DO YOU keep in mind Albion Motors in Scotstoun?
Reader Caroline Braham contacted us just recently to inform us about an amazing collection of souvenirs she found in a box of her spouse’s documents from the world-famous Glasgow lorry maker.
In addition to old pictures and a framed long service certificate, the previous worker had actually protected a variety of interesting badges, letters and even an unopened box of cigarettes.
” Edmund died just recently, and I have actually been sorting through boxes of old files,” she discussed. “His dad, Edmund Walter Braham, worked for Albion Motors and after that Leyland. I would enjoy to contribute these products to a Glasgow museum, or to a collector.”
Albion Motors, Scotstoun, c 1960. Photo: Newsquest ( Image: Newsquest)
Caroline was born in Coatbridge however her household transferred to Doncaster in the early 60s, and Yorkshire became her house. Edmund and his household walked around since of his daddy’s task, and lastly settled in Nottingham. Edmund Walter invested his ins 2015 residing in Wetherby and he is buried together with his better half Mary in Wetherby cemetery.
Edmund Walter Braham ( Image: Caroline Braham) Edmund likewise worked for Leyland for a variety of years till it shut down in the 1980s.
Albion Motors, 1960. Photo: Newsquest ( Image: Newsquest)
” I do not understand much about my father-in-law’s time at the business, however I do understand he utilized to inform stories of driving trucks up and down in between Glasgow and England,” she states.
LEARN MORE: ‘It will be a psychological day’: East Kilbride guy, 91, prepares to stroll in memory of evacuees at Remembrance Day parade
” There was one emphasize in the 70s, when he attained the Royal Warrant for some Leyland automobiles for the Sandringham estate, a tractor and a truck l believe.
” There are some initial letters to show this on stunning Sandringham headed paper, however they’ll take some finding. I have a couple of more boxes to go through …”
Souvenirs consists of information sheets and an unopened box of cigarettes. Photo: Caroline Braham ( Image: Caroline Braham)
Caroline includes: “The date that Edmund existed with his long service certificate was 1951, so it’s amazing to envision him beginning work there in 1926 and the fantastic modifications he should have seen within the market and the innovation.”
Edmund Walter’s long service certificate ( Image: Caroline Braham)
The Albion Motor Functions in Scotstoun invited a Royal visitor in 1966 when Princess Margaret inaugurated a ₤ 2m extension at the factory.
She informed put together employees and dignitaries that the business had a “happy record of 66 years in the motor market” and after that pushed a button to begin the assembly line, a 750ft assembly conveyor which was the longest and heaviest of its key in Europe.
Albion Motors was established in 1899 as the Albion Vehicle Business and its radiator sign was the increasing sun. Its marketing motto was “sure as the daybreak” and at the time of Princess Margaret’s check out, chairman Sir Donald Stokes stated it was the earliest existing Scottish lorry maker.
The extremely first tape-recorded delivery from Albion, back in 1901, was an 8hp dog-cart which went to Malaya.
The very first delivery from Albion to Malaya was an 8hp dog cart in 1901 ( Image: Newsquest)
By 1966, it was not uncommon for a single order for 300 trucks to be worth ₤ 500,000.
Our photos reveal an Albion chassis in the early phases of assembly throughout a trial run of the brand-new conveyor belt and guys at work on cylinder blocks, in 1960.
LEARN MORE: Incredible Glasgow pictures that will take you back to 1982
In 1903 the company transferred to a brand-new plant at Scotstoun, 200 lawns from the Clyde. Its distance to the docks assisted improve its abroad organization and by 1913 Albion was exporting to India, Ceylon, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
Throughout the Great War, much of the 6000 chain-drive, 32hp three-tonne trucks produced the War Workplace saw service on numerous abroad fronts. The business continued to grow in later years. Valkyrie, Venturer, and Victor buses were market leaders, though trucks continued to be the essential of business.
Albion entered into British Leyland in 1968, and the “Albion” name was dropped in 1972. In 1986 the Scotstoun works entered into the Leyland DAF group; when the group entered into receivership in 1993, the automobile parts of business was moved to a brand-new business, Albion Automotives.
