A Summary Description of the Papers of Morris Commercial Cars Ltd.TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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A Summary Description of the Papers of Morris Commercial Cars Ltd.Summary
Return to the Table of Contents Administrative/Biographical HistoryIn 1924 W.R. Morris took over E.G. Wrigley and Co. Ltd. (in liquidation). This was a Birmingham axle manufacturer and one of Morris' suppliers. Morris then established Morris Commercial Cars Limited which acquired Wrigley's factory at Soho in Birmingham and commenced production of commercial vehicles, usually in the payload range from 1 ton upwards, thus supplementing the light commercial vehicles made by Morris Motors Limited at Cowley. Later Morris Commercial took over the former Wolseley factory at Adderley Park in Birmingham. In 1936, Morris sold Morris Commercial Cars to Morris Motors Limited. In the British Motor Corporation (BMC) era after 1952, the importance of Morris Commercial as an operating subsidiary declined, although Adderley Park became BMC's main commercial vehicle plant, until the opening of the new factory at Bathgate in Scotland in the early 1960s. Subsequently, Adderley Park was used for the production of light commercials (as in the Light Commercial Vehicle Division of BMC). The factory was closed in 1971 and shortly afterwards demolished. The use of the Morris Commercial name on vehicles was discontinued in 1967-68. Reference: Anders Ditlev Clausager, BMIHT Archivist Return to the Table of Contents Scope and ContentSigned minutes of directors' and general meetings, 1924-1968; annual balance sheets and accounts, 1926-1927, 1936-1968; annual returns, 1925-1950; registers of directors or managers, 1924-1948; Files of Messrs. Herbert and Gowers and Company, solicitors to the company, 1924-1951; articles of association, 1936; superannuation fund, 1958. Return to the Table of Contents System of ArrangementThis collection forms part of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Archive (MSS.226). The Modern Records Centre uses a classification scheme. For further details of the scheme, see http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/mrcclass.shtml. It is compatible with ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description (2000). Return to the Table of Contents Administrative InformationCustodial HistoryThe records were in one of ten deed boxes discovered in early 1988 in the Poplars building at the Cowley Body Plant when that building was being demolished. Immediate Source of AcquisitionThis collection was deposited in the Centre by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in 1988. Appraisal, Destruction, SchedulingThis collection has been weeded for duplicates. AccrualsFurther deposits are not expected. Access ConditionsThere are no restrictions on access to these papers. Copyright/ReproductionAll requests for publication of deposited material or the result of research based on it should be made to the Trust. The Trust reserves all rights to commercial exploitation and commercial publication. Please contact the Centre's staff for further details. Return to the Table of Contents Additional Sources of InformationFinding AidsA copy of this catalogue is available in paper format in the Centre's searchroom, at the National Register of Archives in London and in Chadwyck-Healey's National Inventory of Documentary Sources. This catalogue is also available in electronic format on the Access to Archives (A2A) website at: http://www.a2a.pro.gov.uk/ Authority records exist for Morris Commercial Cars Ltd. (GB 0152 AAR2310); Morris Motors Limited (GB 0152 AAR2309); British Motor Corporation (GB 0152 AAR2295). Related Units of DescriptionThe Modern Records Centre also holds the papers of other companies which form part of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Archive. These include papers of Morris Motors Limited MSS.226/MO and the British Motor Corporation MSS.226/BM. Technical materials are retained by the BMIHT. Technical enquiries should be made direct to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, Archives and Information Service, Gaydon, Warwickshire. Return to the Table of Contents Index Headings
Messrs. Herbert and Gowers and Company Morris Commercial Cars Ltd.
Morris automobile Motor industry -- Great Britain Motor vehicle industry -- Great Britain Return to the Table of Contents CatalogueMSS.226/MC MORRIS COMMERCIAL CARS Ltd. 1924-1968Morris Commercial Cars Ltd, 1924-1968Administrative HistoryThe records described below were in one of ten deed boxes discovered in early 1988 in the `Poplars' building at the Cowley Body Plant when that building was being demolished. The following information was provided by Anders Ditlev Clausager, BMIHT Archivist : in 1924 W.R. Morris took over E.G. Wrigley Co. Ltd. (in liquidation). This was a Birmingham axle manufacturer and one of Morris' suppliers. Morris now established Morris Commercial Cars Limited which acquired Wrigley's factory at Soho in Birmingham and commenced production of commercial vehicles, usually in the payload range from 1 ton upwards, thus supplementing the light commercial vehicles made by Morris Motors Limited at Cowley. Later Morris Commercial took over the former Wolseley factory at Adderley Park in Birmingham. In 1936, Morris sold Morris Commercial Cars to Morris Motors Limited. In the BMC era after 1952, the importance of Morris Commercial as an operating subsidiary declined, although Adderley Park became BMC's main commercial vehicle plant, until the opening of the new factory at Bathgate in Scotland in the early 1960s. Subsequently, Adderley Park was used for the production of light commercials (as in the "Light Commercial Vehicle Division" of BMC). The factory was closed in 1971 and shortly after-wards demolished. The use of the Morris Commercial name on vehicles was discontinued in 1967-68. MSS.226/MC/1/1-4 1924-68Scope and ContentVols. of signed minutes of directors' and general meetings. Largely formal resolutions, e.g. re appointment of directors, patents, licences, agreements, etc. Incl. ann. balance sheets. MSS.226/MC/1/1 1924 Mar - 1932 Feb Scope and ContentSpecimen business : p.39 : resignation of W. Cannell of Wolseley Motors as man. dir. p.78 : licence agreement w. Automotive Products re Lockheed braking system p.146 : opening of branch in Roumania. MSS.226/MC/1/2 1932 Mar - 1938 Jun Scope and ContentIncl. agreements with John Walter Christie re his convertible chassis and his track-laying vehicle inventions (pp.132, 136). MSS.226/MC/2/1/1-37 1926-7; 1936-68Scope and ContentAnnual balance sheets and accounts. MSS.226/MC/2/1/36-7 1967-8 Scope and ContentBMC Ltd. Light Commercial Vehicle Division bal. sheets a/cs. MSS.226/MC/2/2/1-2 1932-41, 1942-8Scope and ContentAnnual Returns : 2 bound vols. of returns of shareholders and directors under Pt.IV of the Companies Act 1929 (S.108). MSS.226/MC/2/2/3/1-26 1925-50Scope and ContentAnnual Returns : orig. file of loose copies of returns, as above. MSS.226/MC/2/3/1-2 1924-31, 1931-48Scope and ContentRegisters of Directors or Managers, the first vol. incl. summary of share capital shares. MSS.226/MC/7/2/1-2 1958Scope and ContentSuperannuation Fund : copy of trust deed (incl. rules bklet.) and agreement re application to Morris Commercial. Return to the Table of Contents Return to the Table of Contents |