Title
Papers Relating to the Organisational Structure of Crossley Brothers Ltd.
Reference
YA2010.2
Production date
01-01-1924 - 31-12-1934
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 bundle comprises of pro forma notices of company meetings held in 1924, printed annual report and accounts for 1923, and papers relating to the reorganisation of the company's capital structure in 1935. The latter papers provide evidence of the effect of the economic downturn in the 1930s on a Manchester business.
Extent
1 bundle
Archival history
Lodged with Manchester Archives and Local Studies by an unknown donor at an unknown date. Transferred from MALS during their 2010 stocktake.
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
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
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