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Note... the information below is based on my own research although some facts
have yet to be verified by a visit to the PRO at Kew. There are some differences compared to
the information on Tony Griffiths excellent website regarding Relm Lathes.
Little is known of the early days of the company, however an article in
Model Engineer & Electrician magazine of 1922 (volume 47, Issue 1110, page 101)
suggests that original company was started approximately 13 years earlier, which would be approx 1909, based in Wandsworth Road, London.
They manufactured the "Powerful" brand of tools, vices, clamps etc. although so far I have not been able to find any record of this
brand. It is not clear if that original company was the Realm Machine Co or not, as this name appears first registered
as a limited company with the then Board of Trade as company #132935 in 1913.
In May 1914 the London Gazette reported that a Herbert William Shaw, of Cheltenham Works, Acre Lane, Brixton
(trading as the Realm Machine Company - note, not a limited company) and described as an 'Engineer' was committed for
bankruptcy proceedings. A trustee was appointed and the case was finally heard on March 8, 1917 where an
absolute discharge was refused for two years because, amongst other issues:
"that he had omitted to keep such books of account as are usual and proper in the business earned on by him,
and insufficiently disclosed his business transactions and financial position within the three years immediately preceding his bankruptcy;
and had continued to trade after knowing himself to be insolvent". He was finally discharged on Nov 30, 1917 for the full
amount of the debt plus 4% interest.
The 1911 census shows Herbert William Shaw, born 1880, was resident at 86 Acre Lane with his wife Ethel Rose (b1879 Lambeth, nee Howlett, m1904 in Croydon), a 5 year old daughter
Mazorie and a 1 year old son, George Herbert. The birth of a Marjorie Gertrude Shaw (the entry in the 1911 Census was probably a misspelling) was registered in Wandsworth in Sep-Dec 1905, which is the period that the family would have been living in the area and therefore appears to corroborate the original company being based there.
It is likely therefore that Herbert Shaw was the original owner and
the company was converted to a limited company in 1913 and sold on to protect its assets.
This ties up both with the company registration as mentioned above and with the 1922 article's
references to "the originators, but not the present owners".
The company therefore had moved to the Acre Lane premises in or just prior to 1911. The 1922 article says this was due to expansion
of the business. They took over a portion of the existing machine works known as the Cheltenham Works. With the added space and
capacity new products were possible and the idea of a small lathe for home and workshop use
was conceived. The Relmac lathe therefore came into being in the period 1911 - 1913 and indeed the earliest adverts date from 1913.
Sometime around the outbreak of WW1 the company added the SuperRelm to their portfolio and this proved a
popular machine, not least because of the number remaining today. With the expanded business they took
over the rest of the Cheltenham Works which was fortunate as the Works was heavily involved in
manufacturing engine and gun parts for the 1914-1918 war effort which they were able to accommodate without
overly affecting production. With this expansion the company name was changed to Cheltenham Works Ltd and
formally registered as company #143678 in 1916.
Cheltenham Works Ltd. History 1920 onwards
Artists impression of an aerial view of the works from the 1922 Model Engineer article. It is clear that
this is a poor rendering of the actual propery at 86 Acre Lane; the building next door 90-92 Acre lane is missing altogether yet
it was known to exist at the time.
Recent aerial photo. The two big houses are 92-90 (to the left) and 88-86 Acre Lane and are Grade II listed buildings
from the 1840's so these must have been the original office locations for the company. The similarity of the triple-gabled building to the rear of 92-90
to that in the artists impression suggests it may well be the original building, although the remainder of the factory to the right has been redeveloped and
Regis Road into the new development is through what would have been the original factory entrance.
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