Originally a maker of springs for the horse-drawn vehicle trade, this firm began making springs for motor vehicles in 1914. A natural progression to building motor bodies followed and this activity grew to the point where a separate entity, Hope's Body Works, was established at Valley in 1927. By 1929 branch operations were located at Alexandra in Sydney and Lismore in northern New South Wales. In 1938 a serious fire at the Brisbane plant was a setback but it recovered with heavy wartime demands. Postwar programmes included roadster and coupe utility (pick-up) bodies for the Fiat 500, bodies for Brisbane's fleet of Sunbeam trolley-buses and the production of 'Cold Flame' kerosene-burning household refrigerators. In 1954 a return to bus work occurred when Brisbane City Council´s A.E.C. fleet was bodied.