Private company
Straker-Squire
Automobile manufacturer
Straker-Squire (also known as Brazil Straker) was a British automobile manufacturer based in Bristol, and later Edmonton in North London. The company was formed in 1893 at St Philips, Bristol, as Brazil, Straker & Co by the Irish engineer J.P. Brazil and the London motor agent Sidney Straker. In 1899 Sidney Straker joined forces with Edward Bayley and went into production of steam wagons, joining in partnership with L.R.L. Squire in 1904 and production reached 200 steam wagons by 1906.2 It ceased to exist in 1927.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated Oct 21, 2026.
Overview
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Straker-Squire (also known as Brazil Straker) was a British automobile manufacturer based in Bristol, and later Edmonton in North London.2
Products and brands
Car models
The first pre-war models consisted of the Straker-Squire 16/20 and 12/14 Shamrock. Next, Fedden designed the 15 hp model in three versions, which were more conventional than later designs influenced by the company's experience in aero engines. These 4-seater 15-20 hp models were developed over six years and in advertising were described as the best medium powered cars on the world market. A specially prepared 15-hp driven by Witchell took several records at Brooklands including the flying mile in 1910 at 95.54 mph (153.76 km/h) (21 hp class), and the same year saw class wins at the Aston Clinton, Caerphilly, Pateley Bridge and Saltburn Hill Climbs. 1914 saw similar success including 4th in the TT.
Production of the 15 hp was revived after World War I, which was joined by the large 6 cylinder 20/25, 24/80 and 24/90 models. The 24/90 was light, quick and noisy, it was guaranteed to meet 70 mph (110 km/h) and was priced at the 1919 Olympia Motor Show initially at £1,600. Straker's nephew H "Bertie" Kensington Moir of Aston Martin fame tested the prototype at Brooklands and set a class record lap at 103.76 mph. The final cars built by Straker-Squire were the lighter 4 cylinder 10/20 and 12/20 models.
The full list of Straker-Squire models is:
CSB. 1906. 25 hp 4900 cc T-head engine. Imported French Cornilleau-Ste Beuve model. Competed in 1907 the Heavy-Car Tourist Trophy.
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16/20. 1907, 4cyl 2919 cc engine.
12/14 Shamrock. 1907, 20 hp 4cyl 2069 cc water-cooled engine, 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) in length.
14/16. 1909, 4cyl 2022 cc 15hp engine, 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) in length. Completed in the RAC 2,000 Miles Trial and was placed 3rd in class.
15 hp Mark 1. 1910 model, 4cyl 2851 cc side-valve engine, 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) in length.
15 hp Mark 2. 1911-13 model. As above but heavier and 13 ft 1.5 in (4.001 m) in length.
15 hp Mark 3. 1914-22 model. Improved 4cyl 3054 cc side-valve engine and 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m) in length.
20/25. 1919–25, 6cyl 3920 cc engine with overhead cam, 70 bhp (52 kW; 71 PS) at 2400 rpm, 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m) in length. 75 mph (121 km/h) in normal spec.
24/80. 1920–25. As 20/25 but with longer wheelbase.
24/90. 1921. 6cyl 4962 cc overhead valve engine. 67 built.
10/20. 1923–25. 4cyl 1460 cc overhead valve engine, a lighter car of various bodywork length between 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) and 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m) 92+ built.
11/28. 1926. 4cyl 1460 cc overhead valve engine, 30 bhp (22 kW), 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) in length.
12/20. 1926. As above but with wider track.
Bus manufacturing
Straker-Squire began by supplying a small number of buses to GWR road motor services before expanding rapidly to cater for the London Bus market. In 1905 work included the bus chassis used for Royal Army Medical Corps ambulances and they manufactured 50 omnibus chassis and engines for London buses. By 1909 Straker-Squire dominated the market and the factory in Fishponds supplied 70% of London's buses. Great Eastern of London took delivery of another 22 in bright yellow chrome livery in 1911. Post war the A-type bus in chassis and/or body form sold very well.
The company was also involved in the manufacture of trolleybuses. The general manager of the Teesside Railless Traction Board developed a new and improved trolleybus design and Clough, Smith arranged for it to be manufactured. It was marketed as the Straker-Clough trolley omnibus. This chassis and design came to be regarded as both pioneering and improving the industry standard. The chassis was manufactured by Straker-Squire, the electrical equipment by BTH of Rugby, Warwickshire, and Clough, Smith arranged production of the bodies. The whole would be sold to system operators as part of a package deal which included the design, supply and installation of the overhead electrical equipment.
Truck models
The first trucks built were German designed Büssing 2cyl trucks under licence from 1906.
Truck models included.:
Büssing 3-ton. 1906–09. 4cyl worm drive petrol engine. German design built under licence.
Colonial 5-ton. 1910.
Military 3/4-ton. 1913–18. Built in large numbers for the British Army.
A type 5-ton. 1919. Semi-forward-control, 4cyl worm drive engine.
Commercial vehicle production moved to Twickenham during the war. After car production ended in 1926 a limited number of bus and truck chassis and Straker-Clough trolley buses were also built.
From Wikipedia’s article on Straker-Squire, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3
Timeline
Links
- WikipediaStraker-Squire
- More imagesWikimedia Commons
- WikidataQ250474
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataStraker-Squire on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaStraker-Squire on Wikipedia
- 3
- 4Wikimedia CommonsStraker-Squire photo by Alf van Beem, CC0