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3rd December 2024 - High school Forum
The meeting of the club on 19th November was treated to a talk by
past President Alistair Pate on the Biggar Albion Foundation (BAF).
He began by outlining the history of the Albion Motor Company, founded in Biggar
in late 1899 by Thomas Blackwood Murray and Norman Fulton. There first car was a
‘dog cart’, probably built at the Heavyside Farm of Thomas’ father.
They quickly realised that they needed to set up their factory in
Glasgow, in order to access the skilled workforce and engineering expertise in
the city, which they did in Finnieston.
What they produced was a basic chassis onto which panels could be
attached for different uses and the first was sold in late 1900, the price being
£200 which, in those days, was the average price of a house in Scotland. They
moved to a new factory in Scotstoun in 1902.
Right from the outset they focussed on reliability and ease of maintenance and
even then were concerned to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy and the
company was, with the exception of a very few years, profitable.
In 1908/9 they believed that the private car market was not one in which they
could grow in a way that would reduce costs, so they switched to commercial
vehicles where their reputation for reliability and ease of repair led to them
suppling many household names, from Harrods to the Co-operative.
Bus chassis were also a major part of the business after WW1.
During WW1 they were tasked by the MOD with producing specialist vehicles and
ones where there were technical difficulties to overcome.
They were always at the forefront of innovation and development.
In 1951 they were taken over by Leyland and in 1970 it became part of their
Truck and Bus division and the Albion ‘Sure as Sunrise’ badge disappeared.
In recent months the factory in Scotstoun was closed by American Axle &
Manufacturing who had acquired the business by then.
The BAF is a charity which has all the sales and other records of the company,
right back to the very earliest days.
They also have a number of restored iconic vehicles which at present are
stored in a variety of places. They
are entirely dependent on the support and goodwill of volunteers and the
community. They organise the Biggar
Vintage Rally, the success of which can depend not just on the weather that
weekend, but the weather forecast.
Plans to establish a museum in Symington fell through, but they now hope to
develop a site in Biggar where the collection and archives can be displayed.
The Vote of thanks was given by Vice President Jim Watt.
The next meeting on 3rd December will be the open day at which
the Captains and Vice-Captains of Biggar High school will provide a Young
Person’s Forum. All are welcome in
Biggar Municipal Hall at 10:00 for 10:30.