page_title: Lucas Industries
section_title: 1902 to World War I
hierarchical_section_title: Lucas Industries / History / 1902 to World War I
caption_attribution_description: English: Blue plaque to Joseph Lucas (1834–1902), British industrialist, founder of Lucas Industries plc, in Carver Street, Hockley, Birmingham, England. Photographed by me 6 April 2007. Oosoom
context_page_description: Lucas Industries plc was a Birmingham-based British manufacturer of motor industry and aerospace industry components. Once prominent, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was formerly a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. In August 1996, Lucas merged with the American Varity Corporation to form LucasVarity plc.
  After LucasVarity was sold to TRW the Lucas brand name was licensed for its brand equity to Elta Lighting for aftermarket auto parts in the United Kingdom. The Lucas trademark is currently owned by ZF Friedrichshafen, which retained the Elta arrangement.
context_section_description: In 1902, what had by then become Joseph Lucas Ltd, incorporated in 1898, started making automotive electrical components such as magnetos, alternators, windscreen wipers, horns, lighting, wiring and starter motors.  The company started its main growth in 1914 with a contract to supply Morris Motors Limited with electrical equipment. During the First World War Lucas made shells and fuses, as well as electrical equipment for military vehicles.  Up until the early 1970s, Lucas was the principal supplier to British manufacturers (such as BSA, Norton and Triumph) of magnetos, dynamos, alternators, switches and other electrical components.
caption: Blue plaque on factory building in Carver Street, Birmingham
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