Galloway (car)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Founder | Dorothée Pullinger |
| Defunct | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Tongland (1920–1923), Heathall, Dumfries (1923–1928) , Scotland, United Kingdom |
Key people | Dorothée Pullinger (director) |
| Products | Automobiles (Galloway 10/20, Galloway 12) |
Galloway was a car manufacturer from Scotland established in 1920 as a branch of Arrol-Johnston. Originally situated in Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire, the company moved its operations in 1923 to Heathall, Dumfries, before ceasing production in 1928.
History
Distinguished by its predominantly female workforce and management, Galloway marketed its vehicles as "a car made by ladies for others of their sex." The factory, initially constructed for wartime aero engine production, remained active to sustain employment opportunities locally through the efforts of Dorothée Pullinger, daughter of Arrol-Johnston’s manager Thomas Pullinger. She took on a directorial role and introduced training programs and apprenticeships tailored specifically for women in the area, reducing the usual duration to three years in recognition of their skill.
Situated close to the River Dee, the manufacturing site harnessed water turbines powered by a dam, supplemented with a steam engine, and notably included two tennis courts on the roof.
Adopting a single-model focus, the firm launched the 10/20—a robust and uncomplicated vehicle inspired heavily by the Fiat 501. However, due to market limitations, only several hundred units were produced before the Tongland plant shut down in 1923. Production was then transferred to Arrol-Johnston’s Heathall works, which had available capacity. The former Tongland premises were subsequently converted into a silk manufacturing facility.
In 1925, the larger Galloway 12 replaced the 10/20; this model was essentially based on an Arrol-Johnston design featuring a straight-4 side valve engine. It remained in production until the closure of Arrol-Johnston in 1928, which also led to Galloway Motors winding up operations. Overall, around 4,000 Galloway automobiles were built. Afterward, Dorothée Pullinger and her husband founded White Services Laundries Limited in Croydon using American laundry equipment, eventually expanding to operate 17 outlets.
Model range
- 1920–1925 Galloway 10/20 straight-4 side valve
- 1925–1929 Galloway 12 straight-4 side valve
Galloway 10/20
The 10/20 model was designed by T. C. Pullinger together with Fred Neale and drew significant influence from the Fiat 501. It was equipped with a 1460 cc straight-four side valve engine powering the rear wheels through a gearbox offering three or four speeds integrated with the engine unit. The suspension system comprised semi-elliptic leaf springs at the front and quarter elliptic springs at the rear.
This vehicle incorporated features tailored for female drivers such as an added rear-view mirror, a dependable engine, a lighter and more compact body with increased storage space, elevated seating positions for enhanced visibility, and an ergonomically positioned hand-brake within easy reach of the driver.
Galloway 12, 12/30 and 12/50
The Galloway 12 series (later known as 12/30 and 12/50) utilized a 1669 cc overhead valve engine from Arrol-Johnston’s 12 hp model. Testing recorded a maximum speed of 51 mph. In 1926, four-wheel braking systems were introduced coinciding with the renaming to 12/30. Prices ranged between £325 and £360 depending on the chosen body style, placing it in a higher market segment relative to contemporary Morris and Austin vehicles.