The Sparchive tells the story of Sykes-Pickavant from its very beginnings. To understand how the company started, we need to go back to the early 1920s - a decade when transport, technology and everyday life were changing faster than ever before.

This was the moment when the modern motor industry was born.

1921: The Origin of Sykes-Pickavant

In 1921, British streets were in the middle of a transition. Horses still played a major role in transport, sharing busy town centres with electric trams and the first “horseless carriages”. Motor vehicles were no longer experimental, but they were far from reliable by today’s standards.

The First World War had accelerated the development of the petrol engine, and people quickly began to accept motor vans, lorries, buses, ambulances and fire engines as part of everyday life. Private motor cars were also becoming more common, driven by manufacturers such as Austin, Morris and Ford. Henry Ford’s Model T, in particular, helped make car ownership possible for a much wider audience.

This shift happened quickly. The petrol engine was replacing the horse, “man’s prime mover for centuries”, and with it came a completely new set of challenges.

Fuel, once sold in two-gallon cans from chemists or ironmongers, began to be supplied by kerbside petrol pumps. These were replenished by adapted Thornycroft trucks capable of carrying up to 200 gallons at a time.

Behind these pumps, the first motor repair shops appeared. Often run by bicycle dealers or former blacksmiths, these early garages faced a shortage of spare parts, tools and specialist equipment. What they lacked in resources, they made up for with ingenuity and enthusiasm.

The garage trade had been born and with it, the Sykes-Pickavant story.

The Roaring Twenties and a New Opportunity

Soon after the end of the First World War, brothers Justin and Marcus Mindelsohn were working within their family furniture business, producing timber frame and wood panel coachwork for Austin in Birmingham.

Recognising the rapid growth of the motor industry, they saw an opportunity beyond traditional furniture manufacturing. In 1921, working in association with Jack Pickavant, they formed J W Pickavant & Co to support the needs of this emerging market.

That same summer, Joe Sykes was recruited as an area salesman for the northern counties, an early partnership that would prove fundamental to the company’s future.

Problem Solving for Early Motorists

In the early days of motoring, cars demanded constant attention. Breakdowns were common, and many drivers expected to spend a fair amount of time under the bonnet.

J W Pickavant quickly built a reputation for practical problem solving. In 1922, the company sold side lamps that could be fitted to a Ford and swivelled around to illuminate the engine,  a simple but effective solution for night-time repairs.

That same year, for three shillings (15p), motorists could buy the Dum-Bel Spanner, marketed as a “necessity for every tool kit, particularly for Ford nuts”. Another product, priced at four shillings and sixpence (23p), offered an “infallible” way of ensuring oil levels stayed correct, a vital concern for early engines.

These products reflected the reality of 1920s motoring: tools needed to be affordable, durable and easy to use.

The Quikko Brand and Growing Ambition

Throughout the 1920s, J W Pickavant sold motor vehicle accessories under the Quikko brand. Operating from Quikko Works on Lombard Street in Birmingham, the company supplied a wide range of useful add-ons, including spotlights, shock absorbers, synchronised ignitions and specialist tools.

At the top end of the range, customers could even purchase a Gordon body for a Chevrolet chassis or a sunshine roof for a Model T Ford, showing just how broad the company’s offering had become.

Sales activity covered the length of the UK, supported by a demonstration van that took products directly to customers.

Showcasing Innovation

J W Pickavant was also a regular exhibitor at early London Motor Shows, held at White City and Olympia. These events placed the company alongside the most innovative names in the industry and helped establish its reputation nationwide.

By the end of the decade, J W Pickavant had become a recognised name within the growing garage trade, built on a deep understanding of real-world problems and a commitment to practical solutions.

Setting the Foundations

The years between 1920 and 1929 were formative, not just for Sykes-Pickavant, but for the entire automotive industry. Vehicles were evolving rapidly, tools were scarce and success relied on creativity, craftsmanship and determination.

Those same principles would continue to shape the business for decades to come.

As the Sparchive opens its first chapter, the Roaring Twenties stand as the foundation of the Sykes-Pickavant story, a time when innovation met necessity, and a legacy began.