In the 1920s there were two rival bus companies in Limavady. The Hutchinsons and the Nutts. Both of these companies continued until about 1928.
A Reo Safety CoachThis photo was taken on 18th March 1922 and shows the brand new Hutchinson's Motor Service vehicle which was handed over that day to the Limavady Hutchinson family to start their business. The bus was photographed outside John Hill's in Gloucester Street Belfast. The body work was built by Harkness. Total cost was £800.
By 1927 the company had added four more buses- Leylands this time. The photograph below shows drivers, conductors, mechanics and the owners standing outside the Hutchinson Bros. Limavady premises in Catherine Street.
Hutchinson Bros., LimavadyFrom Left:-
Tommy Nichol, Alan McConnell, Tommy Greer, Jack Allen?, W.Simpson, Sam Donaghy, Joe Hutchinson, William Hutchinson (Sen.) W. Nichol and Marcus H Hutchinson.
The car on the left is a Dodge which presumably had been shipped in from America. The Pratts petrol pump was one of the first in the town. Prior to the arrival of pumps such as this, the only way to purchase petrol was in two gallon cans.
CLICK on the petrol pump in the photo to see a close-up of pump and car. And who knows you might also be able to shed light on the names of the coy couple standing in the grocer's doorway.
Hanging in the shop window, behind the men, can be seen two Coleman Petrol Lamps for use in people's houses. (As opposed to paraffin) Are these lamps still made? CLICK on the window behind the men in the photo to see a close-up.
Archive photos lent by Willie Hutchinson.
© MMIX