100-year transport history

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 25

100-year transport history

Palmer and Doak's corner in High Street, Rangiora, has been associated with the transport industry for more than 100 years. An old photograph found recently by the managing director, Mr John Palmer, showed that •, horse-drawn waggons were sold from the site in 1876. Its next use was for the sale of bicycles: then with the invention of the motor car the corner became a motor garage site. On the block behind the High Street site. Palmer and Doak occupies an old livery stable now used as a workshop. This building, on the corner of Ivory and Alfred Streets, will soon be demolished to make way for a service station complex, • The present Palmer and Doak building is 50 years old

but the business has operated from the site for exactly 56 years this week. Mr John Palmer recalls some of the early history of the firm: “A Mr Bullock had a garage here in 1918. When my father came back from the war he worked for the Farmers Co-op in Christchurch. then came to Rangiora to work for Korrells Garage in 1920. In 1921, he joined Mr Bullock, then when Mr Bullock went bankrupt he bought the business and went into partnership with Mr Ray Doak.” Mr Jack Palmer and Mr Ray Doak operated their business originally as a Chevrolet agency. Dealerships in Rugby. Buick, Pontiac and Morris cars followed, then in 1944 Palmer and Doak became a

Ford dealership (by then Mr Jack Palmer had bought out his former partner but the name Doak was retained). A member of the Palmer family has always been involved in the running of the business since it was established. Mr Palmer senior worked with the business he formed until his death in 1973. His son. Keith, came into the business in the 19505, and was general manager when he died in 1966. Richard Palmer has been connected with the company since 1957, and is now the manager of the Amberley branch. In recent years, the Rangiora branch has been managed by outsiders but the appointment .of Mr John Palmer as managing director last year has brought the company back to its traditional footing. John Palmer is proud of his family’s long association with the firm. He said that Palmer and Doak is the oldest family motor business in Rangiora. “We have been here for 56 years and intend to be in Rangiora for a long time vet.” Mr Palmer said. “Rangiora has been good

to us and we believe that we have been good to the community here, providing employment continually for a long time.”

John Palmer comes into the motor trade from the textile business. But he feels he has been able to make the transition easily, after growing up surrounded by motor cars and by being a director of Palmer and Doak since 1973.

His textile knowledge is useful with regard to car upholstery and colours. “Fashion is just as important with motor cars as it is with clothing”, Mr Palmer said.

The new stain-repellant cloths being used in car upholstery are a great improvement. and he has noticed that the public wants a change from traditional vinyl to more comfortable seat materials.

Many of Palmer and Doak's customers are Rangiora families which have been dealing with the firm for many years.

"I was looking through some old ledger books, and saw some names which were there 50 years ago and are still on oiir accounts today” Mr Palmer said.

“This long association between customer and client is one of the advantages of an old established business and shows that there is still a place in the business world for the independent, privately owned operator.”