In 1958, the company was acquired by Dunlop Rubber.Rp0thejester wrote: 04 Dec 2023, 21:42 O, that was an interesting read, thank you, John Bull? That has me intrigued...
In that 1955 report here is the info on John bull relevant at that time
72. John Bull Rubber Co. Ltd. originated in the Leicester Rubber Co. formed in 1906 to deal, inter alia, with job lots of cycle covers and tubes. After a few months the trade names " Swift" and " Swan " were registered, and tyres under these names were manufactured for the Leicester Rubber Co. by outside suppliers. These trade marks were used for only a short time, and in 1908 the trade mark " John Bull" was registered, tyres still being made for the concern by outside suppliers. In 1915 the Company established its own factory for solid perambulator tyres, but it did not manufacture pneumatic cycle tyres until 1923. By 1928 car and motor cycle tyres also were being produced. In 1934 the name of the Company was changed to John BuU Rubber Co. Ltd., when it became a public company.
73. John Bull today produces a number of rubber products, but tyres (car, giant, motor cycle and cycle) account for 30 per cent, to 40 per cent, of its total sales. The Company has no agreements with other tyre manufacturers either at home or overseas, and its overseas subsidiary, John Bull Rubber Co. (Australia) Pty. Ltd., set up in 1951, is not producing tyres. John Bull's overseas trade is conducted through distributors.
74. At home John Bull produces almost exclusively for the replacement market and, although it has supplied motor cycle and cycle tyres through both wholesalers and retailers, has always pursued a policy of supplying car and giant tyres direct to garages.
Neil
