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Pressed Steel Company Limited was a British car body manufacturing business founded at Cowley near Oxford in 1926 as a joint venture between William Morris, Budd Corporation of Philadelphia USA, which held the controlling interest,〔Offer for sale of shares - Pressed Steel Company Limited. ''The Times'', Tuesday, 7 April 1936; pg. 21; Issue 47343〕 and a British / American bank J. Henry Schroder & Co At that time the company was named The Pressed Steel Company of Great Britain Limited. It acquired Budd's patent rights and processes for use in the United Kingdom.〔Address of the chairman to shareholders. Pressed Steel Company. ''The Times'', Saturday, 22 May 1937; pg. 19; Issue 47691〕 Morris transferred his interest to his company, Morris Motors Limited. Today at what was their Cowley plant, BMW's Mini is assembled and this site is known as "Plant Oxford". At their Swindon plant, the BMW subsidiary ''Swindon Pressings Limited'' has been established and produces parts for the new Mini at what is now referred to as "Plant Swindon". ==Morris and Budd== William Morris had recognised the potential of pressed steel car bodies being developed by Budd Corporation in U.S.A.and wanted them for his own cars. The new joint venture initially supplied car bodies〔Deliveries have commenced. Morris Motors (1926) Limited. ''The Times'', Friday, 13 May 1927; pg. 24; Issue 44580〕 to Morris's Morris Motors with its plant located alongside the new Pressed Steel plant across what became the A4142 spanned by a special bridge between plants. The venture was not a success. In May 1930 it was announced that arrangements had been concluded to place the Pressed Steel plant under British control.〔Mr. Thomas And Motor Industry (SMM&T). ''The Times'', Friday, 2 May 1930; pg. 16; Issue 45502〕 Operations had not gathered pace as expected. Many difficulties〔It took some considerable time to gain the confidence of customers and to accustom workmen to a class of work which they had never done before. :Steel sheets used: :1926 720 tons :1930 13,300 :1935 30,900 and in 1937 they were running at the rate of 50,000 sheets per annum. :Employees at Cowley works (annual average) : 1926 873 :1930 1,300 :1935 2,950 on 28 April 1937 there were 4,322 employees Address of the chairman to shareholders. Pressed Steel Company. ''The Times'', Saturday, 22 May 1937; pg. 19; Issue 47691 〕 had been encountered. The British steel industry was unable to provide steel sheets large enough for the Budd machines and, once they came available, in any case American supplies were still 25% cheaper than local supplies. Tycoons William R. Morris and Edward G. Budd were unable to settle their differences. Budd took his troubles with Morris to the High Court which decided in his favour and in June 1930, by a resolution of the shareholders supported by an order of the High Court the directors of Morris Motors Limited were obliged to retire from the Pressed Steel board, with the share interests of Morris Motors either taken over by other interests or surrendered to the company.〔(Roan Antelope Debenture Issue). ''The Times'', Wednesday, 11 June 1930; pg. 19; Issue 45536〕 This was followed by the announcement of a reduction of Pressed Steel's capital from £1.6 million to £1.2 million.〔Legal Notices. ''The Times'', Friday, 11 July 1930; pg. 4; Issue 45562〕 Morris lost the capital he had invested and the right to appoint directors, Pressed Steel was now free to supply other customers.〔''The British Motor Corporation Ltd. and the Pressed Steel Company Ltd. A report on the merger 25th January 1966'', The Monopolies Commission, HMSO〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pressed Steel Company」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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