So when exactly did Marstons stop and BS start?

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headdownarseup
Posts: 2484
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:26 pm
Location: bristol

Re: So when exactly did Marstons stop and BS start?

Post by headdownarseup »

Let me see if i've got this right so far.

The very first mention of Bristol having (for want of a better word) a "Dealership" otherwise known as Merlyn Motors is 1932 and their address is in Whiteladies Road.
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/hi ... an0010.jpg

It would seem that somewhere between 1932 and 1938 the concessionary changes its address.
What confuses me slightly here is that Alma Road and Whiteladies Road are within a 1 minute walk of each other. In various older adverts it shows the address as being Alma Rd, Whiteladies Rd and yet a bit later on there's no mention of Whiteladies Rd. That means to me that there could have been 2 different premises. An office (for correspondence as in the Merlyn Motors days) and a showroom (for selling the motors) both within a short distance of each other.
As you say Charles, the premises in Alma Rd during the early 1930's was (although i can't find anything on that yet) a Ford dealership. Is it possible that for a short while the "office" and the dealership might have been in the same building before they moved further south to Poole.

Let me show you

March 1933 for this one showing 2 different road names? (alma rd AND whiteladies rd) :shock:
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/ma ... ge%201.jpg

this one from 1935
i reckon this is still at Whiteladies Rd. (No mention of Alma Rd.)
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/ma ... ge%202.jpg


this one shows again 2 different street names (confusing?) Probably a slightly earlier advert.
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/ma ... an0014.jpg

By 1936 the address reads as Alma Rd. (No mention of Whiteladies Rd.)
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/ma ... ge%202.jpg

A bit later on still the address is clearly now Alma Rd. despite Whiteladies Rd. being quite literally within spitting distance of here!
Although now the company name has changed from Bristol Motor Boat Co. to British Seagull.
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/hi ... advert.jpg
It's a little while after this that BS moved to Hamworthy is that right?

I've noticed that there's 3 different telephone numbers in these adverts. They can't all be for the same premises can they?


I'm going to see if i can get into the local newspapers archives to see if that will yield a bit more information. This might take me a while though so bear with me.

Interesting stuff

Jon
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