English Electric

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Image:English Electric.png English Electric was a 20th century British industrial manufacturer with a base in electric motors that expanded to include railway locomotives and aviation before eventual inclusion as part of GEC.

1 History
2 Products
3 See also

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History

1917: Dick, Kerr & Co. acquired the United Electric Car Company, who made trams in Preston.
1918: The English Electric Company was formed.
1918 & 1919: EEC took over Dick, Kerr & Co. of Preston (England), Willans & Robinson of Rugby, and the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company of Bradford. It also bought the Stafford works of Siemens Bros, Dynamo Works Ltd. Dick, Kerr & Co.'s its traction activities were concentrated in Preston and continued there until 1930.
1930: The manufacture of electrical equipment was moved to Bradford. Tramcar, bus body, and rolling stock production stayed at Preston.
Late 1920's: EEC was in a parlous financial state. A complex financial reorganisation, apparently backed by American Westinghouse interests, was needed to save EEC.
1930: The man most associated with EEC, George Nelson, became managing director.
1930's: EEC became associated with the electrification of the English Southern Railway's system, which gave it a strong position in the traction market.
1939-1945 (WWII): EEC made a substantial contribution to the British war effort during the Second World War.
1942: EEC took over Napiers the aero-engine company, and this helped establish the company's aircraft division. Company factories were also converted to build the Handley-Page Halifax heavy bomber.
1945 and after: In the post-war era EEC invested heavily in aircraft design, leading to major successes in the 1950s with the Lightning interceptor and Canberra tactical bomber which is still flying (as of 2005) in reconnaissance and other roles with many air forces, including the RAF.
1946: EEC took over the Marconi Company. This was a foray into domestic markets.
1955: EEC took over Vulcan Foundry and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorne, both with substantial railway engineering pedigrees. EEC also made steam turbines.
1958: EEC's aviation business was set up separately as English Electric Aviation Ltd.
1960: EEC tried to take over one of the other major British electrical companies, GEC.
Early 1960's : Under government pressure EEC rationalised its aircraft division, which later became part of the new British Aircraft Corporation.
1967: GEC took over the AEI company.
1967 or 1968: Failed bid for EEC by Plessey.
1968: The new GEC conglomerate took over English Electric.