George Scammell, born 1817, moved to London in the 1840s and became a wheelwright, establishing a business at 12 Fashion Street, Spitalfields. He would build carts, perfect for the narrow congested streets, while also repairing carts and vans. By 1851 he was employing ten men and the business was flourishing and they began constructing horse drawn wagons, too.
In the 1860s George's nephew, Alfred Thomas Scammell, joined the company, with the business becoming 'G. Scammell & Nephew', in 1873. The company was selling and maintaining Foden Steam Wagons and had moved into larger premises, still on Fashion Street.
An unrelated event would turn out to be fortuitous for Scammell, too. A consortium of East End businessmen redeveloped the slum buildings, in the early 1900s, on the south side of Fashion Street, building a Moorish style market. Their hopes that the street traders would move into this indoor market, and off the streets, didn't work, as the traders refused to pay rent, preferring to remain out in the elements.
Scammell saw an opportunity and purchased the freehold to the building, which needed little work to its interior, thus allowing them to move straight in. This extra space allowed them to continue to build horse drawn carriages and vans, while also allowing for the construction of commercial bodies for motor vehicles and single-deck bus bodies.
This additional space allowed them, for the first time, to undertake mechanical work, servicing and repair of motor vehicles, including private cars. The company's original trade as a wheelwright was able to expand, where they developed a composite wheel which, in addition to its strength, allowed for the tyre to be changed without having to remove the wheel from the vehicle.
One of their customers, Edward Rudd, had imported an American 'Knox Tractor' as he was impressed with its low weight but high payload. It is believed that Mr Rudd suggested that George Scammell build a similar vehicle for the UK market.
However, the outbreak of World War I put a hold on its production. The war did prove a turning point for the company, though, as mechanical transport was proving its worth on the continent which focused the company's future projects.
In 1919, George's great nephew, Lt Col Alfred George Scammell, who had been injured and invalided out of the British Army, was made Managing Director of the company, bringing with him a wealth of experience form the battlefields of Europe, where mechanised vehicles had proven their worth.
In 1920 work began on the 'Articulated Six-wheeler'. The first lorry, shown at the 1920 Motor Show, was able to carry a 7 1/2 ton payload at 12 mph, rather than the 5 mph of the 'Knox Tractor'. In 1921 the vehicle pulled a load of just under eight tons up West Hill in Highgate, in second gear, and reached 18 mph.
Unbelievably, legislation, at the time, stipulated that if a trailer was pulled by a goods vehicle a second man (to the driver) was required and that this combination be limited to 5 mph. Any trailer-free vehicle could travel at 12 mph.
Scammell Lorries Limited was formally established in 1922, becoming a public company with the capital to acquire Scammell's works at Watford and thereby continuing to manufacture motor lorries.
In 1927, Scammell Lorries built the world's first 100 ton lorry, at its Watford factory, which was designed for hauling steam trains and boilers. The vehicle is still around today and is known as "Leaping Lena".
Scammell Lorries closed in 1988.
However, up until recently, Scammell Lorry enthusiasts would drive their Scammell lorries to the old Watford factory site, once a year.
The Fashion Street site has almost nothing to denote that Scammell began there, while the site, in Watford, is now a housing estate, with its roads named after Scammell vehicles. These include, Crusader Way, Explorer Drive, Himalayan Way and Pioneer Way.
Scammell lorries returning to the old Scammell factory site, Watford, in 2019.
Then returning to Watford, in 2022, for the Centenary of the Watford site.
Click the link below for some more images of Scammell Lorries.
For more information about Scammell Lorries click on the link below.
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