* Mystery tour
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Since last May when Frank Ford parted from Plutons (Scarborough) Ltd., of which company he was sales director, there has been considerable speculation in the industry regarding his future plans. Now Ashley Taylor tells me it has lately been revealed that, apart from the directors, Mr. Ford is now the largest independent shareholder in Duple Motor Bodies Ltd.—though at the moment there is no indication that this association is likely to develop in any way. And now Mr. Ford is off on a world tour.
In September last he sold Barrmil Ltd., of which he and Mrs. Ford were directors, to British Electric Traction for £500,000 cash. This is a plant hire business. When the sale took place he is understood to have introduced Mr. Hugh Murphy, head of Murphy Bros. Ltd., Leicester, to BET. Murphy Bros., also in plant hire and formerly with strong road transport associations, sold out to BET in October at a price stated to be in the region of £8m cash.
Early this week Frank Ford ,told Ashley that he had a brief to carry out certain market research and examination of sales prospects in various territories on behalf of an important manufacturer. He and Mrs. Ford are to leave on Monday next, January 6, for a five-month world tour: So for the time being, the rumour mongers will probably be silenced, as no fresh developments are likely until Mr. Ford has completed that ambassador-of-commerce world trip.