Anglo-Dane

Anglo-Dane was an early Danish vehicle manufacturer based in Copenhagen. The business grew out of the bicycle-building activities of H. C. Fredriksen, who had begun making bicycles during the 1890s. Fredriksen used British components in those bicycles, and the name Anglo-Dane was chosen to express that combination of English-origin parts and Danish manufacture. The name reportedly emerged from a survey in sports magazines in which several possible names were considered. The company entered automobile production in 1902, during the formative period of the European motor industry. Its earliest automobiles were light trucks powered by single-cylinder Kelecom engines from Belgium. Anglo-Dane later moved toward vehicles using its own single-cylinder engines, rated at approximately 4–5 horsepower. One distinctive feature of these cars was a friction-drive transmission using two discs. The arrangement was described as providing the equivalent of a 12-speed transmission, an unusual solution compared with the geared systems that later became standard in the automobile industry. The company also produced bicycles and built a small number of passenger cars. Some of those passenger vehicles used twin-cylinder engines, although surviving public accounts do not establish a complete model catalogue, detailed specifications, or a clear production breakdown by vehicle type. The available historical record identifies Anglo-Dane primarily as a small-scale manufacturer rather than a mass producer. Approximately 70 Anglo-Dane automobiles are reported to have been made. Anglo-Dane produced automobiles from 1902 until 1917. Before or around the end of its independent production, the company merged with the automobile manufacturers Jan and Thrige. That combination was associated with Triangel, a Danish producer of commercial vehicles that continued operating until 1945. The merger marked the end of Anglo-Dane as an independent automobile brand. No reliable evidence in the supplied sources establishes a separate motorcycle line, a modern successor brand, a current owner, or a surviving corporate website. The brand is therefore best understood as a defunct pioneering Danish bicycle and automobile manufacturer whose importance lies in its early experimentation with light commercial vehicles, compact engines, and friction-drive transmission systems.

Anglo-Dane developed from the bicycle business established by H. C. Fredriksen in Copenhagen during the 1890s. Fredriksen used British parts in his bicycles, a practice that helped inspire the company's distinctive name. The name Anglo-Dane was selected after a survey conducted through sports magazines. It was intended to convey that the products were Danish-made but based partly on English-origin components. The company began automobile production in 1902. Its first cars were light trucks fitted with single-cylinder Belgian Kelecom engines. This initial product direction reflected the early motor industry's overlap between bicycles, delivery vehicles, and small commercial transport. Anglo-Dane was not a large-scale industrial manufacturer, but it participated in the transition from cycle production to powered road vehicles. Later Anglo-Dane vehicles used single-cylinder engines of the company's own design, with an output of approximately 4–5 horsepower. The vehicles employed a friction-drive system based on two discs. Rather than using a conventional set of fixed gears, this mechanism provided a range described as equivalent to 12 speeds. The system illustrates the experimental character of early automobile engineering, when manufacturers were still testing different approaches to power transmission, control, and mechanical simplicity. Anglo-Dane also built a limited number of passenger cars. Some were equipped with twin-cylinder engines, but the available record does not provide a complete chronology of passenger-car development or enough information to identify all model variants. Overall production was modest: approximately 70 Anglo-Dane vehicles are reported to have been produced. The exact allocation between light trucks and passenger cars is not established in the available reference material. Automobile production continued until 1917. The company subsequently merged with automobile makers Jan and Thrige. The merged industrial undertaking was connected with Triangel, a Danish manufacturer known for commercial vehicles, which remained active until 1945. This corporate development ended Anglo-Dane's existence as an independent manufacturer. The supplied historical sources do not document a later revival, a current corporate successor using the Anglo-Dane name, or a surviving independent product range. Anglo-Dane is consequently treated as a defunct historical Danish bicycle and automobile brand.

• 1917

  Automobile production ends

  [1]Anglo-Daneen.wikipedia.org

  Anglo-Dane's automobile production ended after a reported run of approximately 70 vehicles.

• 1917

  Merger with Jan and Thrige

  [1]Anglo-Daneen.wikipedia.org

  Anglo-Dane merged with the automobile makers Jan and Thrige in a combination associated with the Triangel commercial-vehicle business.

• 1902

  Automobile production begins

  [1]Anglo-Daneen.wikipedia.org

  Anglo-Dane entered automobile production, initially making light trucks powered by single-cylinder Belgian Kelecom engines.

• 1902

  Development of proprietary single-cylinder cars

  [1]Anglo-Daneen.wikipedia.org

  The company later produced vehicles using its own 4–5 horsepower single-cylinder engines and a friction-drive transmission employing double discs.

• 1890

  Fredriksen begins building bicycles

  [1]Anglo-Daneen.wikipedia.org

  H. C. Fredriksen began building bicycles in Copenhagen during the 1890s, using British components that later influenced the Anglo-Dane name.

An early Danish bicycle and automobile manufacturer focused on compact, locally produced vehicles and light commercial transport.

• Bicycles

  Bicycles

  Bicycles were the foundation of H. C. Fredriksen's business before Anglo-Dane automobile production began. The bicycles used British components, a detail that helped communicate the brand's intended Anglo-Danish identity. The available source does not identify individual bicycle models, production totals, or sales territories.

• Commercial vehicles · 1902

  Light trucks

  Anglo-Dane's first automobiles were light trucks fitted with single-cylinder Belgian Kelecom engines. They represented the company's early move from cycle manufacture into powered commercial transport. Specific payload ratings, body configurations, and model designations are not established by the available reference.

• Automobiles

  Single-cylinder automobiles

  Later Anglo-Dane automobiles used proprietary single-cylinder engines producing approximately 4–5 horsepower. Their unusual friction-drive transmission used two discs and was described as offering the equivalent of a 12-speed range. The source does not provide confirmed model names or full technical specifications.

• Passenger automobiles

  Twin-cylinder passenger cars

  A small number of passenger cars were built with twin-cylinder engines. These vehicles expanded Anglo-Dane's work beyond light trucks, but the surviving account does not establish their exact dates, engine sizes, body styles, or production quantities.

• 1917

  Merger with Jan and ThrigeM&A

  Background

  Anglo-Dane reached the end of its independent production period after operating as a small Danish vehicle manufacturer.

  Action taken

  The company merged with automobile makers Jan and Thrige.

  Aftermath

  The merger was associated with Triangel, a Danish commercial-vehicle manufacturer that continued until 1945, and Anglo-Dane ceased to operate as an independent brand.

  Source

• 1902

  Entry into automobile manufacturingProduct launch

  Background

  After beginning with bicycles, Anglo-Dane entered the emerging motor-vehicle market during the early twentieth century.

  Action taken

  The company began producing light trucks with single-cylinder Belgian Kelecom engines and later developed its own small engines.

  Aftermath

  The move established Anglo-Dane as a bicycle and automobile manufacturer, although production remained limited and the brand ultimately made approximately 70 vehicles.

  Source

1. 1Anglo-Daneen.wikipedia.org