Having only just completed a post and published it, I discovered more about ELECO which places yesterday's post in a slightly different context.
The company was formed in 1895 as Gilbert Arc Lamp Company, based in Chingford, Essex. The firm moved to St Albans in the early years of the 20th century. One major contract was to design and supply the lanterns along Victoria Embankment. The company name was altered to the Electric Lighting and Engineering Company in 1920 and from then until the 1960s it focussed on street lighting and switch gear.
ELECO then widened its interests to include structures when, in 1960, it acquired the 1948-born Hoddesdon firm of Bell and Webster. It later purchased Goodes Silos Ltd and Davis Sheet Metal Engineering, which specialises in cable trunking, and as late as 1991, Abtus Company Limited which are involved in railway maintenance equipment.
Helicopter landing lights were developed for the Admiralty, cable trays were supplied for the Channel Tunnel, and ELECO Technology was formed in 1994 for research and development projects for various parts of the company. Its software has been used on the restoration of the Cutty Sark and by the main contractors of the Shard, a 'sky-tall' building at London Bridge.
ELECO may no longer be in St Albans, but the company has bases in Herriard, Hampshire; Lydney, Gloucestershire; Thame, Oxfordshire; and Telford, Shropshire; as well as many locations in other countries.
That sounds like a terrific St Albans success story. Some of the company's street lights, made during its time in Campfield Road, can be seen at the website www.midlandcountiesstreetlighting.co.uk. It may be possible to add further to this story shortly.
4 comments:
Nice blog about the history of Eleco. The only correction is that I am not aware of a location in Herriard.
I was the last but one apprentice at ELECO in Campfield Rd
I finished my "time" in 1975
It amazes me that there is not more of the history of the company on the internet.
Dennis Allen MD www.tritontooling.co.uk
I worked for Eleco as a buyer from 1962 until 1969 and saw a number of changes including the aqisition of Winser Signs of Camberley, Goodes Engineereing and Davis Engineering of Tottenham. Harry Houghto was the Chairman, Roy Proctor the Company Secretary, later MD. Peter Smith the Sales Manager, later Sales Director. Ron Gilbey was the Production Director.
Mervyn Holliday
I worked here from 1975 till 1978 fond memories.
Post a Comment