Connolly Leather Ltd. and Whiteley&Green Ltd.

bastian · 16-12-10, 01:11 AM

Hi,

has anybody of you ever heard of one of those companies? I always thought that both of them have a big tradition in the UK, but most people I talk to have never heard of them.

Before I start boring you with details, I'd ask those who know one or both of those companies to tell a bit about what they know/have heard about them. I'm especially interested about information regarding Whiteley&Green.

Thanks

Bastian

Steev · 16-12-10, 01:23 AM

Hi Bastian, Connolly is known generally as Connolly Hide, webby is here I think; http://connollyhide.co.uk/

Last time I was lucky enuff to have that was a French car! A Renault 30TS AMEZZIN!!!
0-60 ok ish but 30 -60 in kickdown 3.3secs!!

Looked pretty audi-ish too, loved that car and the hide seats best seats I ever sat in, armchair comfort and warp factor 7 Mr Sulu!

Steev · 16-12-10, 01:27 AM

Not sure of Whitely and Green, in what context are you thinking of them?

bastian · 16-12-10, 10:17 AM

Hi,

thanks for the Connolly Leather Ltd. link! It is pretty old, isn't it? 'cause Connolly has went bancrupt in 2002 as far as I know - or are they coming back?

I've driven a lot of effort last year to gain detailed (historical) information about those two companies. Regarding Connolly, I was able to gain a very rare copy of their centerary book, telling the story of the company from 1878-1978.

Whiteley&Green Ltd. is somehow the "woolen counterpart" for Connolly. It was founded in 1879 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and existed until the 1990's. They had a cenrerary anniversary as well in 1979, but I am not (yet) aware of _any_ literature about that company, unfortunately. Whiteley&Green manufactured the wonderful wollcord fabric used in carriages and luxury cars like Rolls Royce, Bentley, and others for decades. Unfortunately, leather was ordered much more often than wollcord, so there are hardly any cars around with Whiteley&Green woolen upholstery.

To bridge over to classic Audis, both Connolly hides and Whiteley&Green wollcord has been exclusively used for upholsteries in Audi's former flagship Audi V8 - never before and never afterwards and in no other Audi model during that time. Whereas Connolly seats are found pretty often in nowadays Audi V8's, Wollcord is rather rare - and even more rare is the partial wollcord/Kodiak leather sport leather seat (post-face-lift only). I can provide some pictures if you are courious what it looks like.

The reason why I bother you with questions about details regarding those two companies if my curiosity about the Audi V8 and its history in general, including the history of and details about all part supplying companies, which includes Connolly and Whiteley&Green. As it is absolutely impossible to find information about those two here in Austria or in Germany (Audi has hardly any material as well...), I started to perform some research in the UK as well. This was pretty fruitful regarding Connolly, but I was not yet lucky regarding Whiteley&Green.

Hence, I've hoped that I could find somebody in here who whether has any further details about those two companies, especially W&G, including any kind of literature or web links. If somebody knows somebody else who could know somebody who was even employed in one of those two companies, it would be a big deal!

It would be also very, very interesting if those people who have Wollcord in their Audi could leave me a message and some images, as there were two Wollcord prototype Audis (initially owned by W&G), a V8 and an Audi 200, both RHD, of which I have no clue about their whereabouts or their history.

I have posted some images in this thread, if you are interested:

http://www.classic-audi.co.uk/forum/...ad.php?t=15174

More images on request

Thanks a lot for the help

Bastian

Steev · 16-12-10, 10:58 AM

Try www.Robert-noble.co.uk they seem to still be getting w&g material. You have a very specialised interest!

bastian · 16-12-10, 11:25 AM

Hi,
I have noticed that Robert Noble seems to have bought W&G, after it went through several other company's hands. It may indeed make sense to ask for information/historical material regarding W&G - I'll give it a try

It's a pity as well that our current lifestyle eliminates one traditional companies after another - sincerely due to the greed of those companies as well

Indeed, it is a special interest, but there is hardly anything about the Audi V8 which hasn't yet been discussed several times on audiv8.com and facts like those I'm looking for maybe still bear some surprises. When you focus your interests long enough on one car, it's likely to become boring after some time. In order to avoid that, I try to look behind the scenes

Thanks

Bastian

16-12-10, 01:23 AM	#2
Steev Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cheshire Posts: 872	Hi Bastian, Connolly is known generally as Connolly Hide, webby is here I think; http://connollyhide.co.uk/ Last time I was lucky enuff to have that was a French car! A Renault 30TS AMEZZIN!!! 0-60 ok ish but 30 -60 in kickdown 3.3secs!! Looked pretty audi-ish too, loved that car and the hide seats best seats I ever sat in, armchair comfort and warp factor 7 Mr Sulu! __________________ Lots of Audi 100 C1 saloons (1973-77) Audi Coupe S (1972) Audi WR Turbo (1987) NSU RO 80 1975 (look it up!) Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 2000 GL 1979 Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 1900 GL Coupe 1978 Vauxhall Viva HB 1967 (45HP beast!)

16-12-10, 01:27 AM	#3
Steev Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cheshire Posts: 872	Not sure of Whitely and Green, in what context are you thinking of them? __________________ Lots of Audi 100 C1 saloons (1973-77) Audi Coupe S (1972) Audi WR Turbo (1987) NSU RO 80 1975 (look it up!) Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 2000 GL 1979 Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 1900 GL Coupe 1978 Vauxhall Viva HB 1967 (45HP beast!)

16-12-10, 10:58 AM	#5
Steev Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cheshire Posts: 872	Connolly Leather Ltd. and Whiteley&Green Ltd. Try www.Robert-noble.co.uk they seem to still be getting w&g material. You have a very specialised interest! __________________ Lots of Audi 100 C1 saloons (1973-77) Audi Coupe S (1972) Audi WR Turbo (1987) NSU RO 80 1975 (look it up!) Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 2000 GL 1979 Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 1900 GL Coupe 1978 Vauxhall Viva HB 1967 (45HP beast!)

16-12-10, 10:17 AM	#4
bastian Grown up member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 67	Hi, thanks for the Connolly Leather Ltd. link! It is pretty old, isn't it? 'cause Connolly has went bancrupt in 2002 as far as I know - or are they coming back? I've driven a lot of effort last year to gain detailed (historical) information about those two companies. Regarding Connolly, I was able to gain a very rare copy of their centerary book, telling the story of the company from 1878-1978. Whiteley&Green Ltd. is somehow the "woolen counterpart" for Connolly. It was founded in 1879 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and existed until the 1990's. They had a cenrerary anniversary as well in 1979, but I am not (yet) aware of _any_ literature about that company, unfortunately. Whiteley&Green manufactured the wonderful wollcord fabric used in carriages and luxury cars like Rolls Royce, Bentley, and others for decades. Unfortunately, leather was ordered much more often than wollcord, so there are hardly any cars around with Whiteley&Green woolen upholstery. To bridge over to classic Audis, both Connolly hides and Whiteley&Green wollcord has been exclusively used for upholsteries in Audi's former flagship Audi V8 - never before and never afterwards and in no other Audi model during that time. Whereas Connolly seats are found pretty often in nowadays Audi V8's, Wollcord is rather rare - and even more rare is the partial wollcord/Kodiak leather sport leather seat (post-face-lift only). I can provide some pictures if you are courious what it looks like. The reason why I bother you with questions about details regarding those two companies if my curiosity about the Audi V8 and its history in general, including the history of and details about all part supplying companies, which includes Connolly and Whiteley&Green. As it is absolutely impossible to find information about those two here in Austria or in Germany (Audi has hardly any material as well...), I started to perform some research in the UK as well. This was pretty fruitful regarding Connolly, but I was not yet lucky regarding Whiteley&Green. Hence, I've hoped that I could find somebody in here who whether has any further details about those two companies, especially W&G, including any kind of literature or web links. If somebody knows somebody else who could know somebody who was even employed in one of those two companies, it would be a big deal! It would be also very, very interesting if those people who have Wollcord in their Audi could leave me a message and some images, as there were two Wollcord prototype Audis (initially owned by W&G), a V8 and an Audi 200, both RHD, of which I have no clue about their whereabouts or their history. I have posted some images in this thread, if you are interested: http://www.classic-audi.co.uk/forum/...ad.php?t=15174 More images on request Thanks a lot for the help Bastian

16-12-10, 11:25 AM	#6
bastian Grown up member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 67	Hi, I have noticed that Robert Noble seems to have bought W&G, after it went through several other company's hands. It may indeed make sense to ask for information/historical material regarding W&G - I'll give it a try It's a pity as well that our current lifestyle eliminates one traditional companies after another - sincerely due to the greed of those companies as well Indeed, it is a special interest, but there is hardly anything about the Audi V8 which hasn't yet been discussed several times on audiv8.com and facts like those I'm looking for maybe still bear some surprises. When you focus your interests long enough on one car, it's likely to become boring after some time. In order to avoid that, I try to look behind the scenes Thanks Bastian