We have been contacted by Keith Ross asking for information about Coleby Cultivators Ltd. Below is the history of the company and family that he knows but he would be grateful to hear any more information or memories. Coincidentally we were contacted about the same company earlier this year from a gentleman restoring one of the machines who supplied some of the photographs featured. The two have been in contact and shared information. The remaining photos are courtesy of Keith Ross.
THE COPYRIGHT TO THESE ARTICLES REMAINS WITH THE WRITERS AND/OR SWANLEY HISTORY GROUP AND SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THEIR WRITTEN PERMISSION.
THE COPYRIGHT TO THESE ARTICLES REMAINS WITH THE WRITERS AND/OR SWANLEY HISTORY GROUP AND SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THEIR WRITTEN PERMISSION.
AUGUST 2019 We have been contacted by a granddaughter of Frederick Coleby who has kindly offered to share further information on Coleby Cultivators and made corrections to the memories piece below. These corrections are in red. New information will be added once received.
Frederick Coleby. Founder and Director of CGL and Coleby Cultivators and Rotovators Ltd.
Born circa June 1891
Married Gertrude Sy
Died circa March 1960
Children Daughter Beryl and step son Max Sy
Lived 38 Gloucester Road, Dartford, Kent in 1918
Colwyn Bungalow, Swanley Junction, Kent in 1934
6 Denver Road Dartford, Kent circa 1937.
Frederick Coleby Obtained three patents :
119800
18th February 1918
Improvements relating to Expanding Mandrels.
407025
1st September 1932
Improvement in or relating to Cultivators, Sprayers, Grass Cutters and the like.
440216
27th June 1934
17th June 1935
An improved Motor Cultivator
Business was established in 1918. This might have been after the first Patent was awarded and the business may well have been inaugurated to capitalise on Patent 119800. Little is known about the business, particularly the early years but it is thought that the business moved from its original location to what is now the industrial estate known as Grove Industrial Estate and accessed via Park Road off Swanley High Street. The move probably took place prior to the second patent application in 1932 since Frederick Coleby’s address changes from 38 Gloucester Road Dartford Kent to Colwyn Bungalow, Swanley, Kent.
The business appears to have traded under at least three different names between 1918 and 1972.
· CGL Eng Co. The company may have had more than one founder possibly or “CGL” may have another meaning.
· Coleby Cultivators and Rotovators Ltd
· Coleby Cultivators Ltd
Early Cultivators, particularly the Coleby Junior with the Villiers 2A engine have markings on the gearbox castings “CGL”, while later ones have Coleby Cultivators Ltd markings.
Coleby Cultivators and Rotovators can be found on a surviving share certificate issues when the business was sold to Sidney Ross and Max Sy (Fred Coleby's step son). It is important to note that the words “and Rotovators” have been crossed out in pen although the ink is faded.
Max Sy Director between 1963 and 1972 with Sidney Ross
Born circa March 1908
Died Circa June 1981
Married Circa Dec 1935 to Ivy Bennett.
Believed to have lived at Colwyn Bungalow, Swanley Junction, Bromley, Kent between circa 1937 and 1972 which was a tied house Coleby Cultivators Ltd, previously occupied by the company director Frederick Coleby.
The Jarrett family owned a farm machinery shop in Darenth. /*more information would be useful about Jarretts business including address, photos old and new, any information about when the business started, finished (or current owners) etc.*/
Peter Ross, son of Sidney Ross who later took over Coleby Cultivators remembers a Coleby Cultivator in Garrett’s showroom. It may be that the family connection may well have influenced the decision to display a Coleby in the showroom.
Max Sy owned the business with Sidney Ross from December 1963 to June 1972. Both names appear on letterheads of which some original blanks still exist.
Any additional information on Max Sy would be appreciated. Max had one daughter, Diane.
Sidney Ross Director between 1963 and 1972 with Max Sy
Born 4th November 1910
Married Dorothy Kemp 1937
Died 1994
Lived 11 Denver Road, Dartford, Kent from 1937 until his death in 1994 (57 years).
Sidney Ross was born in Richmond in Surrey. Frederick Coleby approached Sidney Ross probably circa 1937 shortly after they moved into Denver Road, Dartford Kent. The houses were new build at the time, Sidney and his wife Dorothy living at 11 Denver Road and Fredrick Coleby living at 6 Denver Road. The Parsons lived at 8 Denver Road.
Sidney Ross worked for Frederick Coleby for a considerable time and was a very competent engineer and machinist. He became Frederick Colebys right hand man and often entered ploughing matches demonstrating the capabilities of the now patented Coleby Cultivator. There are several photos of Sidney Ross operating the Coleby Junior and Coleby Senior with various implements from 1948 at local shows. Sidney Ross travelled all over the country in a Ford 8 van, including Scotland. Sidney Ross was involved in a Road Traffic Accident in Scotland (more detail required). "The van reg was HUV 615 I think it was 6volts system and a pig to start usually on the starting handle. Dad always claimed that Fred gave him the keys and told him to drive it to Dartford despite the fact that he had no insurance no licence and had never driven anything with 4 wheels before. Mother (wife of Sidney) was mortified ."
Fredrick Coleby’s daughter Beryl married George Parsons and had three daughters Yvonne, Josephine and Mari. At some point in the history of the business Frederick Coleby employed his son-in-law. However, personality conflicts between Sidney Ross and George Parsons resulted in Sidney Ross leaving the business and starting his own business KempRoss, Kemp being his wife’s maiden name. This was a small business which proved reasonably successful. Sidney Ross took on several contracts for Precision Engineering works during this period.
After Frederick Coleby’s death in 1960, Sidney Ross and Max Sy were approached by Mrs Coleby regarding the sale of Coleby Cultivators Ltd. It was agreed that the business would be sold to Sidney Ross and Max Sy for £10,000 in 1963. At the time the partnership was unable to find sufficient capital to purchase the business outright and it was agreed that the business would be paid in instalments which effectively became Mrs Coleby’s pension.
In 1972 it would appear that the company was no longer viable which also coincided with Sidney Ross’ state retirement date. The company is believed to have two employees towards the end and in on 27th June 1972 and extraordinary general meeting was held and the Chairman announced “That the Company be wound up voluntarily, and that Elton Percy Edwards, of Little & Co., Chartered Accountants, 16 St. Owen's Street, Hereford, be and is hereby appointed Liquidator for the purposes of 'the winding-up." The settlement would have involved some agreement with respect to the tied house Max Sy lived in.
In the mid to late 1940’s through to the late 1950’s Sidney Ross’ sons Peter and Robin visited the works on a frequent basis. Peter vividly remembers the factory layout and the layout of the land now occupied by the Grove Industrial Estate. Later, Nola Perkins (now Ross) also remembers the factory and the alley ways to the High Street. She also remembers the Cultivators being manufactured. The introduction of Japanese Rotovators and Cultivators saw the demise of the Cultivator business. The Coleby Shire was not a particularly popular four wheel tractor. It is believed that the worm drive made the Shire difficult to drive. When the drive was stopped to the gearbox, the tractor stopped instantly. The story goes that when the operator pressed the clutch in the tractor stopped instantly, throwing the operator off over the engine, thus engaging the clutch and running the operator over. In his later years one of Sidney Ross’ favourite says was “why spoil a good story with the truth” and it is expected this is an instance one of his yarns.
Nola also remembers Dorothy Ross (mother-in-law) talking about contracts being secured in Gloucester, possibly Wingets (which was originally based in Kent) or Fielding and Platts for general machining services.
Copyright Keith Ross 2018
Frederick Coleby. Founder and Director of CGL and Coleby Cultivators and Rotovators Ltd.
Born circa June 1891
Married Gertrude Sy
Died circa March 1960
Children Daughter Beryl and step son Max Sy
Lived 38 Gloucester Road, Dartford, Kent in 1918
Colwyn Bungalow, Swanley Junction, Kent in 1934
6 Denver Road Dartford, Kent circa 1937.
Frederick Coleby Obtained three patents :
119800
18th February 1918
Improvements relating to Expanding Mandrels.
407025
1st September 1932
Improvement in or relating to Cultivators, Sprayers, Grass Cutters and the like.
440216
27th June 1934
17th June 1935
An improved Motor Cultivator
Business was established in 1918. This might have been after the first Patent was awarded and the business may well have been inaugurated to capitalise on Patent 119800. Little is known about the business, particularly the early years but it is thought that the business moved from its original location to what is now the industrial estate known as Grove Industrial Estate and accessed via Park Road off Swanley High Street. The move probably took place prior to the second patent application in 1932 since Frederick Coleby’s address changes from 38 Gloucester Road Dartford Kent to Colwyn Bungalow, Swanley, Kent.
The business appears to have traded under at least three different names between 1918 and 1972.
· CGL Eng Co. The company may have had more than one founder possibly or “CGL” may have another meaning.
· Coleby Cultivators and Rotovators Ltd
· Coleby Cultivators Ltd
Early Cultivators, particularly the Coleby Junior with the Villiers 2A engine have markings on the gearbox castings “CGL”, while later ones have Coleby Cultivators Ltd markings.
Coleby Cultivators and Rotovators can be found on a surviving share certificate issues when the business was sold to Sidney Ross and Max Sy (Fred Coleby's step son). It is important to note that the words “and Rotovators” have been crossed out in pen although the ink is faded.
Max Sy Director between 1963 and 1972 with Sidney Ross
Born circa March 1908
Died Circa June 1981
Married Circa Dec 1935 to Ivy Bennett.
Believed to have lived at Colwyn Bungalow, Swanley Junction, Bromley, Kent between circa 1937 and 1972 which was a tied house Coleby Cultivators Ltd, previously occupied by the company director Frederick Coleby.
The Jarrett family owned a farm machinery shop in Darenth. /*more information would be useful about Jarretts business including address, photos old and new, any information about when the business started, finished (or current owners) etc.*/
Peter Ross, son of Sidney Ross who later took over Coleby Cultivators remembers a Coleby Cultivator in Garrett’s showroom. It may be that the family connection may well have influenced the decision to display a Coleby in the showroom.
Max Sy owned the business with Sidney Ross from December 1963 to June 1972. Both names appear on letterheads of which some original blanks still exist.
Any additional information on Max Sy would be appreciated. Max had one daughter, Diane.
Sidney Ross Director between 1963 and 1972 with Max Sy
Born 4th November 1910
Married Dorothy Kemp 1937
Died 1994
Lived 11 Denver Road, Dartford, Kent from 1937 until his death in 1994 (57 years).
Sidney Ross was born in Richmond in Surrey. Frederick Coleby approached Sidney Ross probably circa 1937 shortly after they moved into Denver Road, Dartford Kent. The houses were new build at the time, Sidney and his wife Dorothy living at 11 Denver Road and Fredrick Coleby living at 6 Denver Road. The Parsons lived at 8 Denver Road.
Sidney Ross worked for Frederick Coleby for a considerable time and was a very competent engineer and machinist. He became Frederick Colebys right hand man and often entered ploughing matches demonstrating the capabilities of the now patented Coleby Cultivator. There are several photos of Sidney Ross operating the Coleby Junior and Coleby Senior with various implements from 1948 at local shows. Sidney Ross travelled all over the country in a Ford 8 van, including Scotland. Sidney Ross was involved in a Road Traffic Accident in Scotland (more detail required). "The van reg was HUV 615 I think it was 6volts system and a pig to start usually on the starting handle. Dad always claimed that Fred gave him the keys and told him to drive it to Dartford despite the fact that he had no insurance no licence and had never driven anything with 4 wheels before. Mother (wife of Sidney) was mortified ."
Fredrick Coleby’s daughter Beryl married George Parsons and had three daughters Yvonne, Josephine and Mari. At some point in the history of the business Frederick Coleby employed his son-in-law. However, personality conflicts between Sidney Ross and George Parsons resulted in Sidney Ross leaving the business and starting his own business KempRoss, Kemp being his wife’s maiden name. This was a small business which proved reasonably successful. Sidney Ross took on several contracts for Precision Engineering works during this period.
After Frederick Coleby’s death in 1960, Sidney Ross and Max Sy were approached by Mrs Coleby regarding the sale of Coleby Cultivators Ltd. It was agreed that the business would be sold to Sidney Ross and Max Sy for £10,000 in 1963. At the time the partnership was unable to find sufficient capital to purchase the business outright and it was agreed that the business would be paid in instalments which effectively became Mrs Coleby’s pension.
In 1972 it would appear that the company was no longer viable which also coincided with Sidney Ross’ state retirement date. The company is believed to have two employees towards the end and in on 27th June 1972 and extraordinary general meeting was held and the Chairman announced “That the Company be wound up voluntarily, and that Elton Percy Edwards, of Little & Co., Chartered Accountants, 16 St. Owen's Street, Hereford, be and is hereby appointed Liquidator for the purposes of 'the winding-up." The settlement would have involved some agreement with respect to the tied house Max Sy lived in.
In the mid to late 1940’s through to the late 1950’s Sidney Ross’ sons Peter and Robin visited the works on a frequent basis. Peter vividly remembers the factory layout and the layout of the land now occupied by the Grove Industrial Estate. Later, Nola Perkins (now Ross) also remembers the factory and the alley ways to the High Street. She also remembers the Cultivators being manufactured. The introduction of Japanese Rotovators and Cultivators saw the demise of the Cultivator business. The Coleby Shire was not a particularly popular four wheel tractor. It is believed that the worm drive made the Shire difficult to drive. When the drive was stopped to the gearbox, the tractor stopped instantly. The story goes that when the operator pressed the clutch in the tractor stopped instantly, throwing the operator off over the engine, thus engaging the clutch and running the operator over. In his later years one of Sidney Ross’ favourite says was “why spoil a good story with the truth” and it is expected this is an instance one of his yarns.
Nola also remembers Dorothy Ross (mother-in-law) talking about contracts being secured in Gloucester, possibly Wingets (which was originally based in Kent) or Fielding and Platts for general machining services.
Copyright Keith Ross 2018