Rootes' Reconstruction Enterprise
Page 26
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WITH the ultimate object of making IfY its Maidstone depot the most comprehensive and best equipped of its kind in the South-East of England, Rootes, Ltd., has, for some time past, been engaged upon a complete and costly scheme of reconstruction of the existing premises, comprising new and elaborate showrooms. This has been completed, and we had the pleasure, a few days ago, of inspecting these and the excellent range of commercial and pleasure vehicles which was displayed.
There was a comprehensive display of Commer models, including a fine forward-control example, also a Karrier articulated machine, which is shown in the accompanying illustration. A number of attractive small Austin vans was also on view. The capacities of the various models varied from 5 cwt. to 51. tons, with the addition of ambulances and utility vehicles.
The new building, when completed. will be in three separate sections— showrooms and new and used vehicle storage, and offices, workshops and garage, and administrative offices and spare-part-sales department and stores. In addition to these main sections there are further car-storage and commercialvehicle buildings, a park and a petrol station, completing an area of nearly 100,000 sq. ft.. The depot is under the management of Mr. F. G. Aulagnier, service and sales being under the control of Messrs. F. G. Randall and G. D. Ashby respectively.
It is interesting to note that it was only a few miles distant from Maidstone —at Hawkhurst—that, towards the close of the past century, the house of Rootes was founded by Mr. William Rootes, senior. The present business was established, in 1913, by Mr. W. E. Rootes when, with a staff of only two men, he opened a garage and repair depot. To-day Mr. W. E. Rootes, with his brother, Mr. R. C. Rootes, controls through Rootes Securities, Ltd., with headquarters at Devonshire House, London, WI, a vast enterprise with virtually world-wide ramifications.
Numbered amongst the score of motor-manufacturing and distributing companies within the Rootes' group are such famous and old-established concerns as Humber, Hillman, Talbot, Sunbeam, Commer and Ka,rrier, employing directly some 12,000 people.