A LOOK BACK AT GARAGES FRENCH WORD ‘GARER’, WHICH MEANS ‘TO SHELTER’
In the 1930s a semi-detached house could be bought for between £300 - £600, depending on where in the UK and how many houses were in the area. Around the same time, a garage in Yorkshire, with living accommodation and four petrol pumps and space for ten cars was advertised at £1,400.
When the Second World War came, garages were struggling financially. Mechanics went away to war, fuel was in limited supply and many vehicles were used by the government for different forms of wartime transport. However, after the war had ended, there was a shortage of private cars being manufactured and the second hand market value of older models rocketed!
The famous AA garage at Aldermaston is regarded as the first UK garage solely constructed for the sale of fuel in 1919. When the Roadside Petrol Pumps Act became law, it allowed local authorities the power to license the increasing number of garages that were being constructed. Surprising- ly, the AA were the leaders of garage designs, followed by oil companies who saw the possibilities of their product being sold nationwide.
It was not long before large companies, such as Ford, Morris and Austin, along with other makers insisted that a garage would act as an agent for its models and for that garage only to be the agent for one particular brand of car. Mechanics were then fully trained on particular cars, in the same way as someone who we seem to forget, the motor parts depart- ment personnel (store man). So, it was a full circle of business fortune.
The Lanchester Legacy
Of course, the sale now of old fuel delivery cans, garage signs, in fact anything to do with historic memorabilia fetches high prices at auctions including the internet.
The London Motor Garage Company Ltd of Piccadilly Circus was the first building constructed from the foundation to roof, especially for the specific purpose of use as a garage.
As the 1903 photograph above states, it could accommo- date 200 cars and had an electric lift to reach every floor, which sounds incredible.
JULY 2021
Ian Hall, Chairman SHPHA Southampton Hackney and Private Hire Association Southampton hackney and private hire drivers in our city
www.southamptontaxis.org
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