The Story of JCB is a unique and permanent exhibition charting the company’s links to industry back to the 1820s. Covering 2,500m² of floorspace, The Story of JCB takes the visitor on a journey through time: from the 1820s, when the Bamford family were blacksmiths in Uttoxeter, to the present day and JCB’s ECO range of fuel-saving machines.
Visitors are taken past Mr Bamford’s old office, which he used from 1970 until his retirement in 1975. Always at the centre of engineering design and development, it gave him a complete window on the world of JCB.
The office still contains Mr Bamford’s original desk, chairs and conference table. The bronze bust of Mr JCB on his desk was a gift from the JCB workforce in 1964, the year in which he presented in excess of £250,000 in productivity bonuses to his staff.
The exhibition also explores JCB’s design and innovation ethos; its growth as an agricultural machinery manufacturer; JCB’s worldwide service and parts back-up; the success of JCB military products; the development of the JCB engine and world record-breaking DIESELMAX car; and, above all, JCB’s continued growth to become a global brand and one of the world’s leading names in manufacturing.