Hyster History Part One NewZeland.pdf

Hyster-RansomesBeginning in 1947, Gough Gough & Hamer also started importing Hyster-RansomesElectric forklifts. Formed after Hyster took over the British Ransomes company,Hyster-Ransomes became a popular addition to Gough’s product lineup. WhenHyster started designing andmanufacturing its own electricforklifts in 1964, the Ransomesname disappeared. The firstNew Zealand Hyster-Ransomescustomer was Christchurch’sD.H. Brown, who operated aflourmill on Moorhouse Ave. In1947, they took delivery of aHyster Ransome TE1H 1 TonPlatform Truck.Early CustomersIn addition to Henderson & Pollard and D.H. Brown, Goughs supplied forklifts to adiverse range of companies, most of whom are still around today in some form oranother. Henderson & Pollard ended up being taken over by Carter Holt Harvey in1987, and formed the nucleus of what is now the Carters retail arm. The old D.H.Brown flourmill on Moorhouse Ave is now operated by Goodman Fielder, still on theoriginal site.Other Hyster customers were the Wellington Harbour Board, the Ministry of Works,Odlins, Fletcher Kaiser, Senton Sawmills in Hamilton, Williams and Kettle, A. Ellis andCo, to name just a few, and New Zealand Forest Products, who by 1964 had anextensive range of Hysters.The Next FrontierBy 1964, Goughs had imported at least 396 Hyster forklifts, an impressive feat forthe fledgling company in less than 20 years, but bigger challenges were around thecorner. Gough Gough & Hamer enjoyed an excellent relationship with the HysterCompany, and had impressed the American Head Office to the extent that they wereabout to offer a rare opportunity. New Zealand was about to become only the tenthcountry in the world to have their own Hyster manufacturing plant and Goughs wereabout to embark on a new challenge – the manufacture of Hysters in-house, firstly atthe Sydenham factory in Christchurch, and later at Ensor’s Rd in Woolston. In PartTwo of this two part series, we’ll be covering the modern history of Gough Forklifts,from 1964 to present day.