AN UP-TO-DATE YORKSHIRE DEPOT.
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North country readers, and more particularly those in and around Yorkshire, will be interested in the post-war activities of the Thornton Engineering Co., of Humboldt Street,' Bradford, which are just announced.
Let us here remark that the firm or
immediate predecessors, have been engaged in one way or another in the motor trade for the past 20 years, and in the early part of their career' it may be recalled that, the firm were builders of a very successful small car known as the Taco. For a long 'time, however, they interested themselves solely in the retail trade, and were so engaged when, on the outbreak of war, their -entire resources, together with their allied coachbuilding concern, Humboldt, Ltd., were taken over by the M. of M. for aircraft production. During the whole period of the war, the entire works itself, which has, a door space of roughly 40,000 sq. ft,, and the staff numbering close on 300, have been engaged in meeting the exacting deinands of the Air Ministry. In anticipation of post-war requirements, the firm have recently purchased a large block of land which possesses a frontage of 110 ft. in Manningharn Lane (main artery of Bradford) and a depth of 230 ft. . The whole block is embraced on every side by streets, thus affording a number crf means of exits, and avoiding the confusion which often arises in a garage when there is only one means of exit. The firm is proceeding to erect the new preinises right away. The works will be on two floors, giving an available workshop on a space of 65,000 Eq. ft. Another innovation which is being provided for customers is-kthe 'use of a large room comfortably furnished as a sitting or waiting room, and also private lavatories.
During the war the plant of both metal and wood-working tools has necessarily increased, and now comprises a wide range of machines and hand tools employed in motor repair or body building work. Amongst equipment eminently useful but not always possessed
by motor traders we might mention a complete acetylene welding plant with a pre-heating and annealing furnace capable of taking the largest crankcase or cylinder block, Harvey Frost vulcanizing 'plant, solid tyre hydraulic press, radial drilling machines, and air compressor with paint spraying apparatus, these, of course, in addition to the usual milling maaines, lathes, drilling marlines, grinders, and full saw mill, snaithing, and sheet metal plant.
The firm hold the agencies, in most cases for the whole of Yorkshire, and in 'the rest for very considerable portions thereof, for Lacre, Pagefield, and Tilling-Stevens commercial vehicles, with, of course, the universki Ford.
It is anticipated that the new premises will be completed in about six months' time, although a portion will probably be available in a very few weeks, as operations are being pushed forward as rapidly as possible. In the meantime, of course, the firm are retaining possession of their original premises at Humboldt Street.