Day-Leeds (United Kingdom)

Day-Leeds was a British automobile manufacturer that operated from 1912 to 1924. The company was established as Job Day & Sons Ltd. in 1901, although its founder, William Henry Day, had been involved in manufacturing since 1886. Initially, the firm gained recognition for producing machinery for tea packaging, which laid the groundwork for its later ventures into the automotive sector.

In 1912, Day-Leeds expanded its product line to include motorcycles and cyclecars, alongside a bacon slicing machine. The cyclecar produced by the company featured a 998cc inlet-over-exhaust V-twin engine, which was manufactured in-house rather than sourced from external suppliers. The vehicle utilized a three-speed gearbox and belt drive to the rear wheels, with a claimed top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h). However, production numbers for the cyclecar were limited, with estimates suggesting around 100 units were made before 1915.

At the 1913 Olympia Show, Day-Leeds showcased a shaft-driven light car powered by a 1,130cc Turner four-cylinder engine, which was later replaced by a 1,286cc T-head engine of their own design, created by W.L. Adams. The company resumed production of this model after World War I, with only minor updates, such as the introduction of cycle lighting. The post-war version maintained similar specifications to its pre-war counterpart, but the price increased significantly from £150 to £400.

Despite the revival of the Day-Leeds car, the demand for luxury light vehicles diminished due to competition from mass-market manufacturers like Morris. Consequently, the production of Day-Leeds cars ceased in 1926. The company continued to focus on packaging machinery until it was eventually absorbed by Baker-Perkins, which also acquired another packaging firm, Rose Forgrove.