Jack Hawken left Morgan Giles a shipyard in Teignmouth at the end of 1945 and worked for 6mths in Salcombe. Bill Sleeman and Jack Hawken decided to form a partnership in about March or April 1946. They started their business in French Street, Teignmouth in Devon, UK, where Bill had a bicycle shop. They traded there for a few months and then rented premises from the Quay Co on the dockside at Teignmouth. Once there, the business thrived. They both officially retired in 1968 but Jack continued to work there for another year or so.