Scrapbook and movie commemorating the opening of the new Sevcon factory at the Team Valley trading estate.
Sevcon
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- Bookmark:http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb186-hl/hl/1/4
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- ReferenceGB 186 hl/1/4
- Dates of Creation1970
- Name of Creator
- Language of MaterialEnglish
- Physical Description1 scrapbook, paper and photographs. 1 movie reel.
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
The Sevcon Venture 1960 – 1974
The Sevcon venture grew out of the collaboration between Joyce-Loebl and fellow North East firm Smith’s Electric Vehicles Ltd (SEV). Initial production work centred around the use of thyristor components to develop a practically loss-free DC Motor Controller, with subsequent research discoveries relating to the behaviours of storage batteries under pulsed conditions giving them a leading edge over competitors. The immediate aim of the Sevcon venture was to develop a controller for battery-electric milk delivery vehicles but by 1962 the company had moved into the battery-electric lift truck market.
Sevcon Engineering Ltd was established in 1960, in which Smith’s Electric Vehicles and Joyce-Loebl were equal partners. In 1962 the business developed into its own separate business with its own premises on the Team Valley Trading estate. In 1963 Smith’s Electric Vehicles sold their half share of the business to Lansing Bagnall, a manufacturer of fork lift trucks and mechanical handling devices. Sevcon later bought the Lansing shares, although as part of the deal they gave Lansing a free licence to produce existing designs. Herbert Loebl remained on the Sevcon Board until 1974.
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