Catalogue description A.T. OLIVER & SONS LTD

This record is held by Museum of English Rural Life

Details of TR OLV
Reference: TR OLV
Title: A.T. OLIVER & SONS LTD
Description:

Accounts and trade Literature of A.T. Oliver and Sons Ltd

Date: 1888-1960's
Arrangement:

TR OLV/AC1 1-13 Threshing Ledgers

 

TR OLV/AC1 14-22 Implement Sales Ledgers

 

TR OLV/AC1 23-26 Sales Ledgers

 

TR OLV/AC1 27-33 Bought Ledgers

 

TR OLV/AC3 1 Daybook

 

TR OLV/AC9 1 Invoice Forms

 

TR OLV/P2/B 1-173 Individual Advertising and Servicing Publications, various firms

Held by: Museum of English Rural Life, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

A T Oliver and Sons Ltd, suppliers of agricultural machinery

Physical description: 219 Documents
Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited by the company on indefinite loan 1971.

Subjects:
  • Luton, Bedfordshire
  • Agricultural machinery
Administrative / biographical background:

The business was established by James Oliver in 1853. It was first located at 72 Park Street, Luton; in 1880 it transferred to Wigmore Hall, outside the town; and before the turn of the century, to the Wandon End Works. James Oliver was succeeded by his two sons who formed a partnership. Walter left in the 1880s, leaving Archibald and his two sons to run the firm. It became A.T. Oliver and Sons Ltd. in 189-. A.T. Oliver retired in 1926, and his grandsons joined the business in the 1930s. In 1951, on the death of P.J. Oliver, a limited company was set up, and the Board has been chaired by a member of the family since then.

 

The business started with the hiring out of men and machines for steam ploughing, harvesting and threshing; the threshing contracting was particularly important. By the 1890s it was usual for as many as 30 to 32 sets of tackle to be on the road in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire at the same time. James Oliver patented a chaff bagging apparatus and sold the rights to Marshalls of Gainsborough. Thereafter until the last war the contracting business expanded, and the manufacturing and dealing side was dropped. In the 1920s and 30s Olivers also tendered Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire County Councils, Luton Corporation and the L.N.E.R. for steam roller contracting. All contracting was cut out after 1945, and since then the business has mainly been involved with selling and servicing agricultural machinery, and supplying parts.

Link to NRA Record:

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