My ancestors - Humphrys - Contents

Dick Humphreys' motor business

The motor business of Dick Humphreys in Dublin.
At 79 Dame St, 1922 to probably 1928.
At 36 Pearse St, probably 1928 until Dick's death in 1968.

A poster produced by Dick's business, with handy telephone numbers, and a drawing of Roundstone, Connemara, dated 1932.
Looks like the Thomond.
His list of handy car numbers includes a number for Thomond cars!
Note the swastikas. Before Hitler, the swastika was an innocent, ancient symbol of good luck, often used for decoration.
See larger and full size.

79 Dame St, Dublin

Dick Humphreys went into business at the end of 1922.
He was funded by family friend (and his future father-in-law) James O'Mara.
He imported tyres made in Canada by James' brother Joe O'Mara, under the name "O'Mara Rubber Co".
By agreement dated 9 Oct 1922 he rented the 2nd floor office at 79 Dame St, Dublin.
This was 2 doors away from Humphrys' pub, run by his uncle Mick Humphrys.

Dick designed the thread pattern on the O'Mara's tyre.
Tommy O'Brien went to work for him.
Tommy had just left school, age 16, 1922-1923. Nell suggested to Tommy's mother maybe he would go work for Dick.
Offices on 2nd floor when Tommy arrived.
6 months later they moved down to 1st floor offices of 79 Dame St. Never on ground floor (which was a tailors' shop).

Tommy O'Brien said Dick was "a reluctant businessman, kind of pitchforked into it by James O'Mara".
He remembered Dick got a letter from Pirelli asking for estimates, wrote answers in margin and mailed it back. Dick didn't care for appearances, never modernised the place, right to the end.
Tommy said Dick was always looking out to help people. Not a businessman - tended to give things away.
He left Tommy in charge a lot, left him with signed blank cheques to pay bills - lot of trust.
Some of Donnelly's salesmen were given O'Mara tyres to sell on commission. "With the exception of Michael Higgins of Galway none of them sold a damn thing". Bacon and tyres were not exactly linked.

Tommy said Dick was: "The kindest, gentlest man I ever met". Tommy was always grateful to him - gave him his start in business.
Tommy remembered one winter evening, on Dame St, about 5.30pm, very dark, raining. He was looking out of window of office, saw a young boy with a donkey, drawing a cart of coal blocks. The donkey refused to go up the hill outside City Hall. Workmen were passing by. Tommy saw Dick pull up, get out behind the cart, pushed, off it went.
Another time in Dame St, Dick asked him: "How much is in the petty cash?" It was £3 (a lot then) and some change. "Give me the £3". Dick gave it to the news vendor - a middle aged man, whose wife was expecting, and he was hard up for money.

They were at 79 Dame St for years before they were even listed in [Thoms].
Not listed at 79 Dame St in [Thoms] until 1927 and 1928 edns. Listed as "O'Mara Rubber Co".
Offices at 79 Dame St were really unsuitable for a tyre place.
They moved to 36 Pearse St.

"O'Mara Rubber Co.", 79 Dame St, Dublin. The later (1st floor) offices, i.e. c.1925.
Tommy O'Brien (left) and Dick (right).
See ad for O'Mara's tyres on left.
The big window is still there today.
See other scan.

79 Dame St (Hackett's Bookmakers) and 81 Dame St (The Oak).
Click to rotate.
From Google Street View.

79 Dame St, Dublin (white building, now Hackett's Bookmakers).
Photo 2007. See full size.

Wider view showing 79 Dame St (now Hackett's Bookmakers)
and, 2 doors away, the pub at 81 Dame St.
Photo 2007. See full size.

36 Pearse St, Dublin

They moved to a more suitable premises, 36 Pearse St, Dublin.
Tommy O'Brien said they were in Pearse St when Dick started ordering Thomond parts, so they probably moved there in 1928.
Listed at 36 Pearse St in [Thoms] from 1929 on.
Name became "Richard Humphreys Auto Services".
Within a few years he dropped O'Mara / K&S tyres. Changed name to "Humphreys Autofactors", tyres and motor accessories.
He sold Pirelli tyres. Great success, but couldn't get the agency. Pirelli decided to set up their own place in Dublin instead.
In 1935 Dunlop opened factory in Cork. They got government protection, monopoly of Irish market. Now Dick had to sell Dunlops. (In fact, he'd actually wanted to for years. He had used Dunlops on both of his Thomond cars.)
Tommy left him think in early 1935 to join Dunlop.
The business continued to be listed as "O'Mara Rubber Co" in [Thoms]. Still listed as that name in [Thoms, 1943].

Competition was tough in tyre business in 1960s.
Dick was in semi-retirement at time of his death in 1968.
"Humphreys Autofactors" is last listed in [Thoms] in 1969 edn.

36 Pearse St is now part of O'Neill's pub and accomodation, 36-37 Pearse St.

"36 - O'Mara Rubber Co. - Richard Humphreys Auto Services - 36"
"All leading makes of tyres in stock"
36 Pearse St, Dublin, c.1930.
See larger and full size.
See other scan.

36 Pearse St, c.1930.
Note O'Neill's pub, 37 Pearse St on RHS (still there today).

O'Mara Rubber Co. at 36 Pearse St.
From p.1080 of [Thom's, 1943].

36 Pearse St (O'Neill's Townhouse).
Click to rotate.
From Google Street View.

36 Pearse St, now O'Neill's pub accomodation (left),
and O'Neill's pub, 37 Pearse St (right).
Photo 2007. See full size.
See other shot.

Motoring Links