Standing the test of time

In 1917 JW (Bill) Henley founded a business servicing trucks and cars – Ford, Buick, Leyland, Essex, Hudson, Bessemer, Singer, Morris, Rover, Whippet – and Thorneycraft marine engines. It was a humble affair, a corrugated iron shed with an earthen floor set up behind Farmers car park.

With the marine industry almost entirely focused on the war effort it wasn’t long before Henley was also involved in marine engineering and repairing propellers. This side of the business expanded after the war when he began offering complete marine drivetrains – including Lister and Ruston marine engines with Wilkinson & Ross propellers.

With business booming, Henley shifted to a more upmarket premises in 1931, further down Nelson St, to a new brick building with a concrete floor. The timing was fortuitous as two years later Wilkinson and Ross closed down. After purchasing its tooling and patterns and recruiting ex-foreman Wally Scott, Henley started producing his own propellers.

When WWII erupted in 1939 many pleasure craft were laid up, but any shortfall in Henley’s business was more than