Brasier
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Richard-Brasier |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Founder | Charles-Henri Brasier, Georges Richard |
| Defunct | 1930 |
| Fate | Closed down |
| Successor | Chaigneau-Brasier (renamed after 1926) |
| Headquarters | Ivry-sur-Seine , France |
Area served | France |
| Products | Automobiles, aircraft engines (during WWI) |
Brasier was a French car manufacturer located near Paris, operating between 1905 and 1930. Initially founded as Richard-Brasier in 1902, the company was renamed Chaigneau-Brasier in 1926 following a change in ownership.
Origins
After gaining experience with Panhard and Émile Mors, Charles-Henri Brasier joined forces with Georges Richard in 1902 to create the Richard-Brasier firm. By 1905, the partnership ended due to Richard’s frequent absences and injuries from motor racing events. Subsequently, Richard established Unic, while the company continued as Brasier, maintaining its manufacturing facility in Ivry-sur-Seine, situated on the southern outskirts of Paris.
Early Brasiers
Prior to the outbreak of World War I, Brasier produced a range of vehicles including twin-cylinder, four-cylinder, and six-cylinder engines, with an annual output close to 1,000 automobiles.
World War I
During the First World War, Brasier was engaged in manufacturing Hispano-Suiza V8 aircraft engines utilized by fighters like the SPAD S.VII and S.E.5a. Nevertheless, the quality of these engines was sufficiently poor that the RFC's Quartermaster General recommended prioritizing alternative engines over those from Brasier whenever possible.
After WWI
In 1919, production recommenced with a 3404 cc model. By 1920, Brasier displayed two vehicles at their showroom near Place de la Concorde on the Champs-Élysées. The smaller model featured a 4-cylinder 3,392 cc (18 CV) engine available with two wheelbase lengths (3300 or 3420 mm), while the larger version had a 6-cylinder 5,325 cc (30 CV) engine mounted on a 3650 mm chassis. Prices for the chassis alone—tires included—were set at 22,500 francs and 40,000 francs respectively.
At the October 1924 Paris Motor Show, Henri Brasier shifted attention from large post-war vehicles to the "Brasier Type TB4," which had been introduced in 1923. This model was equipped with a 4-cylinder 2,062 cc (12 CV) engine on a 3100 mm wheelbase. Pricing had increased to 40,000 francs for the "Torpedo" body style and 45,000 francs for the "Conduite intérieure" sedan. Despite this, Brasier’s market presence diminished as more innovative competitors gained ground.
Following its acquisition by the Chaigneau family—previously involved in bicycle manufacturing—the brand was renamed Chaigneau-Brasier after 1926. The initial offering under this new ownership was the TD-4, featuring a 9 CV 4-cylinder engine available as a tourer or saloon. The company aimed to revive its former luxury vehicle approach combined with technological advancements by introducing a front-wheel-drive car with a 3-litre overhead camshaft engine in 1928, described at the time as "Utopian." A larger variant appeared in 1930. Although these models attracted attention at Paris Motor Shows—with the 1928 car promoted as having "the most modern chassis"—they remained predominantly prototypes with uncertain production figures.
These developments coincided with the economic crisis triggered by the Wall Street crash of 1929, which caused significant financial strain. The Ivry factory operated below capacity until substantial investment from Delahaye facilitated transferring some truck production there. This support allowed Chaigneau-Brasier to continue until approximately 1930 or 1931 before ultimately closing down.
Racing
Léon Théry participated in the 1908 French Grand Prix driving a Brasier but retired after completing nine out of ten laps.