Up: Hayward
YOR: 90 of 113
|
|
| |
On the production side, a new situation had
arisen. The company's purchases of iron castings from Abbots Foundry
Co. Ltd., of Falkirk, had grown to such an extent that closer association
with them was politic. It was ultimately agreed that Haywards should
purchase an interest in Abbots.
This transaction had not long been completed
before the company suffered the loss of its Chairman, J. A. Willmore,
barely five years after that of his predecessor, Extone. Another link
was severed but Haywards were fortunate in that the traditions of the
past were still preserved in name by J. G. Willmore, son of the late
Chairman. J. A. Willmore was succeeded as Chairman by A. L. Collins.
The purchase of Abbots' shares had carried with
it the privilege of nominating a director to serve on their board and
H. T. Walker had been appointed. But shortly after this a merger of
many large iron-founders in England and Scotland took place under the
name of Allied Ironfounders Ltd. Haywards' orders for iron castings
were a very small proportion of the total controlled by this gigantic
enterprise and accordingly H. T. Walker tendered his resignation from
Abbots' Board.
In 1928, A. T. Davies was appointed a director.
The older generation was making way for the younger men. Those who knew
the Haywards personally were being replaced by others who knew them only
by repute.
Meanwhile, a big problem which had been growing
during the past decade confronted the Board. It could no longer be
ignored. On the eve of a slump which spread over the entire face of the
world, the directors put aside other preoccupations and resolved to face
it.
The problem was whether to embark upon the
production of concrete pavement lights.
The degree of conservatism found in older men
who knew the value of proved and accepted principles, allied to the
robust state of the business in iron-framed pavement lights, had perhaps
coloured the attitude of Haywards to the revolutionary methods being
pursued elsewhere.
|
|
