Throughout our history we have achieved controlled growth, aided by our willingness to embrace new technologies. The resources, scope and professionalism of a large company are combined with the flexibility and personal attention that is usually associated with a smaller concern.

Our Mission Statement

"A focus on quality and service is essential in developing a long-term relationship with our clients. Achieving this whilst delivering value will continue to be the company's mission. Concentrating on these goals is the key to driving us to further success for the future."

Click on the photos below for larger images of some recent projects.

A Brief History

Davis Hudson & Co Ltd started as a small company of three persons in 1919 in the name of Mr Davis, Mr Hudson and Mr Holland, all being equal partners.

They were all previously employed at the main GEC works at Witton in the office, winding, and machine shops. Mr Davis was in design whilst Mr Hudson was Foreman of the winding shop, and Mr Holland was Foreman of the machine shop.

Premises were rented in Victoria Road, Aston and the company later moved to bigger premises in Lichfield Road adjacent to Smiths Brewery almost opposite Grosvenor Road. All these buildings have since been demolished.

The company set up in the motor breakdown and repair business. In their early days, the DC motor was the most common drive method for lime shafting pumps and most forms of drives etc. Our customers included Lucas's (King of the Road), Ansells Brewery, Radiation Gas Cookers, a number of coal mines in the 'Black Country' and Hampstead Colliery, and GEC themselves.

The business flourished from the start, and after a year Mr Holland joined the company as a full time employee. In 1925-1928 the company rented larger premises in Aston Road North, having the motor repair business at the rear and also a shop front selling electrical spares and parts, etc.

In the early 1930's, Mr Davis, the then Managing Director died suddenly, and his position was taken over by Mr Fred Hudson. Repairs and rewinding continued to be the main area of business, but with the popularity of the DC motor and a changeover from 25 cycles per sec to 50 cycles per sec, the company moved into the contracting business, as well as retaining the repair business and shop outlet also at this period of time. The company moved into the wholesale lamp business, and commenced to market the lamp manufactured by the Splendour Lamp Co. in Middlesex. Later the 'lllustio' lamp was marketed under the Davis Hudson name and a separate office was formed under the guidance of a Mr Percy Dale.

With the gradual increase in contracting electrical work, the company flourished in all ways until the outbreak of war in 1939.

The war years saw a continuation of the business, but with a number of employees going on active service, except for some of the older skilled employees who remained now employed on Government contracts, mainly at the Austin Motor works where bomber aircraft were being manufactured and Radiation group making parts for tanks.

In 1941 Mr Hudson died, and the position of Managing Director was taken on by Mr A Holland (Senior).

At the end of the war, 1945-46, the company carried on much as before in the re-winding, repair, mechanical and electrical contracting industry with a number of well-known companies at that time, especially in the Aston area. Amongst the customers were: Ansells Brewery, Dobson Crowther (Tea bags), Randalls (Printers), Smith Bingley Evans (Sand Castings), Dunbar Cook Engineers, Empyrium Welding, Davis Hill (Manufacturers), C.S. Green (Jewellers), John Wrights (Gas Cookers) and even Pat Collins Fairground.

In 1965, due to the ill health of Mr Holland senior, the company was run by Albert and May Holland in the absence of their father and his death in 1966 saw Mr Albert Holland Junior as Managing Director. Shortly after these events, the premises in Aston Road North burnt down and consequently the premises, especially the workshop, had to be demolished. It was decided to move to other premises not too far away from the original set-up to just the other side of the bridge at Aston Station.

At this time the company gave up the re-winding business, due mainly to the fire and concentrated on the contracting side of business.

In 1973 Albert was taken ill and the company struggled on with the help of all employees and staff in the same manner.

At this period Mr Gordon Holland, Albert's son, joined the company after serving some apprentice years from 1951 to 1956. He set about rejuvenating the company's fortune which was at a rather low ebb when he joined.

The company struggled, but gradually pulled out of its temporary set back, carrying on the contracting and also moving into the machine tool industry, specialising in this work through companies such as Dunbar Cook, Jackson Bradwell and Turners Machine Tools. During this period Dave Holland, Gordon's son, joined the company as an apprentice. In 1983 the company decided to move premises to more suitable accommodation in Witton, and elected to settle into the present address at Bickford Road, Witton. Also at this time the writer, Bob Holland, rejoined the company with which he originally started in 1945 but had left in 1949 for military service.