Pickfords is a moving company based in the United Kingdom, part of Pickfords Move Management Ltd.
The business is believed to have been founded in the 17th century, making it one of the UK's oldest functioning companies, although the similar Shore Porters Society was founded earlier. The earliest record is of a William Pickford, a carrier who worked south of Manchester in 1630. In 1646, a north-country yeoman by the name of Thomas Pickford had his lands confiscated by Parliament for gun-running and supporting the Cavaliers during the English Civil War.[1] Pickfords is mentioned by Charles Dickens in Our Mutual Friend, book 4, chapter 12: 'The [police station] sanctuary was not a permanent abiding-place, but a kind of criminal Pickford's.'
The Foden 'C' Type was the final design of the over type (engine above boiler) Steam Wagen developed from earlier models. This wagon was introduced in the 1920's and had a double crank compound engine which developed 23 B.H.P. at 450 R.P.M. It was fitted with a spur gearing giving speeds up to 17 M.P.H., but special gearing could be ordered which would enable the wagon to achieve 27 M.P.H. double the permitted speed limit for such wagons.