Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 35 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 2720 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Memory Lane!

whjohnson
Reflecting on the 43 years I have been working in the industry and all of those once familiar famous brand names, I began to wonder what happened to them - apart from globalization, but where did they end up? Who bought out who? And who just gave up and shut down completely?


Here's a few names to start the ball rolling -

Allen West, makers of contacters, motor starters and switchgear.

Ellison - motor starter, switch gear etc.

MTE LTD, contacters, isolators, switchgear etc


What happened to these companies? Where are they now?

We all know that the likes of Electrium and Schnieder pretty own everything these days - Square D, Telemechanique, Merlin Gerin et al

But whatever happened to those old faithfuls whose kit I installed and worked years ago?
  • 0
    A company local to me, Brookhurst Switchgear Ltd formed in 1898 used to be in Chester. Their switchgear is in the House of Commons.

    Later joined with the Igranic Electric Company in 1959 to become Brookhurst Igranic Ltd.

    Some history on Brookhirst at https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Brookhirst_Switchgear

    Some history on Igranic Electric Company including after the Brookhurst merger:
    http://virtual-library.culturalservices.net/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_trades_brookhurst_igranic_article.htm

    Clive
  • 0
    English Electric - I was an HV contracts engineer at Stafford in the 60's I remember that quotations for switchgear and transformers had to be hand delivered to India and Pakistan etc,, if posted, they were opened before the scheduled opening date for bungs. English Electric had their brand name Creda for cookers etc. and I think Simplex also for conduit and fittings, other names were Bruce Peebles and Ottermill for switchgear, Belmos in Scotland for MCC's and Callender for cables.


    The days when there was an electricity board shop on every high street, and parking was available on high streets - nostalgia ain't what it used to be.indeed!, tempus fugit. ?


    On another tack, It's amazing that what we now take for granted, ultimately came from earth's natural resources. 


    Jaymack


    See the link for more history: - https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Grace%27s_Guide


  • 0
    I did school work experience at Home Automation in Hoddesdon (dimmer manufacturers/lighting controls) who became Danlers.

    Bumped into Danlers rep at Excel who told me the story of the transformation from one to the other.

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I did a placement with AWCO (Aluminium Wire & Cable Company) near Swansea. I recall they were owned by TI Group (Tube Investments), British Aluminium and Vickers, in equal shares.


    Ditto with Delta Enfield Cables


    All gone overseas now - and the worse for it


    Regards


    OMS


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Allen West are now Allen West Brighton, many spares still available. Very helpful.
    Ellison are still in existence, they don’t support older gear. They were downright rude when I asked about their ACB’s.

  • 0

    Jaymack:

    English Electric - I was an HV contracts engineer at Stafford in the 60's I remember that quotations for switchgear and transformers had to be hand delivered to India and Pakistan etc,, if posted, they were opened before the scheduled opening date for bungs. English Electric had their brand name Creda for cookers etc. and I think Simplex also for conduit and fittings, other names were Bruce Peebles and Ottermill for switchgear, Belmos in Scotland for MCC's and Callender for cables.


    The days when there was an electricity board shop on every high street, and parking was available on high streets - nostalgia ain't what it used to be.indeed!, tempus fugit. ?


    On another tack, It's amazing that what we now take for granted, ultimately came from earth's natural resources. 


    Jaymack


    See the link for more history: - https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Grace%27s_Guide


     




    Would that be the site on St leonards Way that is now GEC?

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Thorn Lighting?


    I did my HNC with Smart and Brown and visited Spennymoor a few times.


    Atlas lamps

    Ferguson radio

    Radio rentals

    DER

    Rumbelows

    Tricity


    Regards


    BOD


  • 0

    perspicacious:



    Thorn Lighting?




    Still going strong, but expensive.

  • 0

    Jaymack:

    >

    > ....   and Callender for cables.

    >

     




     

    Don't know whether you have seen it, but there's a B.I.Callender junction box in this video (from about 4:20 to 6 mins).

    and a quote from the comments:

    That junction says B.I. Callendar’s. Later renamed BICC (British Insulated Callender's Cables). According to Wikipedia the company was formed by merger in 1945, and renamed to BICC in 1975, which makes that box at least 45 years old.







    (edit: tried to embed video to start at 4:20 but didn't seem to work)

  • 0
    Lots of Vacs were actually "Hoovers" back then and insulation testers were "Megger`s" too

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines