.... prior to what? (UPDATE: Gray & Prior + UPDATE II)

UPDATE II: Rick A. Jorgensen writes: "I had a nice phone call with Gray & Prior president, 70 year old Robert W. Gray III. At first he was not aware that George Prior had made an automobile, but when I referred him to the website, he stated that his son had dug through the company archives and put up the web page. He had never paid any attention to the website. At that point he conceded that George Prior probably did make one.
It seems that George Prior once worked as shop supervisor for Hiram Percy Maxim, son of Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim, the inventor of the Maxim Machine Gun! Hiram Percy Maxim is the inventor of the Maxim Gun Silencer, and the automotive muffler. Hiram Percy Maxim was also heavily involved in automobile manufacturing. In 1896 - the Columbia Bicycle Company built the Mark I Phaeton Electric Car. Hiram Maxim, their engineer, astonished everyone with operating a gasoline carriage (auto) on the streets of Hartford, Connecticut. Col. Pope purchased all the rights to the car. Hiram Percy Maxim then went on to develop The Maxim Motor Tricycle and The Maxim-Goodridge Electric He was also involved with the Electric Vehicle Company along with Columbia and Pope Automobiles, (the holders of the Selden Patent) Maxim was also involved in early radio and much more during his fast-paced life. Now, following the timeline, and since both Maxim's business and Gray and Prior's busines were in the same area of Hartford, Connecticut, it is possible that much work was passed between the two companies during their earliest years.
Gray & Prior was established in 1898, Maxim was experimenting with autos from the early 1890s through 1908. At some time around 1903-4 Prior built his automobile. If it had been built for Maxim or Electric Vehicle/Columbia/Pope, it would have borne their name. If it was built by Gray & Prior it would have been called the Gray & Prior according to Robert W. Gray III. Therefore, the vehicle would have logically been called the "Prior" since it was George's personal project. Parts were likely purchased from both companies. It used the Gray & Prior Engine and universal joints made by Gray & Prior. Automobile items were likely purchased from Maxim & his associated companies. Both companies had large machine shops and had access to many types of parts. The building that Gray and Prior moved into in 1904 was a 'brass foundry' and the cap you have could have been made there. It would likely have been the fuel tank cap, or, possibly engine related. George Prior worked continuously at Gray & Prior until the day before he died in the 1970s! A very, very old man!

UPDATE I: Rick Jorgensen came up with the best suggestion so far. See the history of Gray & Prior, Ct./USA). George Prior built his own motorcycle in 1900. His first car in 1904.... (So now we will write to G&P who still exist).

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