FACT:

Huddersfield born David Brown, bought then later sold Aston Martin, creating the first of the legendary DB series of cars including the DB5, famously driven by James Bond

David Brown began trading in 1860 as a general pattern maker, the core business at that time being the manufacture of patterns for cast gears, and has remained a force in the engineering industry ever since. 

During the first world war, David Brown manufactured propulsion units for warships, gun training and elevating mechanisms and trench mortar bombs, and by 1921 was the largest gear manufacturer in the world – based here in Huddersfield.

Since then the company has found fame with its series of tractors, collected and much-revered by enthusiasts, and most notably, its period of ownership of Aston Martin during which the company gave its initials to the ‘DB’ supercars being developed. 

Sir David Brown died in 1993, the same year in which the company was successfully floated on the London stock exchange, ending 133 years of private ownership.

The company continues to innovate and diversify into new markets and recently celebrated 150 years at the forefront of the engineering industry.     

For more information visit www.davidbrown.com