Thanks to Buzzer, Leyland 600 and ERF-NGC-European for the pics 
, the craic keeps cracking on 
Oily
Dashcam on the A1
Spardo:
Iâm not fed up with them, but they have reminded me just how many lorries of quality Atkinson sold over the years and set me to wondering, why did the company need to be sold?I do remember the rumours at the time of prospective buyers, Foden for one, but donât remember what went wrong.
It didnât need to be sold, but it was a publicly listed company, and the bidding war bvetween ERF and Foden, finally trumped by Seddon (with the assistance of Leyland) meant that enough shareholders voted to accept Seddonâs offer, with Leylandâs share of just under 20% rather swaying the deal when they voted to accept.
240 Gardner:
Spardo:
Iâm not fed up with them, but they have reminded me just how many lorries of quality Atkinson sold over the years and set me to wondering, why did the company need to be sold?I do remember the rumours at the time of prospective buyers, Foden for one, but donât remember what went wrong.
It didnât need to be sold, but it was a publicly listed company, and the bidding war bvetween ERF and Foden, finally trumped by Seddon (with the assistance of Leyland) meant that enough shareholders voted to accept Seddonâs offer, with Leylandâs share of just under 20% rather swaying the deal when they voted to accept.
Did the Allen family still not have a substantial share holding Chris?
Buzzer:
The Atki finally thatâs all folks, Buzzer
Hi Buzzer ,some super Atki shots more please ,regards Keith
who did the thames traders belong to ?
robinswh:
who did the thames traders belong to ?
James Joseph Rafferty, Riddingâs Hall, Timperley pictures taken 1964 here is another but donât know the people, NMP Buzzer
Chris is right there was no need for Atkinsons to be sold but it was Leyland and Foden that âstirred upâ the Saga but I was told that as the Coach built cab technology was going to end the Board of Atkinsons didnât feel up to becoming involved in the costs of developing a new model range so I suppose they quite glad of the ensuing takeover battle. because Atkinsons were very successful in their day they were a serious competitor to Foden, ERF and Leyland. I believe Leyland fancied there selves as market leaders ( Ugh !) and Leyland were also a large shareholder in Fodens and , of course, a large engine supplier to Fodens also. So I think it was quite an interesting time in 1970 when up popped Seddon and snapped Atkinsons up !! I think the only thing ERF/Foden/Leyland just wanted to âtake outâ Atkinson as a competitor. Maybe Chris might have more Gen on the debacle ! Cheers Dennis.
^^^^^^
Thatâs a fair summary of the situation in 1970 when Seddon bought Atkinson. It was the prospect of the demise of coach built cabs that was one of the deciding factors. The projected tooling costs for a new metal cab were considered to be prohibitive. In terms of numbers of chassis sold annually Atkinson was doing well and it was a nuisance to its competitors. The tentacles of Leyland reached into several of its competing manufacturers and as we all know its influence was toxic in more than instance.
I canât remember exactly but wasnât it some kind of conspiracy to decimate British Industry â â
Iâm sure CF has all the details 
gingerfold:
240 Gardner:
Spardo:
Iâm not fed up with them, but they have reminded me just how many lorries of quality Atkinson sold over the years and set me to wondering, why did the company need to be sold?I do remember the rumours at the time of prospective buyers, Foden for one, but donât remember what went wrong.
It didnât need to be sold, but it was a publicly listed company, and the bidding war bvetween ERF and Foden, finally trumped by Seddon (with the assistance of Leyland) meant that enough shareholders voted to accept Seddonâs offer, with Leylandâs share of just under 20% rather swaying the deal when they voted to accept.
Did the Allen family still not have a substantial share holding Chris?
I believe they did, Graham, but not a controlling interest. Iâve heard it said that Alf Sutton was a shareholder, and was involved in a movement by operators to resist a takeover, but have no hard info on that
gingerfold:
^^^^^^
Thatâs a fair summary of the situation in 1970 when Seddon bought Atkinson. It was the prospect of the demise of coach built cabs that was one of the deciding factors. The projected tooling costs for a new metal cab were considered to be prohibitive. In terms of numbers of chassis sold annually Atkinson was doing well and it was a nuisance to its competitors. The tentacles of Leyland reached into several of its competing manufacturers and as we all know its influence was toxic in more than instance.
The consensus is that Atkinson were working on a steel cab for a âMk.3â but, as you say, tooling costs would be something of a challenge, hence the make-up of the ERF SP cab
Bewick:
Chris is right there was no need for Atkinsons to be sold but it was Leyland and Foden that âstirred upâ the Saga but I was told that as the Coach built cab technology was going to end the Board of Atkinsons didnât fell up to becoming involved in the costs of developing a new model range so I suppose they quite glad of the ensuing takeover battle. because Atkinsons were very successful in their day they were a serious competitor to Foden, ERF and Leyland. I believe Leyland fancied there selves as market leaders ( Ugh !) and Leyland were also a large shareholder in Fodens and , of course, a large engine supplier to Fodens also. So I think it was quite an interesting time in 1970 when up popped Seddon and snapped Atkinsons up !! I think the only thing ERF/Foden/Leyland just wanted to âtake outâ Atkinson as a competitor. Maybe Chris might have more Gen on the debacle ! Cheers Dennis.
It was ERF and Foden that battled it out with bid and counter-bid, and Leyland werenât directly involved until Seddon came in with a late bid - amongst my possesions in store is a file full of newspaper clippings about it. My understanding is that the Atkinson board considered the bids to be hostile, and all but Stan Husband resigned after the takeover.
Aye Chris it makes you wonder why either ERF or Foden got their âunderwear in a twistâ as the sum total of a merger would have ultimately been detrimental to either of them ! After years of competing with one another what was to be gained------ nowt ! Itâs a bit like PSA now owning âVauxhallâ at Ellesmere who are in direct competition with both Citroen and Peugeot ! There will only be one winner and it will be the Frogs, as they are not going to promote V/all over PSA ! Same would have happened to Atkinson if, say, ERF had triumphed ! I recall that ERFâs were, at times, were referred to as âERFKINSONSâ !!! So what does that tell you as to which marque was the Premier one ? And your tale about Alf Sutton getting involved well I would defo think that was a fact as Alf was a âDyed in the woolâ Atky man ----- a bit like thee and me !!! 
Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
Alf was a âDyed in the woolâ Atky man ----- a bit like thee and me !!!
And both of you made a bob or two out of running Atkis over the years
240 Gardner:
Bewick:
Alf was a âDyed in the woolâ Atky man ----- a bit like thee and me !!!And both of you made a bob or two out of running Atkis over the years
I resemble that remark Chris !! 
but the Great Alf made a lot more than me as heâd been âat itâ at lot longer, but Iâm not complaining 
Cheers Dennis.
Oily this may intrest you.
Click on clipping once.
Buzzer:
Look what just popped up on FB bet Dennis knows a bit about this Atki, Buzzer.
Sure do Buzzer ! This unit was 12 months old when I bought it straight out of Atkinsons at their Service and Spares depot at Bamber Bridge. The shot was taken in the depot at Milnthorpe after it was repainted into our, then, new style of livery and it had a white bumper and fleet name âHi Los Chiefâ!. But for reasons I canât recall now none of our McGuffie fleet carried the â'Bewickâ headboard or the BEWICK name anywhere on the unit ! All K. Fellâs and the various contract operations we had all carried the BEWICK headboard. Funny old world ! Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
Buzzer:
Look what just popped up on FB bet Dennis knows a bit about this Atki, Buzzer.Sure do Buzzer ! This unit was 12 months old when I bought it straight out of Atkinsons at their Service and Spares depot at Bamber Bridge. The shot was taken in the depot at Milnthorpe after it was repainted into our, then, new style of livery and it had a white bumper and fleet name âHi Los Chiefâ!. But for reasons I canât recall now none of our McGuffie fleet carried the â'Bewickâ headboard or the BEWICK name anywhere on the unit ! All K. Fellâs and the various contract operations we had all carried the BEWICK headboard. Funny old world ! Cheers Dennis.
1973/74 Northumberland/Newcastle reg plate Dennis.Looks well,I only ever drove an Atki Borderer once and that was at Marchon Whitehaven.I had a 0600 tip one Sunday morning and one of their Atkis was parked blocking the offloading point. Iâd never driven owt with spring brakes afore,took ages to get park brake off which was down on yer r/h side IIRC.Plant man said driver would have been late back Saturday night and would be in a rush to get a pint int local,thatâs why it were dumped.
