Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

Registered UK Charity (No. 1154342)

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 167,700 pages of information and 247,103 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Alldays and Onions: Difference between revisions

From Graces Guide
← Older edit
PaulF (talk | contribs)
288,090 edits
PaulF (talk | contribs)
288,090 edits
No edit summary
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image: ‎1918AlldaysOnionB.jpg|thumb|1918]]
[[Image:‎1918AlldaysOnionB.jpg|thumb|1918]]
‎‎[[Image: ‎1918AlldaysOnionsA.jpg|thumb|1918]]
‎‎[[Image:‎1918AlldaysOnionsA.jpg|thumb|1918]]
‎‎[[Image: ‎1918AlldaysOnionsC.jpg|thumb|1918]]
‎‎[[Image:‎1918AlldaysOnionsC.jpg|thumb|1918]]
[[image:Im19191101IM-AlldaysOnions.jpg |thumb| Nov 1919. ]]
[[Image:Im192001Ae-All.jpg|thumb| January 1920. Furnace for the Tool Room. ]]
[[Image:Im19200924MCT-Onions.jpg|thumb| September 1920.]]
[[Image:Im19200924MCT-Onions.jpg|thumb| September 1920.]]
[[Image:Im1922Env133-p659.jpg‎|thumb|1922. Cupola. ]]
[[Image:Im20101013AM-Onions.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Armley Mill Museum]]. ]]
[[Image:Im20101013AM-Onions.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Armley Mill Museum]]. ]]
[[image:Im1923EnV135-p223.jpg|thumb| 1923. Spring hammer.]]
[[image:Im1923EnV135-p223.jpg|thumb| 1923. Spring hammer.]]
[[image:Im1923EnV135-p223a.jpg|thumb| 1923. Drop hammer.]]
[[image:Im1923EnV135-p223a.jpg|thumb| 1923. Drop hammer.]]
[[Image:Im0231HVE-All.jpg|thumb| February 1931. ]]
[[Image:Im1936MWHB-Alldays.jpg|thumb| 1936.  ]]
[[Image:Im1936MWHB-Alldays.jpg|thumb| 1936.  ]]
‎‎[[Image: Im1943EYB-Allday.jpg|thumb| 1943]]
[[image:ImIDH1938-AlldaysOnions.jpg |thumb| 1938. ]]
[[Image: Im1943EYB-Alldays2.jpg|thumb| 1943]]
[[image:ImIDH1938-AlldaysOnions2.jpg |thumb| 1938. ]]
‎‎[[Image:Im1943EYB-Allday.jpg|thumb| 1943]]
[[Image:Im1943EYB-Alldays2.jpg|thumb| 1943]]
[[image:Im1943MWYB-All.jpg|thumb| 1943. ]]  
[[image:Im1943MWYB-All.jpg|thumb| 1943. ]]  
[[image: Im1945Benn-Onions.jpg|thumb|1945]]
[[image:Im1945Benn-Onions.jpg|thumb|1945]]
[[Image: Im194603BTJ-Alldays.jpg|thumb| 1946]]
[[Image:Im194603BTJ-Alldays.jpg|thumb| 1946]]
‎‎[[Image: ‎Im1951Benn-Onions.jpg|thumb|1951]]
[[image:Im20170109RB-Summerlee1.jpg |thumb|Exhibit at the [[Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life]]. ]]
[[Image:Im1951MWYB-All.jpg|thumb| 1951. ]]
[[Image:Im1951MWYB-Alley2.jpg|thumb| 1951. ]]
‎‎[[Image:‎Im1951Benn-Onions.jpg|thumb|1951]]
[[image:Im19531128ML-Alldays.jpg|thumb| November 1953. ]]
[[image:Im19531128ML-Alldays.jpg|thumb| November 1953. ]]
[[image:Im20170320RB-Alldays.jpg |thumb| 1955. Centrifugal Fan.<ref>Oxford Junior Encyclopaedia.  Volume VIII.  Engineering.  Oxford University Press, 1955</ref>]]
[[Image:Im195703PWE-Alld.jpg|thumb| March 1957.]]
[[image:Im1958v206-p950cca.jpg|thumb| 1958.]]


[[image:Im1969EnV228-19690410 p015 ALldays.jpg|thumb| 1969.]]
[[image:Im1969v229-p0828Alldays.jpg |thumb| 1969.]]
[[Image:Im20110603Chil-All1.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Temple Newsham Museum]]. ]]
[[Image:Im20110603Chil-All1.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Temple Newsham Museum]]. ]]
[[Image:Im20110603Chil-All2.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Temple Newsham Museum]]. ]]
[[Image:Im20110603Chil-All2.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Temple Newsham Museum]]. ]]
Line 20: Line 35:
[[Image:Im120414FF-Allday1.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Finch Foundry]] ]]
[[Image:Im120414FF-Allday1.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Finch Foundry]] ]]
[[Image:Im120414FF-Allday2.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Finch Foundry]] ]]
[[Image:Im120414FF-Allday2.jpg|thumb| Exhibit at [[Finch Foundry]] ]]
[[Image:Im2015Aus10-Alldays1.jpg|thumb| ]]
[[Image:Im2015Aus10-Alldays2.jpg|thumb| ]]
[[Image:Im2015Aus19-AlldaysOnion.jpg|thumb| Bellows. ]]


'''Alldays and Onions''', of Great Western and Matchless Works, Small Heath, Birmingham, was a manufacturer of motor lorries, cars and vans, cycles and motorcycles, complete outfits for foundries and workshops, hammers, fans, hearthes, forges, cranes, pulley blocks, etc.
'''Alldays and Onions''', of Great Western and Matchless Works, Small Heath, Birmingham, was a manufacturer of motor lorries, cars and vans, cycles and motorcycles, complete outfits for foundries and workshops, hammers, fans, hearthes, forges, cranes, pulley blocks, etc.


==History==
'''See sub-sections:
* [[Alldays and Onions: Cars|Cars]]
* [[Alldays and Onions: Commercial Vehicles|Commercial Vehicles]]
* [[Alldays and Onions: Cycles|Cycles]]
* [[Alldays and Onions: Motorcycles|Motorcycles]]
* [[Alldays and Onions: Industrial Equipment|Industrial Equipment]]


1885 Company formed by the merger of [[William Allday and Co|William Allday and Sons]] Ltd with [[John C. Onions]] Ltd as [[Alldays and Onions]] Ltd<ref>The Times, 14 January 1916</ref>.
1885 Company formed by the merger of [[William Allday and Co|William Allday and Sons]] Ltd with [[John C. Onions]] Ltd as [[Alldays and Onions]] Ltd<ref>The Times, 14 January 1916</ref>.


1889 Company reorganised as '''Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co.''' of Birmingham. The company, '''Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co''', was registered on 18 December, to take over and extend the business of '''Alldays and Onions''', manufacturers of bellows, portable forges etc. <ref>The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908</ref>
1889 Company reorganised as [[Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co]]. of Birmingham. The company, '''Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co''', was registered on 18 December, to take over and extend the business of '''Alldays and Onions''', manufacturers of bellows, portable forges etc. <ref>The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908</ref>


1896/7 Directory: Listed under cycles. <ref>[[Peck's Trades Directory of Birmingham, 1896-97: Cycles]]</ref>
1896/7 Directory: Listed under cycles. <ref>[[Peck's Trades Directory of Birmingham, 1896-97: Cycles]]</ref>


1912 '''Alldays and Onions''', which had been engaged in the general engineering trade for a long time, had more recently established separate works for car manufacture; had also acquired the [[Enfield Autocar Co]] including manufacturing rights and trade mark; manufacture of the two types of car would be kept separate; motorcycles were also built<ref>The Times, 2 October 1912</ref>.
1898 The company produced its first car, the Traveller


WWI Munitions production
1900 Maker of Roots blowers, smiths' hearths, grind-stones and troughs, vices, stocks, taps, and dies, and moulders', house, and smiths' bellows.


1916 Issue of shares to fund expansion for war work<ref>The Times, 14 January 1916</ref>.
1903 Started series production of cars followed by vans.


1932 Largely owned by [[Mitchell Cotts|Mitchell Cotts and Co]]
1907 Exhibited a light commercial vehicles.


By 1936 was part of [[Mitchell Cotts|Mitchell Cotts and Co]]<ref>The Times, 16 December 1936</ref>.
1912 '''Alldays and Onions''', which had been engaged in the general engineering trade for a long time, had more recently established separate works for car manufacture; had also acquired the [[Enfield Autocar Co]] including manufacturing rights and trade mark; manufacture of the two types of car would be kept separate; motorcycles were also built<ref>The Times, 2 October 1912</ref>.


1969 '''Mitchell Cotts''' combined the company with another of its subsidiaries, [[J. C. Peacock (Engineers)]] also involved in industrial fans, in a new company called '''Alldays Peacock'''<ref>The Times, Aug 27, 1969</ref>.
WWI Munitions production


1980s '''Alldays Peacock''' was acquired by the [[Spire Group]].
1916 Issue of shares to fund expansion for war work<ref>The Times, 14 January 1916</ref>.


==Industrial==
c.1919 The name of the company had been shortened to '''Alldays and Onions''' Ltd.


1890 Showed an exhaust blower and pneumatic hammer at the Engineers, Electricians, Builders and Ironmongers Exhibition. <ref>[[The Engineer]] of 28th March 1890 p264</ref>
1920 First AGM for several years; notification of need to raise additional capital<ref>The Times, April 27, 1920</ref>


1911 Issued catalogue on Smith's hearths with Roots blowers etc. <ref>[[The Engineer]] of 22nd December 1911 p650</ref>
1922 "An interesting ceremony was performed when the directors of '''Alldays and Onions''', Limited, presented an inscribed gold watch to Mr. [[Albert Williams]], in recognition of his sixty years' uninterrupted service with the company. The function took place in the large concert hall at the firm's Great Western Works, Small Heath, Birmingham, which was crowded by an assembly numbering several hundreds, which included the heads of departments and representatives of all grades. Mr. [[H. Marks]], chairman of the company, presided. The presentation was made by Mr. [[A. T. Cocking]], one of the directors, who outlined the career of the recipient. He told how [[Albert Williams]] had entered the concern at the age of eleven, in June, 1862, working under has father at 2s. 6d. a week. At that time the firm was [[John C. Onions |J. C. Onions and Co]], the establishment of which was in Bradford-street, the amalgamation with the late Mr. [[William Allday]] coming about later. During the whole of [[Albert Williams]]'s record he had been absent from work only four days, by reason of illness, and had never been late. He always walked to business, and did so still - a good mile and a half.


1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of '''Paraffin Commercial and Agricultural Motors, Tractors, Ploughs, Sprayers, etc.''' see the [[1913-1917 Motor, Marine and Aircraft Red Book: Paraffin Motors| 1917 Red Book]]
Williams was, it was explained, continuing the paternal tradition, for his father -like the son, a bellows maker - was with '''J. C. Onions and Co''' for a period of between sixty·three and sixty-four years, when he retired." <ref>[[The Engineer 1922/07/07]]</ref>


1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of '''Petrol Motors''' see the [[1913-1917 Motor, Marine and Aircraft Red Book: Petrol Motors| 1917 Red Book]]
1925 Until only recently, the company had been conducted by a receiver and manager on behalf of the former debenture holders. In 1925, it was transferred by him by a new company, and the business from August 1925 continued under the name of '''New Alldays and Onions'''. The new board consisted of Sir [[William Mitchell Cotts]] and Mr [[A. T. Cocking]].<ref>The Engineer 1925/09/04</ref>


1914 Manufacturers of all requisites for blacksmiths, engineering, foundry and railway companies; also manufacturers of cycles and motor cars. <ref>[[1914 Whitakers Red Book]]</ref>
1925 Dec - They moved their London office from Stevenage House, 40-44 High Holburn, to 9, Victoria-Street, Westminster, S.W.I.<ref>The Engineer 1925/12/04</ref>


1920 May. Issued catalogue on oil-firing burners and equipment for boilers. <ref>[[The Engineer]] of 28th May 1920 p564</ref>
1932 Largely owned by [[Mitchell Cotts|Mitchell Cotts and Co]]


1940 Advert. Pneumatic power hammers. <ref>Mechanical World Year Book 1940. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p122</ref>
By 1936 was part of [[Mitchell Cotts|Mitchell Cotts and Co]]<ref>The Times, 16 December 1936</ref>.


1945 Advert. Pneumatic power hammers. (of Great Western Works, Small Heath) <ref>Mechanical World Year Book 1945. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p172</ref>
1969 '''Mitchell Cotts''' combined the company with another of its subsidiaries, [[J. C. Peacock (Engineers)]] also involved in industrial fans, in a new company called '''Alldays Peacock'''<ref>The Times, Aug 27, 1969</ref>.


1951 Advert. Pneumatic power hammers. (of Great Western Works, Small Heath) <ref>Mechanical World Year Book 1951. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p172 </ref>
1980s '''Alldays Peacock''' was acquired by the [[Spire Group]].


==Cars==
2005 Taken over by the Witt Group
See [[Alldays and Onions: Cars]]


==Cycles==
See [[Alldays and Onions: Cycles]]


==Motorcycles==
See [[Alldays and Onions: Motorcycles]]
==Buses==
'''Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co''' of Birmingham started building cars followed by vans in 1903.
In 1911 trucks with a 40hp engine began production.
In World War I, West Bridgford UDC situated near Nottingham bought seven '''Alldays''' chassis.
The '''Alldays''' were chain driven which the war office did not favour. Each chassis cost £595.
The last '''Alldays''' were sold by West Bridgford in 1921.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
Line 99: Line 107:


{{DEFAULTSORT: }}
{{DEFAULTSORT: }}
[[Category: Town - Birmingham]]
[[Category: Cars]]
[[Category: Cars]]
[[Category: Commercial Vehicles]]
[[Category: Cycles]]
[[Category: Cycles]]
[[Category: Motorcycles]]
[[Category: Motorcycles]]
[[Category: Commercial Vehicles]]
[[Category: Motorcycles - TT Races pre-WWI]]
[[Category: Town - Birmingham]]
[[Category: Heating and Ventilation]]
[[Category: Heating and Ventilation]]

Latest revision as of 15:04, 26 January 2020

1918

‎‎

1918

‎‎

1918
Nov 1919.
January 1920. Furnace for the Tool Room.
September 1920.
1922. Cupola.
Exhibit at Armley Mill Museum.
1923. Spring hammer.
1923. Drop hammer.
February 1931.
1936.
1938.
1938.

‎‎

1943
1943
1943.
1945
1946
Exhibit at the Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life.
1951.
1951.

‎‎

1951
November 1953.
1955. Centrifugal Fan.[1]
March 1957.
1958.
1969.
1969.
Exhibit at Temple Newsham Museum.
Exhibit at Temple Newsham Museum.
Exhibit at Finch Foundry
Exhibit at Finch Foundry
Bellows.

Alldays and Onions, of Great Western and Matchless Works, Small Heath, Birmingham, was a manufacturer of motor lorries, cars and vans, cycles and motorcycles, complete outfits for foundries and workshops, hammers, fans, hearthes, forges, cranes, pulley blocks, etc.

See sub-sections:

1885 Company formed by the merger of William Allday and Sons Ltd with John C. Onions Ltd as Alldays and Onions Ltd[2].

1889 Company reorganised as Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co. of Birmingham. The company, Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co, was registered on 18 December, to take over and extend the business of Alldays and Onions, manufacturers of bellows, portable forges etc. [3]

1896/7 Directory: Listed under cycles. [4]

1898 The company produced its first car, the Traveller

1900 Maker of Roots blowers, smiths' hearths, grind-stones and troughs, vices, stocks, taps, and dies, and moulders', house, and smiths' bellows.

1903 Started series production of cars followed by vans.

1907 Exhibited a light commercial vehicles.

1912 Alldays and Onions, which had been engaged in the general engineering trade for a long time, had more recently established separate works for car manufacture; had also acquired the Enfield Autocar Co including manufacturing rights and trade mark; manufacture of the two types of car would be kept separate; motorcycles were also built[5].

WWI Munitions production

1916 Issue of shares to fund expansion for war work[6].

c.1919 The name of the company had been shortened to Alldays and Onions Ltd.

1920 First AGM for several years; notification of need to raise additional capital[7]

1922 "An interesting ceremony was performed when the directors of Alldays and Onions, Limited, presented an inscribed gold watch to Mr. Albert Williams, in recognition of his sixty years' uninterrupted service with the company. The function took place in the large concert hall at the firm's Great Western Works, Small Heath, Birmingham, which was crowded by an assembly numbering several hundreds, which included the heads of departments and representatives of all grades. Mr. H. Marks, chairman of the company, presided. The presentation was made by Mr. A. T. Cocking, one of the directors, who outlined the career of the recipient. He told how Albert Williams had entered the concern at the age of eleven, in June, 1862, working under has father at 2s. 6d. a week. At that time the firm was J. C. Onions and Co, the establishment of which was in Bradford-street, the amalgamation with the late Mr. William Allday coming about later. During the whole of Albert Williams's record he had been absent from work only four days, by reason of illness, and had never been late. He always walked to business, and did so still - a good mile and a half.

Williams was, it was explained, continuing the paternal tradition, for his father -like the son, a bellows maker - was with J. C. Onions and Co for a period of between sixty·three and sixty-four years, when he retired." [8]

1925 Until only recently, the company had been conducted by a receiver and manager on behalf of the former debenture holders. In 1925, it was transferred by him by a new company, and the business from August 1925 continued under the name of New Alldays and Onions. The new board consisted of Sir William Mitchell Cotts and Mr A. T. Cocking.[9]

1925 Dec - They moved their London office from Stevenage House, 40-44 High Holburn, to 9, Victoria-Street, Westminster, S.W.I.[10]

1932 Largely owned by Mitchell Cotts and Co

By 1936 was part of Mitchell Cotts and Co[11].

1969 Mitchell Cotts combined the company with another of its subsidiaries, J. C. Peacock (Engineers) also involved in industrial fans, in a new company called Alldays Peacock[12].

1980s Alldays Peacock was acquired by the Spire Group.

2005 Taken over by the Witt Group


See Also

Loading...

Sources of Information

  1. ↑ Oxford Junior Encyclopaedia. Volume VIII. Engineering. Oxford University Press, 1955
  2. ↑ The Times, 14 January 1916
  3. ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908
  4. ↑ Peck's Trades Directory of Birmingham, 1896-97: Cycles
  5. ↑ The Times, 2 October 1912
  6. ↑ The Times, 14 January 1916
  7. ↑ The Times, April 27, 1920
  8. ↑ The Engineer 1922/07/07
  9. ↑ The Engineer 1925/09/04
  10. ↑ The Engineer 1925/12/04
  11. ↑ The Times, 16 December 1936
  12. ↑ The Times, Aug 27, 1969
  • [1] Wikipedia
  • [2] CyberMotorCycles web site
  • The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X
  • Miller’s Price Guide to Classic Motorcycles
  • Ian Allan - British Buses Since 1900 - Aldridge and Morris
  • The Engineer of 22nd June 1900 p650
Retrieved from "https://gracesguide.co.uk/index.php?title=Alldays_and_Onions&oldid=1143511"
Privacy policy Disclaimers About Grace’s Guide Contact Grace’s Guide

Grace's Guide web site design is Copyright © 2025 by Grace's Guide Ltd. The text of this web site is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 

MW1.43