A piece of history, preserved
An important signage of Mokopane's history will be preserved in the Pilgrims Rest Museum.
POLOKWANE – Margaret Gilbertson, daughter of Tommy Gilbertson, donated an original ‘Chevrolet’ sign, which dates back to 1930, to the museum.
The sign will be displayed on the outside of the Central Garage Museum which operated as a Chevrolet Motor Agency in Pilgrims Rest from 1926 to 1946.
Tommy Gilbertson opened his first motor garage, Gilbertson’s Garage, in Potgietersrus (Mokopane) just after World War 1 in May 1919.
Gilbertson’s Garage expanded its expertise and became a fully equipped motor engineering shop, a filling station and even generated electricity for the local Jones Hotel.
Gilbertson’s garage became one of the first general motor dealers in South Africa when General Motors started their Chevrolet Assembly Plant in Port Elizabeth in 1926.
With the initiative of Donald Gilbertson (Tommy’s brother) a sister company was established in the early 60’s namely Northern Transvaal Tractors selling and servicing the Massey Ferguson range as well as Toyota, this was the first step of the giant NTT Toyota that we all know today.
Tommy died in the 1970’s. After 70 years Gilbertson’s Garage was taken over in 1989 by senior management employees Francois du Toit, Fanie Oosthuizen, Klasie le Roux (Snr) and his son Klasie le Roux (Jnr) who worked their whole lives for the Gilbertson family.
It was Francois du Toit who rescued the sign from a storeroom and was instrumental in arranging for the donation and bringing Margaret Gilbertson to Pilgrims Rest for the handover.
Gilbertson’s Garage was sold in 2005 to the well known Westvaal group.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
