The Standard Motor Company was founded in Coventry in 1903 by Reginald Walter Maudslay. By 1924 the company had a share of the market comparable to Austin, but by the late 1920s profits had fallen dramatically due to heavy reinvestment, a failed export contract and poor sales of the larger cars. John Black joined the ailing company and by increasing productivity, masterminded the huge success of the company in the 1930s. Standard acquired Triumph in November 1944. The company was renamed as The Triumph Motor Company (1945) Ltd. In 1959 the name was changed to Standard-Triumph International, in 1965 Leyland took over Standard Triumph, in 1965 the name was changed to Standard-Triumph Motor Company, and in 1970 to Triumph Motor Company. Standard ceased production in 1963 although Standard engines were used to power Triumph models. Standard engines were also used in some Jaguars up to 1948.
Reference: Catalogue to the collection; British Motor Manufacturers 1894-1960 (http://www.krbaker.demon.co.uk/britcars/s/standard.html). Accessed ; A Brief History of The Standard Motor Company (http://www.head2head.free-online.co.uk/Standard/history.htm). Accessed August 2002.
From the guide to the Papers of the Standard Motor Company Ltd., 1903-1973, (Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Library)
