Miscellaneous documents
Reference: D/X 2159 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Amundsen & Smith, Chartered Shipbrokers, Seaham
Covering Dates: 1945-2009
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- Miscellaneous documents
Catalogue Contents
Amundsen & Smith has a long history of business in County Durham. The business was started by Alfred F. Amundsen of Sunderland, who was a descendant of Norwegian immigrants. Initially he worked for Thomas R. Pinkney, Shipbrokers and Sale & Purchase Brokers of West Sunniside, Sunderland.
Before the First World War Amundsen partnered up with Lythgoe, setting up Lythgoe, Amundsen & Company in Sunderland, managing their own fleet of coasters including "Compass", "Wharfedale", "Thames" and "Trefusis". The partnership did not last long and Amundsen started again, after the war, together with his friend, William Smith, to create in 1919 Amundsen & Smith, based in Sunderland and Seaham Harbour.
Amundsen's younger son, Archie joined the business in Seaham Harbour. After the Second World War and the death of the father in 1946, Archie's older brother, Alfred junior, also joined the family company. In the meantime William Smith employed himself with Seaham Harbour Dock Company.
Business was very slow after the war and Archie left the family business. In the 1960s Alf worked for F. T. Everard & Sons in Greenhithe in ship management, leaving the family company in the hands of Billy Hunter.
In 1971 Alf returned to Seaham and partnered up with Arthur Reynolds of Rye, but this endevour was very unsuccessful and the company ended up with debts.
In 1975 the company was sold to Smith, Hogg & Company Ltd, shipbrokers from Hartlepool with Alf Amundsen as the managing director.
After Alf's death in 1977, the company was managed by David Strath, who came from Hunting of Newcastle shipowners. In 1983 he was succeeded by Martin Macray from the shipowning business, Stag Line. With the support of Norman Kelly, the agency manager, the business was successfully developed.
The company has another office in Blyth, which allows it to provide a full agency service for the whole coastal area in the North East, from Berwick upon Tweed to Seaham Harbour. The company also provides short-sea chartering, specialist forwarding and customs work.
