Alexander Winton started the Winton Bicycle Company in 1890, ten years after his arrival in the United States. In 1896 Winton built his first car, which he sold to a Pennsylvania engineer the following year. He organized the Winton Motor Carriage Company in 1897 and by 1905 he had produced an eight-cylinder motor vehicle, presumably one of the first. Other contributions to the industry include the development of a practical storage battery, design of a successful speed governor, and four years before his death, the perfection of a light, oil-burning aircraft engine. He remained president of the Winton Motor Car Company until it suspended production in 1924. He organized the Winton Engine Company which made marine, rail and industrial diesel engines?the latter firm was purchased by General Motors in 1930 and became the Cleveland Diesel Division.