Brooke [1] (United Kingdom)

J.W. Brooke & Co. Ltd. was an automotive manufacturer based in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, founded in 1875. The company initially operated as millwrights, boiler makers, and iron and brass founders, gaining recognition for their marine engines. Brooke's foray into the automotive industry began in 1901, when they tested their first car, which was subsequently marketed in 1902. This early vehicle featured a 10 horsepower, three-cylinder vertical engine derived from their marine engine designs, mounted transversely under a compact bonnet. The car utilized chain drive for both the gearbox and final drive.

In 1903, Brooke expanded their lineup with a new model that included a longitudinal 14 horsepower engine, also with three cylinders, which employed a shaft drive to the all-chain gearbox. Notably, these early models featured a unique bowl in the center of the steering wheel designed to hold small items such as goggles and gloves. By 1905, the company introduced a more conventional range of vehicles equipped with four-cylinder engines, offering options of 15/20 and 35 horsepower, along with traditional sliding gearboxes. By this time, automobiles constituted approximately 75 percent of Brooke's business, with the remainder coming from marine engine production.

The company launched its first six-cylinder car in the summer of 1906, a 25/30 horsepower model with a 4784cc engine, followed by a 40 horsepower six-cylinder model in 1907. From this point onward, all Brooke vehicles were six-cylinder. However, production began to decline after 1908, and while The Autocar listed Brooke cars until 1910, some records continued to mention them until 1913. Among the more unusual vehicles produced was the 'swan car,' created in 1909 by R. N. Mathewson, an Englishman residing in Calcutta. This unique vehicle featured a chassis and body designed to resemble a swan, complete with a beak that opened and closed with a hissing sound and could eject a stream of water. The car was shipped to Lowestoft for the installation of its six-cylinder engine and survives today, along with a smaller version designed for children.