Storey

Storey was a British engineering and automobile enterprise associated with London and Tonbridge, Kent. Its origins lay in John H Storey & Co, an engineering and toolmaking business established by mining engineer John Henry Storey in south-east London. The business operated from Hatcham and later moved to premises in New Cross. John Henry Storey's second son, Will, joined the firm during the early twentieth century and brought an interest in motoring. Before the First World War he constructed several one-off vehicles, and around 1912 the business adopted the name Storey Machine Tool Co. Part of its New Cross works was set aside for possible vehicle production. The First World War interrupted the planned automobile venture. The company's facilities were redirected toward war work, including aviation-related manufacturing. After John Henry Storey's death in 1913, a limited company was formed in 1916. Will Storey became managing director, while his brother Jack joined the management team. During the war period the company produced Gnome and Le Rhône aero engines, expanding its engineering capabilities and leaving it with substantial manufacturing equipment when hostilities ended. The post-war transition encouraged the company to return to automobile production. A prototype using a Coventry Simplex engine was built at the New Cross works, which continued to function as a general engineering site. The company retained premises at 47 Pomeroy Street, New Cross, opened a London showroom in Kingsway, and established a nearby body shop. At the same time, it planned a much larger automobile factory on a 40-acre site in Tonbridge, Kent. Construction was under way by 1919, and the Tonbridge works became operational in 1920. Storey formally introduced its cars in 1920. Early models used Chapuis-Dornier engines of approximately 2.8 or 3.8 litres, corresponding to British taxation ratings of 14.3 and 20 horsepower. The cars offered three- or four-speed transmissions, semi-elliptic front springs, and distinctive long cantilever rear springs. Three vehicles were displayed at the Glasgow Motor Show: the 20 hp Tonbridge saloon, the 14.3 hp Kent four-seat tourer, and the 20 hp London closed coupé. By the end of 1920, the company had also added its own 1,327 cc engine to the range. Storey's expansion coincided with the collapse of the post-war sales boom. Although the company was reportedly trading profitably, its bank called in its overdraft in October 1920, forcing the business into liquidation. The Tonbridge factory closed and its contents were sold. Contemporary claims suggested that as many as 1,000 cars had been produced, although the figure is not independently established in the available reference material. The Storey name did not disappear immediately. After the liquidation, Jack Storey assembled cars from available components at his home in Clapham Park and traded as Storey Motors. As supplies of the original engines ran out, cars were fitted with a variety of alternative power units. A nominal range of three open sports cars was advertised in 1925: the 10/25, 14/40, and 17/70. These cars continued to be advertised as late as 1929, but surviving production is thought to have been only around 50 vehicles. Once automobile manufacturing ceased, the business continued as a service station before finally being dissolved in 1937. Will Storey later returned to the machine-tool industry and died in 1971; Jack Storey died in 1962 at the age of 83.

Storey's history began with John H Storey & Co, an engineering and toolmaking concern founded by mining engineer John Henry Storey in south-east London. The company was based first at Hatcham and later moved to New Cross. John Henry Storey's son Will joined the business and became interested in automobiles, constructing several individual vehicles before the First World War. Around 1912 the firm became Storey Machine Tool Co, and a section of its New Cross premises was prepared for vehicle manufacture. The outbreak of the First World War halted the automobile plans. Storey concentrated on war production and expanded into aviation work, manufacturing Gnome and Le Rhône aero engines. John Henry Storey died in 1913. A limited company was formed in 1916, with Will Storey as managing director and his brother Jack involved in management. The war left the enterprise with a well-equipped factory and industrial experience, but peace also removed much of its immediate wartime workload. The company therefore turned to automobiles. A prototype powered by a Coventry Simplex engine was built at New Cross, while the original site continued as a general engineering works. Storey also maintained a body shop near Pomeroy Street and opened a showroom in Kingsway, London. To support larger-scale production, it selected a 40-acre site at Tonbridge in Kent. Construction began by 1919, and the new works were assembling cars by April 1920 from parts manufactured at New Cross. The Storey range was formally presented in 1920. Its initial cars used 2,815 cc or 3,817 cc Chapuis-Dornier engines, with British tax ratings of 14.3 and 20 horsepower. Mechanical features included three- or four-speed gearboxes, semi-elliptic front suspension, and long cantilever rear springs. The Glasgow Motor Show display included the 20 hp Tonbridge saloon, the 14.3 hp Kent tourer, and the 20 hp London closed coupé. Storey later introduced a 1,327 cc in-house engine. The company's expansion was undermined by the end of the post-war boom. The automobile market became crowded, and the bank called in Storey's overdraft in October 1920. The business entered liquidation despite reports that it had been trading profitably. The Tonbridge works closed and its contents were sold. A claim that approximately 1,000 cars had been produced is associated with the company, but the available source does not establish the figure conclusively. Jack Storey subsequently salvaged components and assembled cars from his home in Clapham Park, operating as Storey Motors. Because the original engine supply had ended, later cars used several different engines. In 1925 the business advertised three open sports models, the 10/25, 14/40, and 17/70. Advertising continued into 1929, although surviving estimates suggest that only about 50 of these later cars were made. After automobile production ended, the enterprise operated as a service station and was dissolved in 1937. Will Storey returned to the machine-tool industry and died in 1971; Jack died in 1962 at age 83.

• 1937

  Business dissolved

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  After a period as an automotive service station, the remaining Storey business was dissolved.

• 1929

  Late advertising for Storey cars

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The later Storey Motors cars were still being advertised, although only limited production is believed to have taken place.

• 1925

  Storey Motors sports range advertised

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Jack Storey's post-liquidation operation advertised the 10/25, 14/40, and 17/70 open sports models.

• 1920

  Automobile range launched

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Storey introduced its cars publicly, displayed three models at the Glasgow Motor Show, began assembling at Tonbridge, and added a 1,327 cc engine by the end of the year.

• 1920

  Company forced into liquidation

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The bank called in Storey's overdraft in October, closing the Tonbridge works and ending the company's main manufacturing operation.

• 1919

  Tonbridge factory construction begins

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Storey began developing a large factory on a 40-acre site at Tonbridge, Kent, while retaining its New Cross engineering works.

• 1916

  Storey limited company formed

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  A limited company was established during the wartime period, with Will Storey becoming managing director and Jack Storey joining management.

• 1913

  Death of John Henry Storey

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Founder John Henry Storey died, before the company's formal automobile manufacturing phase.

• 1912

  Business renamed Storey Machine Tool Co

  [1]Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The engineering business changed its name to Storey Machine Tool Co and prepared part of its New Cross factory for possible automobile production.

A small British engineering-led automobile manufacturer that attempted to move from wartime industrial production into post-war volume car manufacturing, later surviving only through limited component-based assembly and automotive servicing.

• Saloon car · 1920

  20 hp Tonbridge saloon

  A larger Storey saloon associated with the Tonbridge production works and powered by the approximately 3.8-litre Chapuis-Dornier engine. It was one of three vehicles shown at the Glasgow Motor Show in 1920 and represented the company's attempt to enter the post-war British passenger-car market with a substantial closed body.

• Touring car · 1920

  14.3 hp Kent tourer

  A four-seat open touring car displayed by Storey at Glasgow in 1920. Its 14.3 horsepower tax rating corresponded to the smaller of the two initial Chapuis-Dornier engine options, approximately 2.8 litres, and the model was associated with the Kent identity used for the Tonbridge-based manufacturing programme.

• Closed coupé · 1920

  20 hp London closed coupé

  A closed two-door-style body presented as part of Storey's initial 1920 display range. The model used the larger 20 hp mechanical specification and was linked to the company's London showroom and New Cross body-building activities.

• Automobile engine · 1920

  1,327 cc Storey engine

  Storey's own 1,327 cc engine was added to the range by the end of 1920. It supplemented the externally sourced Chapuis-Dornier engines and reflected the company's engineering background, although the automobile manufacturing operation was soon disrupted by liquidation.

• Open sports car · 1925

  10/25

  One of three open sports models advertised by Storey Motors in the post-liquidation period. The 10/25 formed part of Jack Storey's effort to continue the marque through small-scale assembly from salvaged and purchased components rather than through the original Tonbridge factory.

• Open sports car · 1925

  14/40

  A post-liquidation Storey Motors sports model listed alongside the 10/25 and 17/70. Its advertised specification formed part of a nominal three-car range, but production was limited and the cars could use different engines as the original supply of Storey-related units ran out.

• Open sports car · 1925

  17/70

  The largest-named model in the later Storey Motors sports range. It was advertised during the 1920s as an open car, but the post-liquidation operation was small and relied on varied components rather than a stable mass-production programme.

• 1925

  Post-liquidation sports-car rangeProduct launch

  Background

  Jack Storey attempted to preserve the marque after the collapse of the original company by assembling cars from available parts.

  Action taken

  Storey Motors advertised the 10/25, 14/40, and 17/70 open sports models and used a variety of engines as earlier supplies became unavailable.

  Aftermath

  The cars continued to be advertised into 1929, but estimated output was only around 50 vehicles before car production ended.

  Source

• 1920

  Liquidation after bank overdraft withdrawalOther

  Background

  Storey entered a crowded automobile market just as the post-war sales boom was ending. The available account states that the company was trading profitably, but its bank called in the overdraft in October.

  Action taken

  The company was forced into liquidation, and the Tonbridge factory was closed and sold off.

  Aftermath

  Jack Storey continued limited assembly from Clapham Park under the Storey Motors name, while the original factory-based manufacturing operation ended.

  Source

• 1919

  Move to large-scale automobile productionStrategy

  Background

  After wartime engineering and aero-engine work, Storey had a large, well-equipped factory but no comparable peace-time workload. The company chose to manufacture cars and developed a new 40-acre works at Tonbridge while retaining New Cross for engineering and component production.

  Action taken

  Storey proceeded with the Tonbridge factory and organized automobile assembly using parts made at the New Cross works.

  Aftermath

  The factory became operational in 1920, but the post-war market downturn and the bank's withdrawal of overdraft support soon forced the company into liquidation.

  Source

1. 1Storey (automobile)en.wikipedia.org