Teeboy Engineering

After Robert Absolom’s departure from Teesmade Engineering the business was renamed Teeboy Engineering. Robert Absolom confirms that this renaming probably coincided with his departure from the business. Michael Monk recalls Peggy talking to his family about the difficulty of choosing a name that was not already in use.

Teeboy Engineering Ltd. was incorporated on 21st October 1965. The Directors and Subscribers were listed as Margaret Chisholm Absolom (Electrical Appliance Manufacturer) and her daughter, Joan Selby Forrest (Secretary) and her son-in-law Stanley Forrest (Engineer). The Forrests were then living at 347 Balmoral Drive, Hayes.

Soon after this, certainly by 1965, Teeboy Engineering relocated to a unit in Pump Lane, Hayes. From this time onwards Pifco listed Pump Lane as their servicing address, but Number 52 remained as the registered office for “Teesmade” until 1971 (confirmed via directories at the library).

The Monks left 54 Lansbury Drive in 1969. 52 Lansbury Drive was occupied by Peggy and Reg until 1972. A new family, named Haverty, moved into the house in 1972 and there are no further connections with a teasmade business at the address.

After a long period in which there appear to have been no new models, one finally appeared in the 1970s: the Teeboy Deluxe.

In the early 1980’s Stanley Forrest and his son Steven were still running the business together. I understand that at that time virtually all the output of the company was destined for Argos.

The Forrests put the company on the market, and it was purchased by William (Bill) John Ridge (Shopfitter) and his wife Doreen Margaret Ridge (Secretary) whose business (believed to be shopfitting) operated from the unit next door. In Companies House records William Ridge is listed as a previous Director of Ridgeway Shopfitters Ltd. and Ridgeway Shop Equipment Ltd of Ridgeway Works, Oakside, Denham, Buckinghamshire.

The registered office of the company during these final years was Wimbourne House, 4 Pump Lane, Hayes, UB3 3QR. As this was the address of Teeboy Engineering’s accountants F.A. Magee, it seems likely that it had fallen to the accountants to provide registered address.

Doreen Ridge tells me that the business was in a poor state, and that in the few years that they operated they were unable to turn things around. The final accounts for Teeboy Engineering Ltd. were prepared in 1986 and the company was finally dissolved in 1988.

Peggy Absolom passed away some years ago, and I believe that Joan Forrest and her son Steven have also passed away. I cannot confirm whether Stanley Forrest is still alive. My grateful thanks to Robert Absolom, Michael Monk and to the present owner of Number 52 for their substantial contributions to my research.