STRACHAN
and
BROWN
Strachans, at one time known as Strachan and Brown, was a significant supplier of bus and coach bodies from the ‘Twenties through to the late ‘Sixties. After that they appear to have quit the PSV market but continued to trade as a supplier to the Ministry of Defense. Based for many years in North Acton, London they moved to premises on Hamble Airfield in Hampshire around 1960. The last date I have where any activity is recorded is 1984.
Their products were particularly prominent before WW2 with many London operators using them, while during the War they were a supplier of “Utility” bodywork. Post-War they were particularly associated with Aldershot and District, but seemed to go into a decline in the late ‘Fifties. The ‘Sixties saw a minor resurgence when they bodied a number of rear-engined single decker chassis including the London Transport XMS class, and provided the coachwork on the only five Dodge chassis sold in the UK.
Surprisingly I have been unable to trace more than passing references to this company anywhere on the web, so a group to record its existence seems appropriate.
History
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- 1865 Birth of James Marshall Strachan [pronounced Strawn] at Medians, near Aberdeen, Scotland.
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- 1867 Birth of Walter Ernest Brown.
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- 1881 W E Brown is apprenticed to coachbuilders Laurie and Marner (Oxford Street, London).
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- 1894 W E Brown starts his own business at Shepherds Bush.
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- 1896 W E Brown partners with S A Hughes [full name and dates?] as Brown and Hughes (Kensington).
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- 1907 J M Strachan joins the partnership: Brown, Hughes and Strachan, with a large factory at Park Royal.
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- 1915 J M Strachan and W E Brown establish a new partnership as Strachan and Brown Ltd, based at the former Brown and Hughes premises (Holland Gate Garage, High Street, Kensington).
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- 1921 Strachan and Brown move to Wales Farm Road, Acton.
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- 1928 Strachan and Brown partnership dissolved; J M Strachan continues as Strachans Ltd; W E Brown and sons Dennis and Reginald become directors of Duple Bodies and Motors; the rest is WKC history.
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- 1929 Death of J M Strachan; Strachans is renamed Strachans (Acton) Ltd.
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- 1934 Strachans (Acton) is renamed Strachans Successors Ltd.
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- 1944 Death of W E Brown.
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- 1962 Strachans Successors is sold to Giltspur but continues to operate as Strachans (Coachbuilders) Ltd based at Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire.
- 1976 Strachans (Coachbuilders) ceases production.
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- * This info comes from Mrs Jacky Mackenzie, great grand daughter of Walter Ernest Brown
1920-31-midland-red-a177-oh-1206-tilling-stevens-ts3-strachan-and-brown-b29f
1926-oc1-strachan-brown-of-acton-daimler-cf6-w-l
1927-aec-oc14-strachan-brown-of-acton
1929-oc14-strachan-of-acton-on-berliet
1930-hx-1388-a-e-c-regent-strachans-h2624r
1930-leyland-lt2-with-a-strachan-b32r-body
1932-leyland-ts4-originally-with-harrington-body-rebodied-in-1949-with-this-strachan-c33f-body
1933-gilford-zeus-strachan-h24-24r-079-xm
1936-aec-regent-originally-with-l-p-t-b-h30-26r-rebodied-in-may-1956-with-the-1947-strachan-l27-28r-body-rebodied-by-roe
1939-aec-strachan-double-decker-125-bhj195
1939-aec-strachan-double-decker-129-bhj199
1939-aec-strachan-double-decker-129-bhj199a
1943-bradford-guy-arab-1-fleet-no-467-reg-no-dky-467
1943-guy-arab-had-a-strachan-l27-28r-body
1943-strachan-utility-l27-28r-body-so-extensively-rebuilt-by-silcox-by-1956-into-the-condition-shown-that-it-is-no-longer-recognisable-as-of-strachan-origins
1944-bristol-k5g-strachan-ex-hants-dorset-glj971
1944-guy-arab-ii-rebodied-1960-massey-l57r-2005-gyl984-1945-guy-arab-ii-rebodied-1955-strachan-l56r
1944-guy-arab-ii-with-a-strachan-l27-28r-body
1945-barton-443-gnn704-was-a-guy-arab-ii-with-a-strachans-l27-28r-body
1945-bristol-k6a-stranchan
1945-guy-arab-ii-rebodied-1954-strachan-l56r-a
1945-guy-arab-ii-with-a-strachan-l27-28r-80-wide-body
1945-guy-arab-ii-with-a-strachan-l27-28r-body
1945-guy-arab-ii-with-strachan-h56r-body
1945-guy-arab-ii-with-strachan-l27-28rd-utility-body
1945-guy-arab-ii-with-strachan-lowbridge-body
1945-guy-arab-ll-strachan
1947-33-jde426-bristol-l5g-strachan-dp35f
1947-56-was-a-strachan-l27-28r-bodied-albion-cx19-whilst-81-was-the-roe-l27-26rd-rebodied-single-deck-albion-cx39n-chassis
1947-aec-regent-with-strachan-l27-28r-body-a
1947-aec-regent-with-strachan-l27-28r-body
1947-dennis-j3-lancet-with-a-strachan-c32r-body
1947-guy-arab-iii-with-a-strachan-l27-28r-body
1947-guy-arab-mklll-with-strachan-body
1947-leyland-ps1-1s-with-strachans-c33f-body
1947-maudslay-marathon-iii-strachans-fc33f-new-with-enterprise-coaches-of-kenton-middlesex
1948-38-jde-431-bristol-l5g-strachans
1948-aec-regal-iii-strachans-b35r-jfm575-crosville
1948-aec-regal-iii-with-strachan-b35r-body-a
1948-aec-regal-iii-with-strachan-b35r-body
1948-aec-regal-iii-strachan-ta5
1948-bristol-l5g-strachan-dp35f
1948-guy-arab-114-nev609-with-a-strachan-l27-26r-body
1948-guy-arab-iii-single-decker-with-strachans-b34f-body
1949-aec-regal-iii-with-strachan-b36f-body
1949-crossley-dd42-3-which-was-fitted-from-new-with-this-strachans-fc33f-body.
1949-daimler-cvd6-with-strachans-bodywork
1949-guy-arab-iii-with-a-strachan-l27-28r
1949-guy-arab-iii-with-strachan-l27-28r-bodywork
1949-guy-arab-iii-with-strachans-l55r-body
1949-strachan-c35f-bodied-guy-arab-iii
1950-a-e-c-9612a-regent-iii-with-a-strachans-l27-28r-body
1950-a-e-c-9621e-regal-iii-with-a-strachan-c33f-body
1950-albion-venturer-cx37s-with-a-strachan-l55r
1950-dennis-j10-lancet-with-strachan-b38r-body
1950-dennis-j10-lancets-with-strachan-b38r-bodies-175-hou901
1950-dennis-j10-lancets-with-strachan-b38r-bodies-175-hou901
1950-dennis-j10-lancets-with-strachan-b38r-bodies-175-hou901
1950-guy-arab-iii-with-a-strachan-l27-28r-body
1950-guy-arab-iii-with-strachan-c35f-body
1950-guy-arab-iv-with-uncommon-strachans-fl31-26rd-bodywork
1950-leyland-cpo1-comet-with-a-strachan-c37f-body
1950-leyland-tiger-ps2-1-strachan-b34r
1950-strachan-c35f-bodied-guy-arab-iii
1951-crossley-dd42-8-with-a-strachan-h31-28rd-body
1951-dennis-dominant-with-a-strachans-b41c-body
1951-guy-arab-iii-with-a-strachan-b38f-body
1951-guy-arab-iii-with-strachan-b38f-body-a
1951-guy-arab-iii-with-strachan-b38f-body
1951-guy-arab-iii-with-strachan-fl31-26rd-body
1951-leyland-royal-tiger-psu-1-15-strachan-c4k-gvn-952
1953-bedford-strachans-bus-photo-yugoslavia
1953-dennis-lancet-j10c-with-strachan-c38f-body
1953-strachan-h31-28rd-bodied-a-e-c-9613s-regent-iii
1954-aec-mu3rv-reliances-with-strachan-everest-c41c-bodies-a
1954-aec-mu3rv-strachan-c41c-at-aldershot-garage
1954-aec-mu3rv-strachan-c41c-in-hampton-court-station-goods-yard.
1954-aec-reliance-mu3rv-with-a-strachan-c41c-body-a
1954-aec-reliance-mu3rv-with-a-strachan-c41c-body
1954-aec-reliance-mu3rv-with-strachan-everest-c41c-bodywork
1954-dennis-falcon-lou65-with-strachan-bodywork
1954-dennis-p5-falcons-with-strachan-b30f-bodies
1954-leyland-psuc1-2-tiger-cubs-with-strachans-everest-c41c-bodies
1954-leyland-psuc1-2-with-strachans-c41c-body
1954-leyland-psuc1-2t-tiger-cub-with-strachan-everest-c41c-body
1954-strachan-bodied-aec-reliance
1954-strachan-bodied-aec-reliant
1954-strachan-everest-c41c-bodied-aec-reliance
1954-trojan-dt-strachans-c15f
1955-aec-mu3rv-reliances-with-strachan-everest-c41c-bodies
1955-aec-reliance-strachan-c41c
1955-dennis-lancet-ufs-with-strachan-dp41f-bodies
1955-guy-arab-iv-with-a-strachan-l27-28r-body
1955-guy-arab-iv-with-strachans-l28-28r-body
1955-oc1-strachans-successors-ltd-of-acton-on-aec-reliance-for-fales-coaches-of-bath
1955-strachan-everest-c41c-bodywork-on-its-aec-reliance-chassis
1955-valliant-xhn574-aec-reliance-strachans-c41c
1956-dennis-falcon-strachan-b30f-in-aldershot-garage-yard
1956-dennis-falcon-with-strachan-b30f-body
1956-dennis-falcon-with-strachan-b30f-body
1956-dennis-falcons-with-strachan-b30f-bodies
1956-dennis-p5-falcon-275-por421-with-a-strachan-b30f-body
1956-strachan-bodied-dennis-falcon-por428-at-stokes-bay
1956-trojan-with-a-strachan-c13f-body
1958-strachans-bodied-batch-of-seddons
1959-ford-611e-strachan-bxxf
1962-albion-nimbus-ns3n-with-strachan-dp31f-body
1962-barton-442-gnn703-strachan-bodied-guy-arab-ii
1962-guy-arab-iv-strachans-h72r
1962-guy-arab-iv-strachans-h72r
1962-strachans-bodied-bedford-val
1962-strachans-bodied-bedford-val14s
1963-aec-regent-v-stranchans
1963-aec-regent-v-one-of-a-trio-delivered-to-members-of-the-co-operative-all-carried-this-unusual-and-rare-strachans-bodywork
1963-ford-thames-traders-with-strachans-bodies-seating-33-upstairs-and-carrying-23-bikes-downstairs
1963-ford-thames-traders-with-strachans-bodies-seating-33-upstairs-and-carrying-23-bikes-downstairs
1963-ford-thames-traders-with-strachans-bodies-seating-33-upstairs-and-carrying-23-bikes-downstairs
1963-ford-thames-traders-with-strachans-bodies-seating-33-upstairs-and-carrying-23-bikes-downstairs
1963-ford-thames-traders-with-strachans-bodies-seating-33-upstairs-and-carrying-23-bikes-downstairs
1963-ford-thames-traders-with-strachans-bodies-seating-33-upstairs-and-carrying-23-bikes-downstairs
1963-hutchings-cornelius-strachans-bodied-dennis-lancet-tyc-319-lays-over-after-running-in-from-its-south-petherton-home-while-cyc-669c-a-bedford-sb5-strachans
1963-leyland-titan-pd2a-30-strachans-h61rd-d
1963-leyland-titan-pd2a-30-strachans-h61rd
1964-bedford-val14-strachan-b52f
1964-bedford-val14-with-unusual-low-height-strachan-b52f-bodywork
1964-bedford-val14-with-unusual-low-height-strachan-b52f-bodywork
1964-daimler-92-dcp836-passing-guy-arab-v-demonstrator-888duk-on-trial-with-the-corporation
1964-dodge-s307-strachans-c42f-by-the-kings-arms-at-hampton-court
1964-dodge-s307-strachans-c42f-in-hampton-court-station-goods-yard
1964-dodge-s307-190t-strachan-c42f-ayv-94b
1964-guy-arab-v-demonstrator-888duk-on-trial-with-halifax-corporation-in-summer-1964-it-carried-a-strachan-front-entrance-body
1964-guy-demonstrator-888duk-with-halifax-corporation-in-june-1964-it-carried-a-strachan-front-entrance-body
1964-leyland-leopard-l1-strachan-b45d
1964-leyland-leopard-l1-with-strachans-b45d-bodywork
1964-leyland-leopard-l1-had-bodywork-by-strachan
1964-leyland-leopards-in-1964-with-unusual-but-very-neat-strachans-dual-entrance-bodywork-seating-45
1964-leyland-pd2a-30-with-strachan-h35-28rd-bodywork
1964-strachan-dp49f-bodied-aec-2u3ra-reliance
1964-strachans-bodied-dodge-s307-190t-coaches
1964-strachans-low-bridge-bodied-guy-arab-iv-53dhk
1965-bedford-sb-strachan-pacesaver-b-f-demonstrator-parked-at-sandown-park-race-course-esher-surrey
1965-bedford-sb-strachan-pacesaver-b-f-in-windsor
1965-bournemouth-transport-bedford-vas-strachan-m4 © Richard Godfray
1965-ford-strachan
1965-guy-arab-v-6lw-built-in-1965-with-strachans-h41-31f-bodywork.
1966-aec-merlin-p2r-strachan-b25d-originally-london-transport-xms4
1966-aec-merlin-p2r-strachan-b25d
1966-aec-reliance-strachan-b39f
1966-fbr-53d-leyland-panther-strachans-ex-sunderland-metro-centre
1966-ford-r192-npt306d-with-strachans-b44f-bodywork
1966-ford-r192-with-strachan-b44f-bodywork
1966-ford-r226-with-strachan-b52d-bodywork
1966-leyland-demonstrator-ytb771d-on-test-with-halifax-corporation-a-leyland-psrc1-1-panther-cub-with-a-strachans-b43d-body
1966-leyland-panther-psur1-1r-strachan-53-fbr53d-sunderland-corporation
1966-leyland-panther-psur1-1r-with-strachans-b4719d-bodywork
1966-leyland-psu3-1r-strachans
1966-mbs15-the-only-strachans-aec-merlin
1966-strachans-aec-merlin
1966-wmpte-3661-ford-r192-with-strachans-body-ex-birmingham-city-transport
1967-a-e-c-swift-mp2r-with-strachan-b54d-bodywork
1967-a-e-c-swift-mp2r-with-strachans-b58f-bodywork
1967-aec-reliance-strachan-b39f
1967-aec-xms1-strachan-jla51d-from-gillingham-street-garage-on-red-arrow-route-500-in-park-lane
1967-bedford-sb-strachans-j33643
1967-bedford-vam14-with-strachan-b33d25-body
1967-bristol-rell6g-strachan-b34d-218-srd18-1959-aec-reliance-2mu3rv-burlimgham-b34d
1967-bristol-rell6g-with-strachans-b34d-body
1967-daimler-roadliner-src6-strachan-b54d-in-victoria-square-bus-statio
1967-guy-arab-v-with-strachan-h41-31f-body
1967-leyland-panther-88-gbr88e-with-strachans-bodywork-fbr53d
1967-leyland-panther-88-gbr88e-with-strachans-bodywork
1967-leyland-panther-strachan
1967-strachan-bodied-aec-reliance-ex-aldershot-district-273-mor604
1967-strachan-bodied-ford-r192
1967-two-strachan-bodied-guy-arabs-are-closest-152n-in-cream-blue-ansd-not-then-yet-withrawn-alongside-216n
1968-aec-swift-mp2r-strachan-b47d-at-portswood-garage
1968-aec-swift-mp2r-strachan-b47d-originally-southampton-corporation-4-in-guildford-farnham-road-bus-station
1968-aec-swift-mp2r-with-strachan-b47d-bodywork
1968-eyo-885j-another-bedford-vas-strachans-this-one-with-high-backed-coach-seats
1968-ford-r226-with-strachans-53-seater-body
1968-ford-r226-with-strachans-bodywork
1968-leyland-panther-cub-demonstrator-with-strachans-body-at-the-earls-court-motor-show
1968-leyland-panther-cub-psrc1-1-with-strachan-43-seat-bodywork
1968-leyland-panther-cub-psrc1-1-with-strachan-b43f-body
1968-leyland-panther-psur1-1r-with-strachan-b45f-bodywork
1968-leyland-panther-psur1-1r-with-strachan-b45f-bodywork.
1968 aec-swift-mp2r-strachan-b47d-mtr-420f
1969-bedford-vas-3-strachan-body-ex-mod
1970-ford-transit-with-strachan-b16f-body
1972-ford-transit-strachan-dp16f
1975-the-last-strachan-dda149c.
That’s it, it’s enough
Hi Hot
Very interesting article. I always wondered about their history.
In 1984 I lived in Hampshire and there was a bodybuilders in Hamble called Phoenix. Though knowing that the phoenix rises from the ashes it never occured to me to question the history of the company. I now realise that the ashes were of Strachan. Phoenix closed many years ago.
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A most excellent and interesting collection of photographs.
I would like to offer a minor correction regarding the photograph ‘1966-aec-reliance-strachan-b39f’ which is Halifax JOC 293 (ECP 953D). This bus was actually bodied by Seddon Pennine rather than Starchans. I imagine the misunderstanding is due to the abbreviated codes used by the PSV Circle (Stn for Strachan and Sn for Seddon.
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Thank you!
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i have a AEC 1947 bus which I want to convert into a restuarant. it is running but as it is so old I do not have the confiance to drive it around. Does any one know , where i CAN SELL THIS ENGINE;
it is a
6 cylinder 1947 rolls royce in working order. starts at first switch:)
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I was interested to see that 1967 Bristol RE of Reading Corporation Transport. Its destination board was “STATIONS” which dated back to Reading General and Southern being next to each other. However, Southern was closed in 1965 and the platforms became part of Reading General- but the bus blinds stayed the same!
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A very interesting article………. I notice that my research of the company history has been used, please can you either credit me with my work or remove it. I would also be very interested to know where you got my summary of the company timeline.?
Thank you Mrs Jacky Mackenzie,
great grand daughter of Walter Ernest Brown.
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I will put the credits with your name with the info. The info comes all from wikipedia, google and the world wide web. With greetings from Schiedam, in the Netherlands. With high regard. Jeroen.
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Thanks you very much Jeroen, that is perfect. Please Also note that it is “Strachan and Brown” and not ” Strachans and Brown”. I have been collecting company details, documents and pictures etc for over 20 years. With warm Greetings from warm and sunny Hampshire UK
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Hello,
Jackie is well known to me! We have a workshop on a farm and we have just stripped a Strachan & Brown Bus Body and left a skeleton.
The body will be fully restored and used on another Dennis E type chassis. This bus is a 1928 Aldershot & District Traction Co single deck bus. We are quite greedy as we have two S & B bus bodies, so plenty of spares, plus 3 chassis. The condition of the bodies are very good so we will be using most of the original timber. Only one is being restored as we cannot afford another one. I have a photo of the stripped down bus and would be delighted to pass you a copy. Let me know and I can email it.
Thank goodness for Jackie’s Great Grandfather!
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Hello Raymond, you can email to jeroenheetkamp@yahoo.com Thanks.
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My Aunt Irene Marlow was JM Strachans daughter and is alive and well in a care home in Chichester. Nick Gregory
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This design is spectacular! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start
my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
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Just a comment about JM Strachan’s birthplace. He was born in Muchalls, near Stonehaven, not Medians. My wife is a relative.
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Thank you, Henry, I will correct it as soon as possible.
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The pictures (2) of Guy Demonstrator, 888DUK, in Halifax are mine. Please ensure they are credited
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Superbus with panoramadeck – This bus is Cyclops from the 1976 action comedy “The big bus”. It was nuclear powered. See: – https://g.co/kgs/G2MpSo
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Your Appalachian Bus Company bus is a c.1930 Buick-Flxibus
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