The Edwardians/Mr. Rolls and Mr. Royce (1972) Robert Powell, Michael Jayston

In the early years of the 20th century, the motor car was not only new but was looked upon somewhat askance by almost everyone as something that was unreliable and had little future. Frederick Royce from Birmingham had a different view. His company manufactured electric dynamos but his passion became the gasoline powered motor car. Throughout most of 1903 and into the first months of 1904, he designed, built and tested his first 2-cylinder car. It’s quality in terms of reliability and smooth running was unknown at the time. Charles Rolls meanwhile lived in London and shared Royce’s passion for the automobile. The son of a Baron, Rolls was an adventurer who liked to test the limits of cars and later airplanes. An avid racer and balloonist, he had little difficulty selling Royce’s vehicles once the two finally met in 1904 and together formed Rolls-Royce Ltd in 1906. Their emphasis on quality automobiles remains their hallmark today. Rolls was killed in an airplane crash in 1910 while Royce lived on for many years.