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Founded in 1919, White Bros Honda has become one of the longest established
motorcycle dealerships in the country.
The company founders, Oswald and Walter White, realised there was a need for
transport in post-war Britain in 1918; they began by manufacturing a small
motorcycle, using a 99cc Villiers engine, in their Darlington premises. Named
"The Oswald", this became a local success over the next few years, but as
British industry returned to normal companies such as BSA and Royal Enfield
began manufacturing on a larger scale, and the brothers realised their future
lay in selling and servicing the new range of machines that led the world in
design and technology.
During the following years they acquired the neighbouring shops in the block
and firmly established their position as the leading motorcycle dealer in the
area.
After the Second World War, Oswald White visited Italy where he noticed a
new design of scooter called the Vespa. Realising the potential of this new
scooter, he arranged to import several to the UK - scooters are still an
important part of the business today.
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Oswald's son Phillip entered the firm after National Service in the RAF; after
his father's untimely death in 1958 and Walter's retirement in 1957, Phillip
took control of the company overseeing continued expansion throughout the
following years.
Continuing the brothers philosophy of selling world leading products, Phillip
saw the potential in the new Honda motorcycles at the 1959 Motorcycle Show, and
consequently signed up as one of the very first dealers in the UK. The Suzuki
and Yamaha franchises followed, as the far east became the dominant force in
motorcycle development.
In 1973 the Corporation Road site was purchased to facilitate the expansion
into car sales, however, during the recession in the eighties Phillip and his
son Derek decided to return to the core business of selling and servicing
motorcycles, adding the Kawasaki range, and also the off road trials machines,
something that Derek, a keen competitor to this day, has a passion for. White
Bros are now one of the leading trials dealers in the UK, with all major
franchises.
In 1997, the decision was made to move from the Northgate Premises
to the larger Corporation Road site, made available after the exit of their
tenant. The Northgate shop was then leased to other tenants.
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The business continued to grow, and in 2005, the Northgate premises have been
re-appropriated for use as a solus Honda operation, returning to the site
originally used in 1919, allowing the Corporation Rd shop more space for the
expanding Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Piaggio franchises and confirming the companies
long standing commitment to providing the highest level of service to the
motorcycle and scooter riders in the area.
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