A.V. Roe Loses Control of His Company

1910s 1920s

1915
Formed in 1902, the Manchester company Crossley Motors based at Pottery Lane, Openshaw produced cars and commercial vehicles. Expansion in 1915 saw the construction of a second site at Errwood Park, Heaton Chapel in Stockport. On completion the site was sold to the Government and was called National Aircraft Factory No. 2 but was managed by Crossley Motors Ltd.

1918
The event that started the birth of Hawker Siddeley was the end of the First World War and the resultant impact of significantly reduced Military orders and Government spending.

1919
Also during WW1 A.V. Roe & Co. expanded quickly and invested heavily in plant and machinery around Manchester but at the end of the war in Nov 1918 the aircraft orders quickly dried up. As a result a number of manufacturing sites were closed. Importantly, the newly completed plant at Newton Heath remained open. With orders cancelled at the National Aircraft Factory No.2 Crossley Motors purchased the factory from the Government. It was initially used for car manufacture by Willys-Overland Crossley which was a joint venture between Crossley Motors and the American company Willys-Overland Motors.

1920
Car production started in 1920. However, the company purchased war surplus 20/25hp truck chassis for refurbishment but the factory was not large enough for the new work.
Crossley looked for additional factory space for the work on the 20/25hp chassis and an agreement was reached with Avro for refurbishment to take place at the newly completed Avro Newton Heath factory. Concerns that Avro may have issues in meeting its financial business obligations caused Crossley Motors to acquire 68.5% of Avro shares which gave it control of A.V. Roe & Co Ltd.

(Colour Photograph showing) - Truck on a Crossley 20/25hp Chassis

Similarly impacted by reduced military orders, John Siddeley arranged for a takeover of Siddeley-Deasy's motorcar, aircraft engine and aircraft business by Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth and Co Ltd. The company named Armstrong Siddeley Holdings Ltd and the resulting organisations were named Armstrong Siddeley Motors and Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company.