Historic Victoria Advertisements
Automobiles & Transportation 1920-1929
As part of our series on Historic Victoria Advertisements, Automobiles & Transportation, 1920-1929, here are two 1926 advertisements from Begg Motor Company, Victoria’s Chevrolet dealer at the time.
Apart from the historic images of 1926 Chevrolet automobiles, these two advertisements are interesting in illustrating the Begg Motor Company’s move from 937 View Street to its new location, half a block way, at 1250 Quadra Street / 865 Yates Street, in a new building designed for the Begg Motor Company by architect Ralph Berrill. The Begg Motor Company building, built in 1926, is still standing today.
Begg Motor Company started 1926 at 937 View Street as shown by this advertisement from the spring of 1926.
1926 advertisement for Chevrolet automobiles, placed by Begg Motor Company, 937 View Street. This advertisement was placed in the spring of 1926, before Begg Motor Co. opened its new building at 1250 Quadra Street. (Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours collection)
Following the completion of its new building at 1250 Quadra Street / 865 Yates Street in the summer of 1926, Begg Motor Company moved from 937 View Street to its new building at 1250 Quadra Street / 865 Yates Street. Notice the advertisement below, published in the fall of 1926, shows the Begg Motor Company’s new address as 865 Yates Street, which suggests that the entrance to the Begg Motor Company showroom was on Yates Street, where the Starbucks is today, rather than what is now the main entrance to the building at 1250 Quadra Street.
1926 advertisement for Chevrolet automobiles, placed by Begg Motor Company, 865 Yates Street. This advertisement was placed in the fall of 1926, after Begg Motor Co. opened its new building at 865 Yates Street (now 1250 Quadra Street). (Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours collection)
Here is how the building at 1250 Quadra Street / 865 Yates Street appears today. The entrance to the Begg Motor Company showroom in 1926 appears to have been where the Starbucks is located today.
1250 Quadra Street / 865 Yates Street, viewed from Yates Street (photo by Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours)
Would you like to leave a comment or question about anything on this post?
my grandfather Ernest John Bent worked at Begg Motors for years. in the city directory It shows him at Begg Motors in 1917 and 1921. However the history says it didn’t open until 1925 and moved to its new location in 1926.
Wonder if you can help me out on this.
We meant that Begg Motors started 1926 in the 900 block of View Street and then moved to its new building at 865 Yates Street later in 1926.
Sorry for any confusion. We’ll try to find and post some Begg Motors advertisements from before 1926.
Thank you