Glass's Guide
The Glass’s Guide - the motor trade’s ‘Bible’,
By monitoring car values over the past 70 years, Glass’s Guide has reflected how cars have become increasingly affordable. For example, in the 1930s the £145 list price for a Ford 10 De Luxe, including £5 for an optional sliding roof, was the equivalent of almost two years’ salary. Today, a Ford Mondeo 1.8i LX, with a list price of £14,465, represents the equivalent of just seven months’ salary for a person earning the UK average wage.
Glass’s history
William Glass founded Glass’s in 1933 and published the first Glass’s Guide to Car Values in July that year. The company expanded into commercial vehicle, motorcycle and caravan values in the 1950s and ’60s, and today provides customers with information in print, electronic and online formats.
1930’s In 1933 William Glass first publishes Glass’s Guide to Car Values which quickly becomes the “Bible” of the UK motor trade.
1950’s Hanns W. Schwacke applies the same idea in Germany becoming the first of its kind in continental Europe.
1960’s Hanns W. Schwacke expands the business in Europe under the international brand “Eurotax”. Glass’s launches used valuations Guides for commercial vehicles and motorcycles in the UK.
1970’s The first estimation system, including parts prices and labour costs for all makes and models, is launched.
1980’s The information revolution takes off – the PC transforms the workplace. Glass’s introduces the PC version of Glass’s Guide and acquires Editions Professionelles Glass SARL (EPG) France. Eurotax launches the AutoWert workplace software which becomes the standard for over 50,000 users across Europe.
1990’s The Eurotax and Glass’s data becomes industry standard and is used by European governments to drive national registration systems. New, innovative solutions for the industry are created to support mechanical and accident repairs, bodyshop management, vehicle re-marketing and salvage disposal. These include ICME+, Glassmatix, BodyMaster, Trader Desk and eSalvage.
2000 Eurotax and Glass’s merge to create the European market leader in automotive business intelligence.
William Glass
William Glass was born in Scotland in 1881 and was an engineer by trade. As well as publishing the first Guide to Used Vehicle Values, Glass had an innovative and enquiring mind and made a number of inventions including the portable hydraulic jack, the electric switch-off kettle, the self-filling fountain pen and the through-the-propeller machine gun firing mechanism.
The founder of Glass’s Guide also manufactured cars under the Firefly marque for a short period of time in Croydon. Glass’s other innovations included the first motor auction and the first uniformed attendants at petrol filling stations.
The Guide
The success of the Glass's Guide can be seen by the way it influences the market. You could argue that Glass's now have so much influence that they are now setting market prices rather than monitoring them.