Tilling-Stevens
Founded at Maidstone in 1897 as W.A. Stevens, a petrol-electric vehicle had been offered by 1906. An important customer Thomas Tilling who had many omnibus interests took over the firm and it became Tilling Stevens, chiefly to produce petrol-electric omnibus chassis.
In addition to buses and coaches the company produced a 2 ton and 4 ton goods chassis available with either petrol-electric or conventional petrol engines. Many trucks were built during World War I, the company then reverted to normal bus and truck manufacture.
During the recession the company was starved of investment and was re-floated in 1930 as T. S. Motors, and badged as TSM. It quickly acquired Vulcan Trucks of Southport which was in difficulty and moved production to Maidstone now using diesel engines supplied by Perkins, or Vulcan's petrol engines.
Some 400 searchlight trucks were supplied during World War II, the company resuming truck and bus production afterwards. 1950 saw Rootes gain control of the company and vehicle production ceased at the end of 1952. The plant went on to produce Commer's revolutionary TS3 two-stroke engine for light commercials and Commer Avenger coaches; many being bodied by another Rootes company – Beadles of Dartford.
The plant survived into the seventies as Rootes (Maidstone) and built some vehicle bodies, mostly as welfare buses on the "Walk Thru" chassis.
