1908 Daimler TC48

Daimler of Coventry was established in 1897 by engineer Frederick Richard Simms, who acquired the British rights to the Gottlieb Daimler patents and began manufacturing Daimler engines and cars in England. Prior to this, Simms had introduced Daimler's motors to England in 1890, powering launches (boats). The English Daimler Company quickly became part of Harry J. Lawson's motor manufacturing empire. By 1896, the Daimler factory in Coventry, England, was producing a two-cylinder automobile modeled on the French French Panhard-Levassor. Following Lawson's resignation in 1897, the company's stewardship passed first to Sir Edward Jenkinson and then to Percy Martin, under whose guidance powerful multi-cylinder cars would be produced.

Daimler is known as Britain's oldest car manufacturer and was the first motorcar to traverse Great Britain from Land's End to John O'Groats. In their 1900 catalogue, Daimler proudly announced: 'We claim not only to be the pioneers of the industry in this country but also to have kept the lead, thus placing Daimler Motor Carriages a long way ahead of all others.' King Edward VII acquired a 6 hp Daimler vehicle in 1900, which began a long association with England's Royal Family.

By 1908, Daimler was building refined vehicles primarily for discriminating buyers using patented 'Silent Knight' engines designed by American Charles Yale Knight. This engine used sleeve valves instead of the more common poppet valve construction. Dr. Frederick Lanchester was contracted by Daimler to re-design and refine the Knight-designed engine, and soon Daimler ceased production of poppet-valve engines altogether and took the courageous decision to adopt the 'Daimler sleeve-valve' engines. Daimler was awarded the Dewar Trophy in 1909 for this engine and soon, orders outpaced supply for Daimler's products. Daimler would continue to produce the sleeve-valve engine through the mid-1930s.

The sleeve-valve engines had near-silent and smooth operation but omitted a slight haze of oil smoke as they operated. These engines required a much greater amount of oil to lubricate the sleeves, particularly during cold weather. However, compared to other engines of the day, limited maintenance was required.

The 1908 Daimler TC48
The Daimler TC48 was equipped with a 9,235cc four-cylinder 'Sleeve-Valve' engine with hemispherical heads and a single Daimler Updraft carburetor. Its 48 horsepower was handled by a four-speed manual transaxle with direct drive and dual-enclosed chain drive (direct drive on both 3rd and 4th gear). Cast aluminum cases enclosing the chains provided near noiseless operation, protected the chains from debris, and allowed them to operate in clean grease. The suspension was comprised of semi-elliptical leaf springs, and braking was courtesy of contracting brakes on the rear wheels and transaxle.

Daimler produced the 48-horsepower four-cylinder sleeve valve engine for only the last few months of 1908, with only a few examples leaving the factory.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023