GEC Ltd

Sectors:

  • Electrical & electronic engineering Electrical & electronic engineering, general
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Electrical & non electrical appliances inc sewing machines, etc, production
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Electrical & non electrical lighting & heating equipment production
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Electrical generators, motors, transformers, etc, production
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Electricity control, distribution, etc, equipment production
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Electronic equipment & components production
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Radar equipment production
  • Transport equipment production Railway locomotive, rolling stock & components production & repair
  • Transport equipment production Shipbuilding & repairing exc small craft
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Telephone & telegraph equipment production
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Television & radio transmitting & receiving equipment production
  • Mechanical engineering Weighing machine production

Notes:

Traced origins to the 1880s and the formation of the electrical goods wholesalers, G Binswanger & Co. Renamed General Electric Apparatus Co in 1886 and started to manufacture bells, switches, telephones, etc, at Salford in 1887. 1889 incorporated as General Electric Co Ltd. Public company 1900. Started to make electric lighting 1893, subsequently under the Osram brand. 1900 public company. 1902 opened Witton Works, Birmingham, as its principal manufacturing centre. Entered heavy electrical engineering in 1918 through acquisition of Fraser & Chalmers Ltd. c1919 opened research laboratories. Under chairmanship of Lord Hirst, 1910-43. Post 1945 acquired a succession of major businesses, Radio & Allied Industries Ltd in 1961 (managed by Arthur Weinstock), AEI Ltd in 1968, English Electric (including Marconi) in 1968, W & T Avery Ltd in 1979, Yarrow in 1985, etc. In this period led by Sir Arnold Weinstock, 1924-2002. Subsequently refocused in mid 1990s when defence interests merged with British Aerospace to form BAE Systems. Remainder of business then renamed Marconi Plc and subsequently Marconi Corp Plc in 2003. Most operations acquired by Ericsson in 2005 and remaining businesses renamed Telent Plc

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