Sam Robbins, Austin dealers

Sam Robbins I remember from Rugby where at one time they seemed to control every retail outlet in the town, furniture, sales rooms, cars etc They were Austin agents in Coventry at the same time as Astons, who I believe may have been sub-dealers as at Astons cars came from Sam Robbins and the factory As I know very little about Sam Robbins I am sure there is someone out there that does, any ex-employees?

I remember Sam Robbins used to be in Cox Street, as I remember they had an Austin pedal car in the showroom window, it always looked like a real car to me as a kid

Samuel Bevan Robbins was born in Welton, Northamptonshire in 1867 In the 1901 Census he is shown as a Furniture Dealer of Cambridge Street, Rugby In the 1911 Census he is shown as an Auctioneer at 124 Cambridge Street, Rugby He died in 1933, leaving over £25,000 (more than £1.5m in today's money) 1937 Telephone Directory Austin Main Dealers, 30 Cox Street, Coventry Auctioneers, Removals, 25 Albert Street, Rugby Furnishers, 25 Albert Street, Rugby Jewellers, Regent Street, Rugby Motor Engineers, Dunchurch Motor Engineers, Leicester Road, Nuneaton Motor Engineers, Bilton Road, Rugby Upholsterers, 1 Hunter Street, Rugby 1960 Telephone Directory Austin Main Dealers, 30 Cox Street, Coventry Furnishers, 25 Albert Street, Rugby (registered office address) Upholsterers, Hunter Street, Rugby Cycles and Accessories, Clifton Road, Rugby Motor Engineers, Bilton Road, Rugby Motor Engineers, Dunchurch Motor Engineers, 384 Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry Jewellers, Regent Street, Rugby Motor Engineers, Nuneaton The Depository, Cambridge Street, Rugby Auction Mart, Clifton Road, Rugby Glass and China, Sheep Street, Rugby (no trade shown) 1 Matthews Street, Rugby (no trade shown) 144, Walsgrave Road, Coventry

There's a short bio of Mr Robbins half way down this page.

Hi Midland Red, my wife Is from Dunchurch, she remembers the Sam Robbins garage from her childhood days, also we bought a pram for our first child from Sam Robbins in Rugby, the shop was similar to a Co-op department store, don`t know if it`s still there, didn`t make the connection to Sam Robbins cars till now (it`s only took 32 years) thanks

Still there but now a solicitors, it is called The Robbins Building. When we last used it as a store, they still had a doorman who carried your purchase out of the building to your car. A really old fashioned store but nice.

Hi scrutiny, when we went in for the pram there was a row of about 20 prams, smallest to the largest coach built at the far end, guess which one we ended up with, I`ll give you a clue, £250.00 worth in 1982 (that's what you get for taking your mother in law shopping with you)

My dad used to work at Sam Robbins in the 70's in Cox Street

Advert for Sam Robbins on top of the stand

Hi there, my father and my husband both worked at Cox Street as car cleaners, sadly they have both passed now, I know they both had happy memories of their employment there.

Hi Sally Just read your comment ref Sam Robbins garage. I lived above the garage as my father was the supervisor for the car repairs. I was about 6/7 years old, that was in 1956/57. Have you got any pics of the garage or more info. Like you both my parents have passed away and it's too late to ask questions Regards Phillip

As there are no images here. Saw this one. Whereabouts on Cox Street was it? Is that the ringroad in the distance? If so I'm guessing somewhere opposite the Starley University building?

Hello I am curator of the Museum of Gardening, Hassocks, Sussex, also a lawn mower historian. I have for some time had a small motor lawn mower made by Singer & Co, Coventry. Extensive research has revealed little, the Singer owners club & the author of the history of Singer & Co have no trace or any knowledge of them producing a lawn mower. I have found several references to the Singer motor mower being sold second hand at various town auctions in the Midlands from 1928 to 1935 but only one reference to them being new in a classified ad in the Rugby Advertiser May/June 1922 as follows........ "The Singer Motor Lawn Mower now available at Sam Robbins Garage, Rugby £35" As said this is the only reference to the mower being sold 'New' Any leads appreciated. Thanks clive@museumofgardening.co.uk

Hi Clive, welcome to the forum. There are a few small adverts in the Coventry newspapers before the war but this article from the Coventry Herald - Friday 29 May 1936 might explain a bit. SINGER & COMPANY LIMITED SHAREHOLDER CRITICS AT ANNUAL MEETING The Board of Directors of singer and Co., Ltd. had to face the criticism of several shareholders at the annual meeting of the Company which was held in Coventry, on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Mr. Charles Latham. A loss on the year's working of £ 129,292 was reported. Mr. W. E. Bullock (managing director), in the course of a statement read to the shareholders, remarked that the provision of further working capital of a permanent nature was essential and must be provided immediately if the interests of the shareholders were to be protected. TRANSFER OF WORKS SUGGESTED " In this connection," he said, " I recommend for consideration the transferring of all motor car manufacturing to our Birmingham works where a substantial increase in the number of cars now produced by the Company could be made with a considerable further saving in overhead expenses." The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, referred to the changes that had taken place in the constitution of the Board and to the scheme of moratorium to which the creditors acceded in February.. The relief thus obtained, he said, and the additional banking facilities later granted, had enabled the Company recently to increase its production and sales. Whilst this, together with the reduction of overheads which had been effected, had resulted in some diminution of trading losses, they still continued. It was the considered opinion of the Board that losses could be eliminated only by a reorganisation and concentration of pro- duction and also the reorganisation of distribution facilities and methods resulting in substantially increased sales. Roth these requirements called for additional finance: neither could be effected, nor was either likely to be successful without. From causes which were not, the Board thought, irremovable, the 'Company was at the cross-roads. The Chairman added that the Company could not continue to survive heavy losses. nor could it expect to repeat the expedient of a creditors' moratorium, which expired at the end of this year. On the other hand, the Company had manufacturing facilities adequate to a production which, if economically controlled. ought, with reasonably attainable FBll'l , , to place it at a not too far distant date once again on the road to profit earning. There was mud' to be done by way of internal reorganisation, b u the paramount need was for additional Irma-term finance. Mr. T. J. Cullen (a director) seconded. THE COVENTRY WORKS In his remarks. Mr. W. E. Bullock pointed out that as a result of reorganisation the overhead charges of the company for 1936 had been reduced, but it not possible to do all that was necessary in that connection so long as they continued to operate all the factories now in use. After referring to the suggested concentration of the firm at Birmingham. Mr. Bullock said the Coventry work. would, in such ease, be available to execute any work allotted to them in connection with the Government defence schemer. The Company had already executed the first orders for aircraft components and the Board believed this would be an increasing business at least for the next two or three years. A shareholder, Mr. Sidney G. Harris. of South moved the reference back of the report and balance sheet. and that a Committee of Investigation be appointed. Speaking of the balance sheet of last year, he said there was every reason for criticism of the most carping description. Mr. Harris said he wanted to say very deliberately and very feelingly that it was an absurd position for the Company to have been spending money in the way they had been. " SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL FIRMS " The Board were asking for more money. He had been a student of bookkeeping all his life. but " this thing had got I guesting." Were the Board car producers or experimenters? The secret of successful firms was that they had a form of stabilisation. " What are you trying to do?" continued Mr. Harris. You have marine engines and lawn mowers; are you still keen on winning prizes in conpetitions or are you out to earn dividends for the shareholders? If we have not a stabilised mind at the head of affairs we are not going to get the concern on proper footing." Mr. Harris added that he believed that a man of the calibre of Sir Herbert Austin would be prepared to aid in an advisory capacity. They wanted men on the Board to bring about a system of stabilisation. and not men who went after medals and trophies. Mr. C. W. Laidlow (Whitley Bay), seconding, remarked that the writing on the wall had been there for very many 'years. ln 1927 be put £ 13,000 in the company, and if he held the shares now they would not be worth £2,000. If the money had gone into the Austin it would have been worth £ 400,000 in the Standard £ 200,000. and in Riley's £150,000. Those companies made a car which was always a good ear and no stunts about it. The Chairman remarked that he could see no utility in referring back the accounts and the report, for they were a statement of the actual position of the company. No useful purpose could be served by appointing a committee of investigation. There was to follow recommendation that a committee of shareholders should be appointed. The Chairman asked if Mr. Harris was prepared to withdraw his amendment? The amendment was withdrawn, Mr. Harris remarking that he had ventilated his feelings on the matter. The accounts and report were adopted.

continued. COMMITTEE OF SHAREHOLDERS The meeting agreed to the appointment of a representative Committee of Shareholders with a view to giving the shareholders the widest facilities for helpful examination and consideration: Major Gerald Rossi Ashton, Mr. J. 0. Murgatroyd, Mr. C J. Howson, and Mr. Charles Ernest Bullock. chartered accountant, Stoke-on-Trent, Another shareholder, with experience on the management side, is also to be co-opted to the above committee. Mr. J. F. Chadwick, Mr. C. Latham, Mr. S. Mayer, and Mr. T. J. Cullen were re-elected directors, and Messrs. Thomson McLintock and Co. (auditor*) were re-appointed, In returning thanks for his re-election, Mr. Mayer said the Board had come to the conclusion, not without reflection, that the Company was now in position either to fall or to succeed. If it was to succeed it required capital.