HISTORY | 1946-1960 | A PERIOD OF RAPID GROWTH | PART 1 | PART 2

A Period of Rapid Growth - Part 2


The Avon Red Rover c.1969

January 14th 1958 saw the first Avon television commercial. This 7-second advert proclaimed "The tyres that are best are made in the West by Avon of Wiltshire and Wales".

In 1959 work began in Melksham on the development of inflatable dinghies. Manufacture was transferred to Abbey Mills at Bradford on Avon in January of the following year and the first range of four dinghies (Redstart, Redcrest, Redseal and Redshank) were exhibited at the London Show.
In 1960 plans were put into place to change the course of the as part of the Melksham factory was showing signs that it was threatening to slip into the river!. The straightening of the river's course would also help to avoid a build-up of silt beneath the town bridge. A new weir was also erected incorporating a "fish ladder" which allowed salmon and trout to continue to swim upstream.

The Bridgend factory had ceased gas mask production in 1957 and the workforce had dwindled to 500 with manufacturing switched to production of footwear. By 1960, 120 tonnes of boots, including 5,000 pairs of wellingtons, were being made each week.
In 1960 Avon's continuing dominance of the world motorcycling scene was emphasised by John Surtees, who in the Senior TT in the Isle of Man achieved for the first time an average lap speed of over 100 mph. George Brown also set a new world record for the one kilometre standing start on his Avon-shod Vincent Special.


The Sportsman shoe, manufactures at Bridgend, was a best-seller

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