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Gordon & Co., Coachbuilders

Gordon and Co apparently started as Furniture makers, which is probably not surprising as aearly car bodies were often wooden based. Below are the entries from Kellys. Remembering that the directory date is probably up to a year before publication date, the car business probably ran from 1914 . The furniture business continued.

1892 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 Bradford street

1892-1895 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 Bradford street

1896-1897 Gordon & Co. furniture & looking glass manufacturers and upholsterers, 123 to 131 Bradford street

1899-1903 Gordon & Co. furniture, looking glass and windsor chair manufacturers and upholsterers, 123 to 131 Bradford street

1904-1908 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford street & Floodgate St



1910-1913 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford street

1915-1940 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford street & motor car body bldrs.Taunton rd.Balsall.hth.


1943 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford


The position of the works is shown in red on the c1937 map. On the c1905 map it is an omnibus depot. It is not clear if the buildings to the south are also part of the works

map 1937 showing positionof Gordon & Co motor body works.jpg
 
mikejee said:
Gordon and Co apparently started as Furniture makers, which is probably not surprising as aearly car bodies were often wooden based. Below are the entries from Kellys. Remembering that the directory date is probably up to a year before publication date, the car business probably ran from 1914 . The furniture business continued.

1892 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 Bradford street

1892-1895 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 Bradford street

1896-1897 Gordon & Co. furniture & looking glass manufacturers and upholsterers, 123 to 131 Bradford street

1899-1903 Gordon & Co. furniture, looking glass and windsor chair manufacturers and upholsterers, 123 to 131 Bradford street

1904-1908 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford street & Floodgate St



1910-1913 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford street

1915-1940 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford street & motor car body bldrs.Taunton rd.Balsall.hth.


1943 Gordon & Co. furniture manufacturers, 123 to 131 Bradford


The position of the works is shown in red on the c1937 map. On the c1905 map it is an omnibus depot. It is not clear if the buildings to the south are also part of the works

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Hi I'm doing some research into this company and especially the coachbuilding side. I used to work for a an automotive tools company called Sykes-Pickavant. This was a merge of 2 companies, JF Sykes & JW Pickavant. The Pickavant side was a business of the Mindelsohn family, apparently very well known in Birmingham for their association with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Anyway JW Pickavant started in 1921 and they sold Gordon Bodies. The Mindelsohn family also married into the Gordon family and they both shared origins in furniture manufacturing. I've captured a screen grab from Google of this coachbuilding factory. If anyone can shed any more information about the history of these families, the coachbuilding etc I would much appreciate it. I'm working with a group of former colleagues to create an on-line digital archive of the 100 year story of Sykes-Pickavant at sparchive.org - please check it out and contact us with your stories on this subject. Thanks
 

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  • Gordon Coachbuilding Taunton Rd Sparkbrook.jpg
    Gordon Coachbuilding Taunton Rd Sparkbrook.jpg
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Pedrocut said:
July 1925 more trouble.

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I was Marketing Director at Sykes-Pickavant and was recruited by Jack Webster who started with JWP is the 1950's after an apprenticeship with Austin. Jack was super critical and diligent about how we named and designed products. He was recruited by Paul Mindelsohn who had a similar attitude. Now I know where it came from! I can feel Jack sitting on my shoulder right now and scrutinising my work! Great stuff thanks.
 
I presume you have this info from Grace’s Guide ?

Joseph France ('Joe') Sykes (1880-1965) of J. W. Pickavant and Co and J. F. Sykes

1880 December 23rd. Born at Marsden the son of Walter Sykes, a worsted weaver, and his wife Hannah

1939 Residing at 17 Sandringham Road, Lytham St. Annes, a Manufacturer's Agent. With Florence G. Sykes (born 1883) and Peter F. Sykes (born 1921).[1]

1965 September 18th. Died, of 17 Sandringham Road, Lytham St. Annes. Probate to Peter France Sykes and Alan Howarth Sykes.
 
Pedrocut said:
I presume you have this info from Grace’s Guide ?

Joseph France ('Joe') Sykes (1880-1965) of J. W. Pickavant and Co and J. F. Sykes

1880 December 23rd. Born at Marsden the son of Walter Sykes, a worsted weaver, and his wife Hannah

1939 Residing at 17 Sandringham Road, Lytham St. Annes, a Manufacturer's Agent. With Florence G. Sykes (born 1883) and Peter F. Sykes (born 1921).[1]

1965 September 18th. Died, of 17 Sandringham Road, Lytham St. Annes. Probate to Peter France Sykes and Alan Howarth Sykes.
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I'll copy this over to my colleague Steve who's doing the family history stuff. He's now on this website forum and joining the thread.
Thanks you once again for your help. Much appreciated.
 
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