Some time ago we featured the important expansion of Elgin Central Engineers in 1967. We have been looking around the newspapers in the Aberdeen area to see if we could find more about this business. We found an extensive article in the Aberdeen press and journal of 27 June 1975 which provides an update on the history of the business and developments since 1967. We quote at length:
“Elgin company press on
Elgin Central Engineers Ltd (rechristened “Elbar-Elgin Central”) are a company whose name is synonymous with service to the farming community throughout the North of Scotland. Established more than 70 years ago theirs is a success story to which new chapters are being added.
From a small cycle shop in Elgin’s Moss Street at the turn of the century the company have expanded time and time again and are now housed in a 34,000 sq ft modern factory complex on 14 acres at Moycroft, Elgin.
The company have long served the farming community, and the policy of personal contact and service at local level is to be maintained.
Elgin Central are the Ford main tractor dealers for the counties of Inverness, Moray, Nairn, Banff and east Aberdeenshire. They also hold franchises for many agricultural implement manufacturers, all of well established reputation for quality and reliability in north-east farming conditions.
Among these are New Holland, Ransomes, Krone, Farmhand, Wilder, Howard and Lely Import – to name but a few – which are sold through the company’s depots at Elgin and Turriff, the latter depot having been opened five years ago to provide a more direct personal service to the man customers in the Buchan area.
Long recognised as one of the most go-ahead companies in the Moray area Elgin Central have continued to progress since their move to Moycroft eight years ago. Their big modern showroom is virtually a shop window of the farming world behind which are located the largest agricultural stores in Scotland, carrying a full and comprehensive range of spare parts and accessories for all tractors and implements.
A large area of the factory is specially geared for repair work – for which the company have a proud record for speedy and efficient service.
Long established as the largest agricultural engineering business in Scotland. Elgin central have taken the swing to more mechanisation in modern farming in their stride and are now geared to meet the requirements of all farmers with the best agricultural machinery available on the market.
The firm endeavour to give the farmer any machine he may ask for – and if they have not got it in stock they will get it!
Their fleet of vans is constantly on the road, bringing help and advice to the farming community – and they are the only firm in Scotland to operate a contract hire service for tractors in a really big way. More than 100 tractors, for example, are meantime hired out to farmers on two-year contracts.
But while service to the farming community in the northern half of Scotland has been – and will remain – the company’s prime objective, Elgin Central have also diversified into other industrial and engineering fields in recent years.
Structural steelwork and general fabrication, including pressure vessels and silos – to exacting precision – now form an increasing part of their business. Extensive work is now being carried out for the distilling and oil industries in the North.
The company undertook a considerable amount of steel fabrication for McDermotts at Ardesier; built the Baker Oil tool extension at Aberdeen and the G. K. N. steel supply depot at Mosstodloch, near Fochabers, together with many other structural contracts through out the country from London to Shetland.
Elgin Central also hold the authorised distributorship for Burmah Castrol Oil and lubricants from Dundee northwards – and have depots for this throughout the area, including Shetland.
In addition, the company have the Ford industrial equipment franchise, supplying diggers and loaders, including large track 360 swivel units; and within their industrial implements company they have the franchise for the Manitou range of rough terrain forklifts, T. C. M. industrial forklifts and Liner cement mixers and dumpers.
And at Elgin – opposite their Moycroft headquarters – they also operate the Ford car dealership for the area, coupled, with a thriving garage car, and commercial vehicles sales division.
Now, under the Elbar banner, it is intended that there shall be further progress.”
