Cutter Bros. Pty. Ltd.
Established in 1853 by Lawrence E. Cutter, Cutter Bros. operated their carriage building business from premises at either Victoria Street or Armstrong Street in the 1880s. They were still operating from 112 Armstrong Street in 1926. [1]
Background
- Lawrence E. Cutter, born in London in 1830, migrated with his family in 1856 by the ship Arthur The Great, and filled the position of foreman in the coach-building factory of J.D. Morgan and Co. In 1861 he bought out the business, and established the well-known firm of Cutter and Lever. The "Great Leviathan" coach was built by his firm for Cobb and Co. to run between Geelong and Ballarat before the rail way was constructed. This coach, with its 8 or 10 spanking horses, was well known to early colonists. "Cabbage Tree Ned" (Mr E. Devine, who retired to New Zealand), and in after years by Eve Cutter. "The Leviathan" was built to carry 76 passengers, and frequently carried 160.[2]
History
It was founded in 1853 by Messrs. Cutter and Lever.
| TO COACH PROPRIETORS. | |
|---|---|
| ‘THE undersigned has now on hand – Two first-class eight passenger American coaches; one eleven passenger do; one fourteen do do; three first-class waggons, all own make; five farn do do; one bullock dray, all English ash. The whole to be sold on very reasonable terms. R. WATSON’S COACH FACTORY, Armstrong and Lydiard streets.’ [3] |
In 1879 Cutter purchased Lever's interest and conducted the business in his own name until 1892, when it was then taken on by his three sons, L. S. Cutter, A. E. Cutter, and A. F. Cutter. [4]
Cutter Bros. Pty. Ltd. participated in Factory Day, 1916 - an initiative of the Forward Ballarat Movement. They advertised in The Ballarat Courier...
‘MESSRS L. E. CUTTER AND CO.. A visit to Messrs L. E. Cutter and Co.’s carriage and motor factory, at 114 Armstrong street, will prove a revelation to most people on account of its magnitude and the wide range of work the proprietors undertake. Undoubtedly the most interesting department is that devoted to the manufacture of motor cars. At present there are several of these in course of construction, and those who are privileged only to see the finished article flashing past in the street have much to occupy their attention and to excite their interest in the observation of the amount of detail and mechanism necessary for the production of a first grade car. The coachbuilding branch, at which also a large staff is employed, may likewise be inspected, together with a large collection of completed cars and vehicles. Several of the latter were successfully exhibited at the late agricultural show.’ [5]
By 1926 Cutter Brothers were described as Carriage Builders, and Motor Body Builders.[6]
Site
According to Ballarat and Vicinity, the business was known as L. E. Cutter and was operated from Armstrong Street and Chauncery Lane.
Innovations
Community Involvement
Works Produced
Workplace Relations
The People
Legacies
See also
Jack B. Wrigley, blacksmith
Recommended Reading
References
- ↑ Rogers (1887).
- ↑ Weekly Times, 05 May 1928.
- ↑ The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), Wednesday 9 December 1857, page 4.
- ↑ Kimberly, W.B. (1894). Ballarat and Vicinity. Ballarat: F.W. Niven & Co.
- ↑ The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1914 – 1918) Wednesday 11 October 1916, page 6. Digital copy accessed via Trove.
- ↑ Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society Show Programme, 1926.
Further Reading
Smith, James (Ed) The Cyclopedia of Victoria, Vol.II : An Historical and Commercial Review. Victoria: F.W. Niven & Co., 1904.
External Links
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3433216846741171&set=gm.3451223821602970
--S.Singaram 15:50, 20 January 2012 (EST)
--Beth Kicinski 10:59, 25 May 2012 (EST)