Karrier Motors
Karrier of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Formerly Clayton and Co
1920 Company formed. 'Herbert Fitzroy Clayton, Craigrmhor, Huddersfield. (Chairman of Clayton and Co., Huddersfield, Ltd.), Chairman. Reginald Fitzroy Clayton. M.I.A.E;. Craigrmhor, Huddersfield, Vice-Chairman. Albert Briggs, Clough House, Huddersfield, Engineer, General Managing Director. Robert Arthur Jones, “Winthorpe,” 34, Cranes Park, Surbiton, Engineer, Managing Director (London). George Frederick Jepson, “Cartref,” Oakes, Huddersfield, Engineer, Managing Director (Works). Cecil Harvey Lamb, “Greystoncs.” New North-road, Huddersfield, Engineer, Managing Director (Sales).'[1]
1927 See Aberconway for information on the company and its history
In 1929 Karrier started production of the "Colt" three-wheeler as a dustcart chassis for Huddersfield Corporation.
In 1930 this was developed into the "Cob" tractor to haul road trailers for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. The "Cob" was similar to the Scammell "Mechanical Horse".
1931 In partnership with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway they developed a three-wheeler to replace the horse. This was based on a Jowett 7hp engine and was produced until 1938.
1934 Financial difficulties and bought by Humber
1934 Purchased by Rootes Securities. [2]; moved production to Luton (the bus business was moved to Moorfield Road, Wolverhampton where the Rootes' owned Sunbeam business was based); closed the Huddersfield operation.
In the mid-1930s the "Cob" range was supplemented by the four-wheel "Bantam".
WW2 Produced Army lorries and did munitions work.
Postwar: the Sunbeam and Karrier trolleybus operations were sold to J. Brockhouse and Co and soon after these were sold to Guy Motors.
1948 Resumed production of Bantam 30cwt and 2ton models and the CK3 in the 3-4ton range.
1950 Introduced the Gamecock with underfloor engine and a steel cab identical to the Commer.
In the late 1950s and 1960s some Karrier vehicles were fitted with the inconic Rootes two-stroke opposed piston diesel engine, see Commer. Other engines used in this period include Humber Hawk petrol engines (L Heand and OHC) and Perkins Diesels.
1963 The Bantam was updated.
1968 The company was put into creditors' voluntary liquidation[3]
1973 The company passed to Chrysler and was later merged with Dodge Brothers.
1981 Employing 2,698 persons with 1,875 of these in Industrial Operations. Production was 2,525 of 100 series; 518 of 50 series van; 1,623 of 50 series cab. Total of 4,666. Also 3,563 of Spacevan (discontinued in 1982)[4]
1981 The company has 2,698 employees of which 1,875 are within industrial operations based mainly at the Bedfordshire manufacturing plants and Dunstable and Luton. The Luton plant manufactures Front and Rear Axles and gearboxes, together with some minor components. Dunstable assembles Trucks and vans from Body-in-White, through Paint, Trim and Final Assembly. The separation from Talbot Motors is not yet complete as the Dodge Spacevan is produced within the Talbot Plants and remains a Talbot product. Industrial Operations will be totally independent pf Talbot in 1982.[5]
Buses
1928 They produced the three-axle E6 trolleybus
1930 Introduced the E4 trolleybus
1932 Karrier's Ro-Railer was a hybrid single decker bus capable of running on both road and rail. It was introduced in 1932 and tested by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway but it was not a success
Pre WWII they produced the WL6 bus.
1942 Introduced the Karrier W trolleybus
After WWII they produced a 14-seat chassis with a four-cylinder Commer engine and in 1960 this was replaced by a Standard engine.
They made Economist buses, which sold in Yorkshire by Stagg and Robinson.
Models
- K Type (1920-1931) 3/6 tons
- CYR Low loading garbage truck
- H Type (1922- ) 20-26 seat bodywork.
- C Type (1923- ) Dorman engine.
- Z Type (1924- ) 14 seater one-ton
- ZA (1929- ) 1.5-ton
- KL (1925- ) passenger range with a low-height chassis and pneumatic tyres.
- WL (1925- ) first six-wheeler
- KW6/KWF6 8-ton six-wheeler
- CL6 (1926) carried 32 passengers. Around 50 of these were produced.
- Cob (1931- ) 3-ton
- Cob Major 4-ton
- Road Railer Additional wheels for use on tracts
- Colossus (132- ) 12-ton six-wheeler
- CK (1935-1952)
- Bantam
- CK3 3-ton
- CK6 6-ton
- Gamecock (1952- )
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- British Buses Since 1945 by John Creighton. Published 1983. ISBN 0 7137 1258 9