Jowett Cars, Bradford

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available.

History

The Jowett Motor Manufacturing Company was established in Bradford in 1901 by Benjamin, William and Ruth Jowett. The company initially designed and built engines but designed a car in 1906. They decided to commercially produce the car in 1910, manufacturing almost 50 cars between 1910 and 1916.

The First World War saw production cease to assist the war effort but a purpose-built factory at Five Lane Ends at Idle enabled car manufacture to commence again by the 1920s. A range of reliable models available at economic prices meant that sales grew throughout the 1920s. A night shift was in operation at the factory as sales peaked at 3,474 in 1927. Prices for Jowett cars in 1927 ranged from £139 to £185.

If the 1920s was a golden decade for Jowett, the 1930s would be more difficult. Worldwide depression hit sales and a fire at the factory in 1930 destroyed cars and equipment. Once production restarted Jowett focused on commercial vans as these were easier to produce than cars as they were more basic.

The outbreak of World War Two saw the factory redesigned and the workforce expanded to produce field guns and ammunition. Most of the new workers were women. Even while war was raging the company was planning the production of cars that would be suitable for the world market. After the war Jowett would produce the Bradford van, the Javelin and the Jupiter cars.

Unfortunately, the Javelin was not the success that Jowett had hoped for and by 1953 the company was in serious financial trouble and ceased trading.

Records

The Jowett Car Club collection at WYAS Bradford (ref WYB324) consists of copies of Jowett road tests from early editions of motoring magazines such as Autocar and The Motor, instruction books for various models, sales catalogues, illustrated price lists, spare parts lists, various technical diagrams and information, repair notes, brochures for many Jowett models, photographs, Jowett car club rally programmes, membership lists, magazines of the Jowett clubs of New Zealand, America, and Australia. There are scrap books packed with newspaper and magazine articles and advertisements relating to Jowett cars.