Brown (United Kingdom)

Brown Bros Ltd, established in London in 1888, initially operated as a motor factors company, specializing in the sale of a wide range of accessories and components for automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The company transitioned to a limited company in 1897, and by 1899, it began offering motor tricycles and a light steam car, notably the American Whitney model, which was marketed under the name Brown-Whitney.

In 1901, Brown Bros commenced the sale of cars under the Brown name, although the origins of these vehicles were often unclear. The company did not possess manufacturing facilities at their prominent location on Great Eastern Street. Instead, some of their vehicles were produced by the Star Motor Company, featuring bodies crafted by Salmons. The cars were characterized by shaft-driven designs, equipped with three-speed gearboxes and automatic inlet valve Aster engines, available in 6hp single-cylinder and 8hp two-cylinder configurations.

Throughout their production years, Brown Bros offered a variety of models, including a notable 18/20hp vehicle from 1905 that utilized a four-cylinder Brotherhood-Crocker engine, and the 1906 Brown 12/16hp, which was powered by a Forman engine. At the 1906 Olympia Show, the company showcased several models, including four-cylinder options of 18/20, 20/22, and 24hp, as well as a 40hp six-cylinder model. Despite the introduction of larger models, two-cylinder variants remained in their catalog until 1908. In that year, Brown also launched the Albruna brand, which represented the smaller segment of their offerings. The Albruna continued production until 1912, while Brown motorcycles were manufactured until 1929, with postwar models marketed under the Vindec name. The company maintained its reputation for producing detailed catalogs, which continued to be published as late as 1998.