Bullock's Garage, Cheadle

This digitally colourised photograph shows Bullock's Garage  at 6 Manchester Road, Cheadle.  The building behind, is the Cheadle Institute.  The date is the early 1920s. Garage staff pose for the camera while an inidentified car is filled with petrol from the Pratt's pump. Parked by the kerb is a Renault taxi, a model that was popular in the UK at the time. The showroom on the right has a display of tyres and car lamps. Enamel signs advertise Pratt's Perfection Spirit and Austin Cars. Signage on the windows advertises Spencer Moulton Tyres, Lodge plugs, CAV Lamps and Daimler cars.
Today, there is still a used car dealer at this site.

The Anglo-American Oil Company, established in 1888 was an affiliate of Standard Oil of the USA. The company began supplying petrol in 1889 and in 1896 introduced the Pratt's brand, named after a founder of Standard Oil. By 1900 petrol was supplied on a nationwide scale, delivered in 2 gallon cans by horse drawn carts. They employed 1000 horses for this work. After World War I, Pratt's installed the UK's first petrol pump, at Hale in Cheshire.  Pratt's was re-branded as Esso in 1934 although lubricating oil was sold under its original name until the 1950s.