Weller Bros Limited voluntary liquidation (1904-1905)

[wellerac]

For any history buffs out there, I have been doing some research on the demise of Weller Bros Limited.

This is to complement the post by ACOCArch  https://forum.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2932.msg2932#msg2932

The liquidator was Harry Ebenezer "Todd" Weller (1876-1962), who was a distant relation of mine (2nd cousin twice removed).

I have attached a PDF with the story, which includes images of the various documents, notices and advertisement.  You may find this more presentable than this forum post.


The narrative is below (without images):

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4867815 says 'Company No: 74394; Weller Bros Ltd. Incorporated in 1902. Dissolved before 1916'.

The liquidation occurred as the company had insufficient capital to pay the debenture holders and continue in business.

• The High Court case (Kings Bench) Court 7 on 11 Nov 1903 (Osmond v Weller Bros Ltd) presumably led to a decision to try to sell the business, which was advertised in the Telegraph in December (see PDF for a copy).  They obviously did not find a buyer, which triggered liquidation.

• On 11 January 1904 the company passed a resolution to wind up the company, and the chairman (A.P. Twigg) placed the required notice in the London Gazette on 26 Jan 1904 (supplement 27639 page 562). Harry Weller was appointed as Liquidator.

• The London Gazette 07 June 1904 (issue 27683 page 3660) announced a meeting to receive the Liquidator's accounts on 14 July 1904 at the office of Mr Lee Smith (Solicitor) 15 Coleman Street, London.

• It is not known what was presented at that meeting, but in the following months the Receiver for the debenture holders auctioned off the assets, resulting in about 11s (55p) in the pound for debenture holders.

• https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Weller_Brothers says the firm was bought by Douglas S. Cox, who acquired the works in West Norwood and later produced the 'Osterfield' car.

• The London Gazette (issue 27764 page 1135) on 14 February 1905 gave notice of the meeting on 17 March 1905 to present the Liquidator's final accounts (at Harry's home: Wickford, Idmiston Road, Norwood, London).  These accounts with the associated Liquidator's affidavit & Companies House filing simply show £19 from the debenture holder's Receiver, which was disbursed on various minor liquidation expenses. (see PDF for copies)

• A letter dated 31 March 1905 (see PDF for a copy) from Mr Lee Smith to Companies House confirmed the assets had been auctioned by the Receiver for the debenture holders and debenture holders paid off.  He also wrote "Mr Weller is now on his way to Canada as an emigrant. I do not know his future address and am unable to communicate with him".  (Harry arrived in Halifax from England on SS Victorian on 01 April 1905 and travelled to Alberta where he bought a rough smallholding in the bush 40 miles west of Red Deer.  Mabel George (his future wife) joined him later from England and they married in Red Deer on 11 July 1907.  Their first two children were born in Canada)

In November 1909, Harry and his family returned to London from Alberta following an invitation from his brothers John and Septimus Beresford to be the secretary and bookkeeper for their expanding company following You cannot view this attachment. the success of their Auto-Carrier line of small delivery and passenger vehicles.  At that time the company was known as Auto Carriers Ltd, having been renamed in 1907 to reflect their vehicle branding.  For more information on AC Motors see: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Harry_Ebenezer_Weller and https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/AC_Cars_(Auto-Carriers)

See https://www.geni.com/people/Harry-Ebenezer-Todd-Weller/6000000002302131581 for more about Harry Ebenezer "Todd" Weller.


Andrew Weller