the stock of war surplus commercial vehicles ceased to be a factor and the group's export sales were at an all-time record.

[13] The following year group profits trebled and the Guildford extensions paused in 1920 were resumed but the chairman made no other comment than confirming the wisdom of Dennis Brothers' purchase of White and Poppe.

A very valuable invention was patented which allowed the lifting of cylinder heads, decarbonising and valve grinding without dismantling the overhead camshaft.

[19] By the end of 1931 "a number" of crude oil (Diesel) engines were out on test fitted to heavy goods vehicles.

[20] The following year group profits fell by 41 per cent though substantial reserves allowed the dividend to be maintained.

Required plant and machinery of a combined weight of more than 2000 tons was moved unpacked from Coventry to Guildford by road.

This unpacked move of plant was reported as widely as possible because Dennis Brothers wanted it to be "a testimonial to the efficiency of road transport".

[23] Dennis Brothers voluntarily liquidated White and Poppe, i.e. turned their assets into cash, on 28 March 1933.