The Maughan Thiem Motor Company was established in 1912. The firm began as a partnership between Hubert Behrens and Eric Marshall, trading under the name Behrens and Marshall. At the time of its formation provision was made for Alfred Ross Thiem to join the partnership which he eventually did in April 1913. By December of that year, Frederick Milton Maughan had also joined the business and it continued to operate as a partnership until December 1920 when it was formally registered as the Maughan Thiem Motor Company.