Jump to content

Pollard Ball and Roller Bearing Company

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pollard Ball and Roller Bearing Company with its headquarters at Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire was a manufacturer of ball and roller bearings founded by John King. Formerly it had been known as Ferrybridge Industries and was originally a small family motor repair firm, Whitehouse Motor Industries, Ford dealers.[1][2][3] Ferrybridge owned Pollard Bearings Limited.[4]

International

[edit]

Subsidiaries were established in France, Canada and USA.[5] In 1964, 30 percent of the trade was direct with the motor industry in Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, and the US.

Industrial Reorganisation Corporation

[edit]

In May 1969 government pressure exerted through the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation required the sale of all the capital of Pollard to Ransome & Marles. The grounds for the pressure were given to be as follows:

the ball bearing industry was a large sector of engineering technology and an essential input into the motor and aircraft industries;
when compared with other developed countries the British industry was fragmented;
there was a possibly of a merger of Sweden's Skefko and Ransome & Marles. SKF dominates the market in European countries.
There would be advantages of scale.
Ransome & Marles was the leading British owned company.[6][7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lord King of Wartnaby. The Times, Wednesday, 13 July 2005; pg. [53]; Issue 68438
  2. ^ The Times, Wednesday, 21 January 1959; pg. 17; Issue 54364
  3. ^ Pollard Ball and Roller Bearing Co. (Formerly Ferrybridge Industries Ltd.). The Times, Monday, 4 May 1959; pg. 19; Issue 54451
  4. ^ Ferrybridge Industries. The Times, Friday, 13 August 1954; pg. 11; Issue 53009.
  5. ^ Pollard Ball & Roller Bearing Company. The Times, Wednesday, 26 June 1963; pg. 18; Issue 55737
  6. ^ SKF to buy into Pollard for £1.6m. The Times, Wednesday, 9 April 1969; pg. 17; Issue 57530
  7. ^ Industrial Reorganisation Corporation. The Times, Thursday, 22 May 1969; pg. 25; Issue 57566