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AEC was a United Kingdom based vehicle manufacturer which built buses and trucks from 1912 until 1979. The acronym stood for the Associated Equipment Company, but this name was hardly ever used.
While famously associated with London's buses, AEC supplied commercial vehicles to many companies both domestically and around the world.
History
The London General Omnibus Company, or LGOC, was founded in 1855 to amalgamate and regulate the horse-drawn omnibus services then operating in London. The company began producing motor omnibuses for its own use in 1909 with the X-type at works in Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, London. The X-type was followed by the B-type, considered to be one of the first mass-produced commercial vehicles.
In 1912 LGOC was taken over by the Underground group of companies, which at that time owned most of the London Underground, and extensive tram operations. As part of the reorganisation following the takeover, a separate concern was set up for the bus manufacturing elements, and was named Associated Equipment Company, or more commonly, AEC.
With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, AEC's ability to produce large quantities of vehicles using assembly line methods became important in supplying the increasing need for army lorries. Large scale production of the Y-type lorry commenced in 1916, and from then on AEC became associated with both lorries and buses.
Interwar years
In 1926, AEC and Daimler formed the Associated Daimler Company (ADC), which was dissolved two years later. During the ADC-era, AEC moved its manufacturing plant to Southall in London.From 1931 to 1938, AEC and English Electric co-produced trolleybuses. AEC supplied the chassis and EE the electric motors and control equipment.
Second World War
Non-military production stopped in 1941. During the war AEC produced their 10 ton 4 x 4 Matador artillery tractor (an adaption of their Hardy lorry) and the 6 x 6 vehicle used as a basis of the Coles Cranes. To this they added an armoured car, the AEC Mk 1 to Mk 3.Post war
In 1946, AEC and Leyland formed British United Traction Ltd (BUT) as a joint venture to manufacture Trolleybuses since reduced demand would not require the existing capacity of both parents.In 1948, AEC acquired Crossley Motors and Maudslay Motor, then it established a holding company called Associated Commercial Vehicles (ACV). ACV was joined by Park Royal and its subsidiary Charles H. Roe in 1949, and Thornycroft in 1961.
ACV (including AEC) was acquired by Leyland Motors Ltd in 1962. In 1968, all AEC double-deckers ceased production, and its last buses and trucks were built in 1979.
Products
Buses
See List of AEC busesLorries and other commercial vehicles
- Y-type
- Matador
- Mercury
- Matador
- Mammoth Minor
- Mammoth Major
Competitors
Clients
External links
Bus manufacturers | Defunct bus manufacturers | Defunct companies of the United Kingdom | Truck manufacturers
"AEC (Associated Equipment Company)"