Grace's Guide
British Industrial History
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 144,986 pages of information and 230,624 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.
Felco Hoists
From Graces Guide
of 17 Victoria Street, SW1. Works: Sheffield
Reg office in London.
1937 Manufacturers of lifting tackle and appliances.[1]
1939 See Aircraft Industry Suppliers
1940 Advert for lifting appliances.
1945 Advert for hoists.
1950. Move to Crawley. 'WORKMEN have been busy all the week putting final touches to the New Town standard factories which are to be occupied this month. One of the factories has already been taken over by Messrs. A. S. Ladley, Ltd., liquid meter manufacturers. Another concern which it is expected will move in during the next few days is Vaughan Lift Engineering, Ltd. Mr. J. H. Vaughan, founder and director of the company, told an "Observer" reporter: We are all looking forward very much to moving to the New Town of Crawley." It will be a change for the company to have a really permanent address, for in the 14 years they have been in existence they have moved four times because of enemy action. Originally the company only repaired and maintained lifts. but they soon added manufacturing to their activities. During the war when there were not many lift contracts for small firms the company took on the repair and maintenance of cranes, and finally the manufacture of their first Job and overhead traveller cranes. In May, 1941, faced with the loss of all plant, records and in addition a large proportion of goodwill, they teamed up with Messrs. Christophers of Clerkenwell, thus enabling them once more to build up the firm. At the present time the company employ between 35 and 40 people and are mainly engaged in the manufacture, repair and maintenance of lifts, cranes, hoists and electric pulley blocks. About a year ago, Mr. L. J. Tichelly, managing director of Felco Hoists, Ltd., became co-director with Mr. Vaughan, the two companies now working closely together.'[2]
1961 Manufacturers of "Felco" chain blocks and lifting appliances.[3]
Early 1960s became part of Birfield Group
1967 Birfield was acquired by GKN
1971 Bought out: 'Acquisition of Felco Hoists limited. As foreshadowed in my statement of 20th January 1971, Wheway Watson Limited has now completed the acquisition of the whole of the Issued Share Capital of Felco Hoists Limited from a subsidiary of Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, Limited for a consideration of £925,000 which has been satisfied wholly in cash. The activities of Felco consist mainly of the manufacture and sale of Chain Hoists and Wire Rope Hoists these activities being complementary to those of your Company. Felco is a substantial user of Wheway Watson Chain'[4]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ * 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- ↑ Crawley and District Observer - Friday 20 October 1950
- ↑ * 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- ↑ Birmingham Daily Post - Thursday 28 January 1971
- Mechanical World Year Book 1940. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p112-3
- Mechanical World Year Book 1945. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p132-3