Solved: PN #814 -- O'Gorman Motor Works, 1934

[pnegyesi]

Please identify the plant and the cars for a point.

[pnegyesi]

Experts?

[pnegyesi]

Professionals?

[Bill Murray]

This one was a lot of fun and a bit of work.

It shows the body shop of J.F. O'Gorman at Prior Park in Clonmel, Ireland.

In addition to building various bodies, including buses, they were a Ford Main Dealer in Ireland and that is how I found them.  I recognized some of  the vehicles as Fords and they were obviously of the Brtish flavour.  I Googled Main Ford Dealer in Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and finally Ireland and found the answer.

They were in business till around 1943.

More photos below.

Bill

[pnegyesi]

I am very happy to add a point to you! Good job

[Bill Murray]

Hi Pal:

Thanks for the point, the first I have gotten since 27/07/15.  Lots of solutions but most never made it to the Professional level.

Thanks also for the chance to learn more about not only automotive history but also the relationship between industry and politics in a new, for me, country.

It would seem that Mr. O'Gorman was a very active political individual, especially in his industry which was basically making "things" out of wood.

For example, in 1928/1929, Mr. O'Gorman made representations to the then new Irish authorities to invoke tariffs on the importation of commercial vehicles with bodies already mounted.  His position was that there was sufficient capacity in the Irish industry to supply bodies for imported vehicles.

In 1931, he also made representations to the authorities to limit the export of Ash wood, I assume to the UK, which was the wood that the Irish coach builders used to build the frames for their car/truck/bus bodies.

Interesting too, that his family took over what I assume was a former orphanage as their family home and where they also built their coach work factory.  I submit a photo below of the home just before it was demolished.

Bill

[pnegyesi]