Sam Robbins, Austin dealers

Sam Robbins I remember from Rugby where at one time they seemed to control every retail outlet in the town, furniture, sales rooms, cars etc They were Austin agents in Coventry at the same time as Astons, who I believe may have been sub-dealers as at Astons cars came from Sam Robbins and the factory As I know very little about Sam Robbins I am sure there is someone out there that does, any ex-employees?

I remember Sam Robbins used to be in Cox Street, as I remember they had an Austin pedal car in the showroom window, it always looked like a real car to me as a kid

Samuel Bevan Robbins was born in Welton, Northamptonshire in 1867 In the 1901 Census he is shown as a Furniture Dealer of Cambridge Street, Rugby In the 1911 Census he is shown as an Auctioneer at 124 Cambridge Street, Rugby He died in 1933, leaving over £25,000 (more than £1.5m in today's money) 1937 Telephone Directory Austin Main Dealers, 30 Cox Street, Coventry Auctioneers, Removals, 25 Albert Street, Rugby Furnishers, 25 Albert Street, Rugby Jewellers, Regent Street, Rugby Motor Engineers, Dunchurch Motor Engineers, Leicester Road, Nuneaton Motor Engineers, Bilton Road, Rugby Upholsterers, 1 Hunter Street, Rugby 1960 Telephone Directory Austin Main Dealers, 30 Cox Street, Coventry Furnishers, 25 Albert Street, Rugby (registered office address) Upholsterers, Hunter Street, Rugby Cycles and Accessories, Clifton Road, Rugby Motor Engineers, Bilton Road, Rugby Motor Engineers, Dunchurch Motor Engineers, 384 Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry Jewellers, Regent Street, Rugby Motor Engineers, Nuneaton The Depository, Cambridge Street, Rugby Auction Mart, Clifton Road, Rugby Glass and China, Sheep Street, Rugby (no trade shown) 1 Matthews Street, Rugby (no trade shown) 144, Walsgrave Road, Coventry

There's a short bio of Mr Robbins half way down this page.

Hi Midland Red, my wife Is from Dunchurch, she remembers the Sam Robbins garage from her childhood days, also we bought a pram for our first child from Sam Robbins in Rugby, the shop was similar to a Co-op department store, don`t know if it`s still there, didn`t make the connection to Sam Robbins cars till now (it`s only took 32 years) thanks

Still there but now a solicitors, it is called The Robbins Building. When we last used it as a store, they still had a doorman who carried your purchase out of the building to your car. A really old fashioned store but nice.

Hi scrutiny, when we went in for the pram there was a row of about 20 prams, smallest to the largest coach built at the far end, guess which one we ended up with, I`ll give you a clue, £250.00 worth in 1982 (that's what you get for taking your mother in law shopping with you)

My dad used to work at Sam Robbins in the 70's in Cox Street

Advert for Sam Robbins on top of the stand

Hi there, my father and my husband both worked at Cox Street as car cleaners, sadly they have both passed now, I know they both had happy memories of their employment there.

Hi Sally Just read your comment ref Sam Robbins garage. I lived above the garage as my father was the supervisor for the car repairs. I was about 6/7 years old, that was in 1956/57. Have you got any pics of the garage or more info. Like you both my parents have passed away and it's too late to ask questions Regards Phillip

As there are no images here. Saw this one. Whereabouts on Cox Street was it? Is that the ringroad in the distance? If so I'm guessing somewhere opposite the Starley University building?