O NE of the biggest amalgamations in recent years of independently
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owned passenger transport companies is to take place between George Ewer and Co., Ltd. (Grey-Green Coaches), and Keith and Boyle (Orange Ltixury Coaches), Ltd. The merger will increase the fleet of George Ewer and their associated companies to about 200, of which 180 are coaches and the others goods vehicles.
• The Orange undertaking (a private company) has a nominal capital of £40,654 in £1 ordinary shares, but the purchase price has been kept secret. George Ewer's capital is £93,000.
Ewer's Buy Orange Luxury Coaches : Fleet Now 200
Keith and Boyle (Orange Luxury Coaches), Ltd., 80 Clapham Road, London, S.W.9, are subsidiaries of Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd. They have 50 Bedford coaches With Duple bodies and operate extensively in the south-east of England. Only the Orange Luxury interests in London are affected by the amalgamation.
They and Ewer's, whose headquarters are at Stamford Hill, N.16, operate on parallel routes north of the Thames and run approximately similar seasonal services. The acquisition will not give Ewer's any substantial new sphere of influence. The Orange undertaking will be continued under its present name, and to that extent there will be an element of internal competition.
Ewer's have about 90 coaches, consisting mostly of Leylands, with a few Bedfords. The company also own Fallowfield and Britten, Ltd., and Ardley Brothers, Ltd., with a combined fleet of some 130 coaches.
The Ewer organization was founded in 1885 by Mr. George Ewer, father of Mr. 1, H. Ewer, the present managing director. It was originally a haulage business conducted with horses, but in 1921 the foundation of the present widespread coach undertaking was laid.
The Orange company, of which Mr. E. Keith Davies is managing director, had their origin about 30 years ago. They were among the first users of pneumatic tyres on public service vehicles and were notable for the development of the " gangway" coach, as opposed to. the old toastrack type. Mr. Keith Davies invented the K.D. rear locker for coaches.
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON PAY
THE claim by municipal transport employees for increased wages and improved conditions was, as foreshadowed in The Commercial Motor last week, discussed at last week's meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council for the road passenger trans
port industry. A statement issued afterwards said that consideration of _ the application would be continued at the next meeting.
Similar claims for the 100,000 employees of private companies are expected to be given further consideration by the National Council for the Omnibus Industry on September 8.
R.H.A. MEET DISPOSAL BOARD
AMEETING between the chairman's committee of the Road Haulage Association and the Road Haulage Disposal Board took place on Tuesday. It was the second meeting to be held.: It is understood that there was an exchange of information. The Association required further information on several points.
The chairman's committee consists of Mr. Bernard Winterbottom, national chairman, and the four vice-chairmen.