 Wartime
By 1939 Allied Bruce Small Pty Ltd dominated the bicycle industry in
Australia with sales of over £600,000 pa, 24 retail branches and 450 agencies.
When war broke out the company switched much of its production effort to war
supplies and expanded shifts and production.
Rather than slowing the
growth of the firm the war contributed to its diversification and
turnover. Imported components became more difficult to find so Bruce Small
either established Australian sources for parts or developed the capacity to
make a "Malvern Star" part.
At the latter part of 1941 and during 1942 when labour shortages were at
their worst, office executives, headed by Bruce Small himself, donned overalls
and worked three night shifts per week. Gradually the supply of parts became
such as to make possible the enormous increase in the company's turnover.
Between 1939 and 1945 the company turnover doubled. The company was proud of its
contribution to Australia in a "time of dire need".
Military bicycles were a major feature of wartime production.
For more
on the role of bicycles in war see Jim Fitzpatrick's " The Bicycle in
Wartime"
Ó
Rolf Lunsmann, 2000
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