Whether you were driving a Ford Model T, Austin A40, Leyland Mini, Honda Civic or Toyota CH-R, the garage on Foxton's Clyde Street was ready to repair it! There has been a motor mechanic on the site almost continuously from 1915 and (as of May 2023) Lee Mason Motors carries on the tradition.

'Foxton Motors' traded there from around 1950 to around 1975 according to Kete records. It should be noted that this slide is from 'Foxton Motors (1959) Ltd' so there would have been a few ownership changes during this time.  

The big news on this slide was the new Silex muffler. A look at the names of the brands it fitted shows that many of them are long gone. Ford still remains in the New Zealand market but the others are consigned to history here (as of 2023!).

Every cinema advertising slide has a story to tell- and the story behind this one has changed a few times! Local businesses loved cinema advertising as it was reasonably priced and could be targeted towards local audiences- this slide would have only screened in Foxton.

However, a few of the words on this slide have been edited out with tape. Foxton Motors still does panel beating, welding and engineering but the option of 'Duco Spraying' has been edited out and the breakdown crane service is not longer 'at all hours'. Another stickers shows that the business changed hands to a Mister/Misses 'Woodcock'. Did the new owner get sick of pulling cars out of ditches at 2am in the morning?

The Foxton Historical Society shows a garage on Clyde Street as early as c.1909 and a garage is still on the street today. Due to the lack of images on this slide it is hard to date just when it was made.

Update from plaque in Main Street, Foxton.

The view from Clyde Street dates from the early 1900s, prior to 1905. It was in that year that the old Bank of New Zealand building (next to the first telegraph pole on the left) was burnt down. Whytes Hotel is on the left and on the other side of White Street is the Red Store of M H Walker. A flag flies on the Post Office Hotel. On the right a group stands outside the building which was built as the Bank of Australasia and in the photograph is probably a doctor's surgery. It was also used by the Salvation Army Red Shield Club before it was burnt down.

Main Street, Foxton, looking south from Clyde Street intersection, c.1900. A group of people are gathered on the footpath while a girl dressed in white stands on the road . A gas streetlight stands on the corner.

Also large mounted copy

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Possibly the opening of the Foxton Plunket Rooms in Clyde Street, Foxton.

See also f1999.0141 and f1999.0332.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”