Alexander, Walter, & Sons Ltd

Notes:

Traced origins to Walter Alexander, 1879-1959, who first established at Camelon, near Falkirk, bus / coach services c1913. By 1922 had 15 buses. Incorporated 1924 as W Alexander & Sons Ltd by when its operations had reached Glasgow. Quickly emerged as substantial operators. 1929 merged with Scottish Motor Traction Ltd and Midland Bus Co Ltd to form SMT Group, with the three companies maintaining separate identities and territories of operation; soon after the London Midland & Scottish Railway and the London & North Eastern Railway took interests in the Group. Thereafter it expanded very rapidly throughout Scotland. In 1924 Alexanders initiated a bus body building business at Camelon, moving to Stirling in 1930, and later returning to Falkirk. This developed rapidly from the 1930s as the SMT business, which was its main customer, grew. In 1948 bus operation was nationalised as part of Scottish Omnibuses Group, later Scottish Bus Group. Bus building operations not nationalised but continued as Walter Alexander & Co (Coachbuilders) Ltd. These in 1990 were acquired by Spotlaunch Ltd and bought by management 1992. 1995 subsumed into Mayflower Corp Plc