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Walter Alexander Coachbuilders

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File:DF95656K@.jpg
A Mercedes-Benz O305 double decker bus in HK with Walter Alexander R body.
A SBS Leyland Olympian, built under the R type.

Walter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder based in Falkirk.

History

In 1922, the founder of the company, Walter Alexander, decided that it would be beneficial to make buses for his own bus company (Alexander's Motor Service), so he, with the help of his son, launched the W. Alexander & Sons Limited

In 1928, several of the major British railway companies bought into the Scottish Motor Traction Company Limited (SMT). Walter Alexander decided to sell his bodybuilding business to the SMT group in 1929, and through this action, received access to a vast supply of resources and services.

One of their early bodies, the "Alexander Bluebird", was launched in 1934. It set new standards for buses style and comfort.

In 1948, W. Alexander & Sons Limited was renamed Walter Alexander & Co (Coachbuilders) Limited.

In 1969, the company bought out Potters, a bodybuilder in Northern Ireland, and set up a subsidiary Walter Alexander & Co (Belfast) Limited.

The ownership of the company had been changed several times during 1990s, finally the company was bought by Mayflower Corporation PLC in 1995.

In 2001, it was incorporated into Transbus International. It is now part of Alexander Dennis.

Products

Reference