Forward Gas Engine Company

Forward Gas Engine Company was an engineering firm based in Nechells, Birmingham, England, that specialised in the manufacture of stationary internal combustion gas engines.^[1]

One of the most notable engineer to work at the company was Frederick William Lanchester.^[2][3] Around 1889–1895, Lanchester served as assistant works manager at the plant, where he made several innovations to gas engine technology. His notable contributions included the invention of a pendulum governor in 1889 and a self-starting device for gas engines in 1890, which was later sold to the Crossley Gas Engine Company.^[4]

During his tenure at the Forward Gas Engine Company, Lanchester also began work on what would become the first British petrol-driven motor car. His prototypes, developed between 1895 and 1896, laid the foundation for the formation of the Lanchester Motor Company (originally The Lanchester Engine Company) in December 1899.^[5]