Thornton Engineering Co
of Humboldt Street, Bradford
1905 Produced the 'Teco' automobile.[1]
1907-08 produced the 'Celtic' car.
1918 "... the Thornton Engineering Co. was quick to realize the importance and possibilities. of coalgas as a commercial fuel. For some considerable time past it had been engaged upon the production of balloons, and this experience stood it in excellent stead for the manufacture of flexible containers for motor vehicles. The firm has fashioned and fitted a number of such installations....
While the war has naturally detached much of the firm's attention from ordinary motor business, the bulk of the employees being engaged upon more vital national work, the firm has contrived to supply around 300 lorries for pressing official duties. We might also mention in passing, that every attention is being devoted to urgent repair work and to the fitting of tyres, the plant and machinery being kept up to a high standard of efficiency to assure prompt attention to both steam and petrol vehicles. So far as the gas situation is concerned, the firm is equally alive. It has installed a special meter, capable of filling a container of 300 cubic ft. capacity within five minutes. It is also prepared to supply gas to all comers at the rate of 3s. 4d. per 1000 cubic ft."[2]
1919 "The firm, or its immediate predecessors, have been engaged in one way or another in the motor trade for the past 20 years, and in the early part of their career' it may be recalled that, the firm were builders of a very successful small car known as the 'Teco'. For a long time, however, they interested themselves solely in the retail trade, and were so engaged when, on the outbreak of war, their entire resources, together with their allied coachbuilding concern, Humboldt, Ltd., were taken over by the Ministry of Munitions for aircraft production. During the whole period of the war, the entire works itself, which has, a door space of roughly 40,000 sq. ft,, and the staff numbering close on 300, have been engaged in meeting the exacting demands of the Air Ministry. In anticipation of post-war requirements, the firm have recently purchased a large block of land which possesses a frontage of 110 ft. in Manningham Lane (the main artery of Bradford) and a depth of 230 ft. The whole block is embraced on every side by streets, thus affording a number of means of exits, and avoiding the confusion which often arises in a garage when there is only one means of exit. The firm is proceeding to erect the new premises right away. The works will be on two floors, giving an available workshop on a space of 65,000 sq. ft. Another innovation which is being provided for customers is the use of a large room comfortably furnished as a sitting or waiting room, and also private lavatories.
During the war the plant of both metal and wood-working tools has necessarily increased, and now comprises a wide range of machines and hand tools employed in motor repair or body building work. Amongst equipment eminently useful but not always possessed by motor traders we might mention a complete acetylene welding plant with a pre-heating and annealing furnace capable of taking the largest crankcase or cylinder block, Harvey Frost vulcanizing plant, solid tyre hydraulic press, radial drilling machines, and air compressor with paint spraying apparatus, these, of course, in addition to the usual milling machines, lathes, drilling machines, grinders, and full saw mill, smithing, and sheet metal plant.
The firm hold the agencies, in most cases for the whole of Yorkshire, and, in the rest for very considerable portions thereof, for Lacre, Pagefield, and Tilling-Stevens commercial vehicles, with, of course, the universal Ford.
It is anticipated that the new premises will be completed in about six months' time, although a portion will probably be available in a very few weeks, as operations are being pushed forward as rapidly as possible. In the meantime, of course, the firm are retaining possession of their original premises at Humboldt Street."[3]
1953 Directors: H. Cundall (Managing). D. Reddihough. J. R. Rose. G. D. C. Rose. Managers: E. F. Ashe (Works). J. A. Easton (Commercial Sales). J. Gibson (Sales).