JCB was founded in a 12ft x 15ft lock-up garage in Staffordshire by Joseph Cyril Bamford on 23 October 1945 – the same day as his son Anthony was born.
JCB celebrated the dual 80th birthday by stepping back in time to where it all began, with Lord Bamford unveiling a blue heritage plaque on the spot where the original garage stood in Uttoxeter.
At JCB World HQ in Rocester, more than 3,500 employees paid tribute to JCB’s birthday.
Joseph Cyril Bamford rented the garage, which had no electricity, for 30 shillings a week and it was there he made his first product, a farm trailer built largely from wartime scrap, which he sold for £45 at Uttoxeter market.
Bamford stayed at the garage for 18 months until the owner asked him to leave because she didn’t approve of Sunday working, when he moved a few miles north of the town.
JCB was founded in a 12ft x 15ft lock-up garage in Staffordshire by Joseph Cyril Bamford on 23 October 1945.
Unveiling the plaque at Hollydene House, Uttoxeter, Lord Bamford said: “My earliest memory of the business is of me playing in my father’s workshop.
"Other than my time at school and my apprenticeship in France with another company, I’ve been around ever since.
"We have developed the business and products along the way enormously. Probably one of the greatest pleasures for me has been in developing products with our formidable team of highly qualified engineers.
JCB celebrated the dual 80th birthday by stepping back in time to where it all began.
“As we celebrate JCB’s 80th birthday, it’s wonderful to be back at the spot where it all began and to mark the location with a special blue plaque.
"I’m delighted that in a small way we can highlight where it all began and reflect on the continuing importance of our home county of Staffordshire.”
At JCB World HQ in Rocester, more than 3,500 employees paid tribute to JCB’s birthday.
A cavalcade procession marked milestones and showcased machines Bamford has introduced since becoming chair in 1975.
It featured the first Loadall from 1977, the classic 3CX and the world speed record-breaking JCBGT backhoe, the 1991 Fastrac tractor and its 2019 world’s fastest tractor protégé the 19C-1E electric mini excavator, followed by the Pothole Pro and hydrogen backhoe and hydrogen Loadall.
The crowds were treated to the unveiling of a special JCB 3CX ‘backhoe in a box’ - a life-size 3CX Sitemaster backhoe packaged in the same way as manufacturer Britains package the 1:32 scale models of the JCB machine. It will be displayed beside the JCB lake until January for members of the public to see.
JCB was founded in a 12ft x 15ft lock-up garage in Staffordshire by Joseph Cyril Bamford on 23 October 1945 – the same day as his son Anthony was born.
JCB celebrated the dual 80th birthday by stepping back in time to where it all began, with Lord Bamford unveiling a blue heritage plaque on the spot where the original garage stood in Uttoxeter.
At JCB World HQ in Rocester, more than 3,500 employees paid tribute to JCB’s birthday.
Joseph Cyril Bamford rented the garage, which had no electricity, for 30 shillings a week and it was there he made his first product, a farm trailer built largely from wartime scrap, which he sold for £45 at Uttoxeter market.
Bamford stayed at the garage for 18 months until the owner asked him to leave because she didn’t approve of Sunday working, when he moved a few miles north of the town.
JCB was founded in a 12ft x 15ft lock-up garage in Staffordshire by Joseph Cyril Bamford on 23 October 1945.
Unveiling the plaque at Hollydene House, Uttoxeter, Lord Bamford said: “My earliest memory of the business is of me playing in my father’s workshop.
"Other than my time at school and my apprenticeship in France with another company, I’ve been around ever since.
"We have developed the business and products along the way enormously. Probably one of the greatest pleasures for me has been in developing products with our formidable team of highly qualified engineers.
JCB celebrated the dual 80th birthday by stepping back in time to where it all began.
“As we celebrate JCB’s 80th birthday, it’s wonderful to be back at the spot where it all began and to mark the location with a special blue plaque.
"I’m delighted that in a small way we can highlight where it all began and reflect on the continuing importance of our home county of Staffordshire.”
At JCB World HQ in Rocester, more than 3,500 employees paid tribute to JCB’s birthday.
A cavalcade procession marked milestones and showcased machines Bamford has introduced since becoming chair in 1975.
It featured the first Loadall from 1977, the classic 3CX and the world speed record-breaking JCBGT backhoe, the 1991 Fastrac tractor and its 2019 world’s fastest tractor protégé the 19C-1E electric mini excavator, followed by the Pothole Pro and hydrogen backhoe and hydrogen Loadall.
The crowds were treated to the unveiling of a special JCB 3CX ‘backhoe in a box’ - a life-size 3CX Sitemaster backhoe packaged in the same way as manufacturer Britains package the 1:32 scale models of the JCB machine. It will be displayed beside the JCB lake until January for members of the public to see.
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