of Winchester House, Peckham, London
1847 Company founded.
1897 The company was registered to take over the business of job-masters, cab and omnibus proprietors, carried on under the same title. Horse omnibuses are gradually being replaced by motor omnibuses. [1] Became a public company.
c.1907 W. A. Stevens was purchased by a large bus operator, Thomas Tilling, and renamed Tilling-Stevens.
1911 Directory lists the company at Rosewell Avenue, High street, Peckham SE and Molesworth Street, Lewisham SE and as 'motor car repairers and garages'. [2]
1924 Together with British Electric Traction Co, the company owned 70% of the shares in British Automobile Traction Co[3].
1928 Increase in capital of British Automobile Traction Co to allow it to acquire the interests in omnibus undertaking of British Electric Traction Co and Thomas Tilling; company name changed to Tilling and British Automobile Traction Co[4].
1942 The shareholders of Tilling and British Automobile Traction Co agreed to split the company into 2, owned by the major shareholders. These would be named B.E.T. Omnibus Services Ltd (to be owned by British Electric Traction Co) and Tilling Motor Services Ltd (to be owned by Thomas Tilling). Tilling and British Automobile Traction Co would then be liquidated[5].
1948 The British Transport Commission acquired Tilling Motor Services together with other transport and haulage businesses[6]
1949 Started on a strategy of acquisition of family-owned businesses; these were purchased without resort to enforced take-overs; later the strategy was restricted to acquisitions where the company could obtain a majority holding[7]
1950 Acquired substantial interests in British Steam Specialties, maker of bronze and iron valves, and E. R. Holloway, maker of plastic powders; both became associated companies[8]. Acquired a 60 percent interest in James A. Jobling and Co, which became the largest subsidiary[9]
1961 Had eight main activities and 23 subsidiaries. Employed 13,000 persons. Holding company since 1948: [10]
- Building Supplies and Services
- Electrical Wholesaling
- Engineering and Allied Trades
- Glassware
- Hosiery, Knitware and Textiles
- Insurance
- Vehicle Distribution
- Other interests
1964 Exchange of subsidiaries with Courtaulds: Courtaulds acquired Spray and Burgess, dyers and finishers of Nottingham; Tillings acquired J. Walton (Electrical), a subsidiary of Lancashire Cotton Corporation[11]
By 1983 Thomas Tilling included[12]:
- Newey and Eyre, electrical and electronic distributors
- DCE including Vokes, dust control equipment
- Tilcon, aggregates
- InterMed, health care
- Pretty Polly, ladies hosiery
- Graham Group, builders merchants
- Pilkingtons Tiles including Poole Pottery
- Cornhill insurance
- Heinemann Group publishers
- Rest Assured, beds and other furniture
- Pascon, construction-related companies
- Cimex, manufacturers of floor cleaning machinery, and Nuway matting
1983 BTR Industries acquired Thomas Tilling in a contested take-over[13]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908
- ↑ Post Office London Location Suburbs Directory, 1911.
- ↑ The Times, 7 July 1924
- ↑ The Times, 27 March 1928
- ↑ The Times, 20 June 1942
- ↑ The Times 9 November 1948
- ↑ The Times, Apr 25, 1962
- ↑ The Times, Mar 06, 1950
- ↑ The Times, Mar 06, 1950
- ↑ 1961 Guide to Key British Enterprises
- ↑ The Times, Nov 26, 1964
- ↑ The Times, Jun 02, 1983
- ↑ The Times, Jun 09, 1983