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Marsham drive into the Sixties
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1960 In 1920 Marsham had 160 sq.ft. of covered space. By 1938, 27 branches and 200,000 sq.ft. and in the early part of 1960 Marsham could claim 54 branches, 4 Regent Factories, 24 Tyre Disposals Depots and had a covered working area of over 1,000,000 sq.ft. Despite such a record of expansion, had it been possible for plans made for 1960 /1962 to be announced in advance, very few people would have believed them.
On June 1st 1960, we acquired James Aitchison (Tyres) Ltd., which, from an office in Edinburgh, controlled 10 branches—Berwick-on-Tweed, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Halifax, Kirkcaldy, Leeds, Lockerbie, Motherwell and Newcastle-on-Tyne. Our first venture "over the border" was no half measure.
On July 1st 1960, MacGentle (Tyres) Ltd., of Luton was acquired—then in December of the same year, E. F. Bullen Ltd., with branches at Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft joined the ranks of Marsham. 1961 The developments of 1960 could easily have justified a pause if only to relieve administrative strain—but the programme was only in its infancy.
During 1961 we acquired the businesses of G. N. Tyres (Vulcanisers) Ltd., Sunderland; L. J. Creed Ltd., Taunton; Kent Tyre Distributors Ltd., Strood; The Bakewell Tyre Co. Ltd., Surfleet; and Hedley Simpson. Ltd., of Newport, I.o.W.
Marsham branches were opened in Portsmouth, Grantham and Lincoln.
John Needham & Co. (Sheffield) Ltd., and the Attercliffe Tyre Co. Ltd., both already well established in Sheffield, were acquired.
Just as the programme appeared to be completed, Robt. Rae (Tyres) Ltd., of Torquay and Newquay came along together with Farm Tyres Ltd., of Totnes.
1962 C. H. Richardson (Tyres) Ltd., of Sheffield, Langhams Tyre Services Ltd., of Bath joined the growing "family". They were followed by E. Lane's tyre business in Boston, Glovers Tyre Depot Ltd., of Barnstaple, Moore & Co. (Leeds) Ltd., whilst Richardsons in Sheffield opened another branch in Hoyle Street.
The Wimbledon Tyre Co. Ltd., was purchased, improving our coverage in South London.
1963 The year was almost complete before any further expansion occurred but on December 19th, The A.1. Tyre Co. Ltd., with branches in Birmingham and West Bromwich, joined the already impressive list of Marsham outlets in the Midlands.
1964 The year started with another venture in Scotland when Ayr Tyre Factors Ltd., was acquired. On 30th June, Redbridge Tyre Services Ltd., of Ilford formed another link in our chain of service stations.
1965 New branches were opened at Corby and Exeter. Automobile Tyre Co. Ltd., of Osnaburgh Street, London, was acquired and this brought to a close a five year period during which the number of service centres grew from 54 to 96.
Whatever the future holds it is a tribute to every member of the Marsham Group, that the programme could be undertaken and carried through with such smoothness and efficiency. One of the most gratifying features was the speed. with which our new friends so easily and rapidly became "one of the family"; sharing with us the same ideals and objectives.
1966 This was, in the main, a year of consolidation and future planning—but the Al. Tyre Co. Ltd., opened branches in Sheldon and Northfield—both in the Birmingham area. 1967 During the Spring, branches were opened in Bebbington, Blackpool, Coalville, Goole, and Melton Mowbray. Later came Northallerton and Middlewood Road, Sheffield. We expanded in the South West with the acquisition of Tyre Services (Plymouth) Limited. 1968 Tyre Deals & Services Ltd., with six branches specialising in car tyre sales, became Marsham owned on January 1st. Their branches were at South Harrow, Edmonton, Hanwell, Reading, Thornton Heath and Welling.
The Exmouth Tyre & Accessory Co., together with Frank Newby (Morecambe} Ltd., also joined our ranks and Marsham branches were built at Seacroft, Leeds, Basingstoke, Poole, Clacton and Runcom.
The A.1. Tyre Co., opened a specialist car tyre service station in Shrewsbury whilst in Chelmsford, Marsham built new premises for comprehensive tyre service which left the original branch better able to concentrate on the growing car tyre market.
1969 Marsham built a comprehensive branch in Shrewsbury and Foremost Tyre Services Ltd., car tyre specialists, joined us.
Foremost branches were located as follows: The above were augmented during the year by branches in Witney and Gloucester.
Baynes Tyre & Battery Co., of Cradley Heath was a further acquisition and Marsham branches appeared in Loughborough and Winchester.
Expansion of the number of outlets is but one way of meeting the needs of the day. There is also the need to expand or rehouse existing branches if adequate service in a growing market, is to be maintained. Additions to the range of sizes and types of tyres add to this need.
Re-housing is a permanent function for our Property Dept., Bristol and London (W.1 .1 in 1966, Cheltenham, Canterbury, Worcester in 1967, Glasgow, Manchester, Ipswich and Plymouth in 1968 are just a few examples. Marsham, Chiswick, built in 1936 and designed far beyond foreseeable needs had for some years traded above its designed capacity. During 1969 we were able to transfer to new premises near-by. The old Chiswick branch has a firm place in our history. It still has a dignity of its own and will continue its saga—as a specialist car tyre centre.