Title
Papers relating to Crossley Brothers and Crossley Motors Ltd
Reference
YA1990.1031/MS0170
Production date
1871 - 1985
Creator
- Crossley Brothers LtdBiographyBiography
Crossley Brothers Ltd was the successor company to Crossley Brothers. Following early success with the Otto engines, Crossley Brothers expanded and was registered as a limited company in 1881. In 1882, the company moved to new premises in Pottery Lane, Openshaw, Manchester. In 1891 the company began producing oil fuelled engines and in 1896, the company acquired rights to manufacture engines on the diesel system, producing their first diesel engine in 1898. By the beginning of the 20th century, some petrol engines had been introduced, along with production line technology, and from 1901 petrol engines were being supplied for road vehicles. This led to the establishment of a second company, Crossley Motors Ltd, in 1906. This company had operated from 1904 as the vehicle manufacturing arm of Crossley Brothers based at the Pottery Lane factory.
Crossley Brothers Ltd began to expand nationally following the First World War, beginning in 1919 with the acquisition of Premier Gas Engines of Sandiacre, Nottingham and H P Saunderson & Co of Elstow Works, Bradford in 1924. Both new subsidiaries retained their own names. Manufacture of diesel and petrol engines at Crossley Brothers Ltd remained steady until the 1960s, when sales began to fall. To improve on designs that were over 40 years old, Crossley Brothers Ltd entered into an agreement to manufacture the French Pielstick design of diesel engine in 1962. Production was initially carried out at Nottingham based subsidiary Crossley Premier Engines Ltd but failed to save the company. In 1965, the receivers were called in and the company was restructured, with subsidiaries including Crossley Premier Engines Ltd sold off. In 1968, Crossley Brothers Ltd was acquired by the Amalgamated Power Engineering Group and was renamed APE-Crossley.
Scope and Content
The collection includes photographs, sales catalogues, newspaper cuttings, erection and operating instructions, part books, correspondence, house magazines, notebooks, directors reports and statements of accounts, and minute books relating to the production of cars, commercial vehicles and internal combustion engines built by Crossley Brothers and Crossley Motors Limited.
Extent
c.9 linear metres
Language
English
Archival history
Unable to locate accession envelope
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
- Crossley Brothers LtdBiographyBiography
Crossley Brothers Ltd was the successor company to Crossley Brothers. Following early success with the Otto engines, Crossley Brothers expanded and was registered as a limited company in 1881. In 1882, the company moved to new premises in Pottery Lane, Openshaw, Manchester. In 1891 the company began producing oil fuelled engines and in 1896, the company acquired rights to manufacture engines on the diesel system, producing their first diesel engine in 1898. By the beginning of the 20th century, some petrol engines had been introduced, along with production line technology, and from 1901 petrol engines were being supplied for road vehicles. This led to the establishment of a second company, Crossley Motors Ltd, in 1906. This company had operated from 1904 as the vehicle manufacturing arm of Crossley Brothers based at the Pottery Lane factory.
Crossley Brothers Ltd began to expand nationally following the First World War, beginning in 1919 with the acquisition of Premier Gas Engines of Sandiacre, Nottingham and H P Saunderson & Co of Elstow Works, Bradford in 1924. Both new subsidiaries retained their own names. Manufacture of diesel and petrol engines at Crossley Brothers Ltd remained steady until the 1960s, when sales began to fall. To improve on designs that were over 40 years old, Crossley Brothers Ltd entered into an agreement to manufacture the French Pielstick design of diesel engine in 1962. Production was initially carried out at Nottingham based subsidiary Crossley Premier Engines Ltd but failed to save the company. In 1965, the receivers were called in and the company was restructured, with subsidiaries including Crossley Premier Engines Ltd sold off. In 1968, Crossley Brothers Ltd was acquired by the Amalgamated Power Engineering Group and was renamed APE-Crossley.
Subject
Conditions governing access
Open access.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.
Related object
System of arrangement
The collection has been arranged into 13 series to represent the development of the companies and the different media of the archival material. The series are: 1, World War I Royal Flying Corps staff cars and tenders; 2, Material on car and tractor production 1919-1936; 3, Photographs of public service vehicles built 1927-1956; 4, Records of chassis layouts, engines, gearboxes and electrically propelled vehicles from 1930; 5, Photographs of commercial vehicles built 1927-1936; 6, Photographs of vehicles and chassis details built from 1937; 7, Sales catalogues for internal combustion engines; 9, Part books for internal combustion engines; 10, Miscellaneous material; 11, Correspondence relating to purchase of The Sanderson Tractor & Implement Co. Ltd., Bedford in 1922; 12, Directors reports and statement.