Wartime manufacturers

How about S.B.A.C. ?

I’ve got Sept 3 1954 issue of Aeroplane which is billed as the ‘British aircraft industry number’ – thats full of adverts and includes a trade directory.. look out for Aeroplane and Flights for that time of year as they normally both produced Farnborough specials.. also migh tbe worth a look out for Farnborough/SBAC catalogues ??

ref Rotax, in 1954 they are still listed as a seperate entity at an address in Wilesden junction

Neil

Thanks Alan

That’s a pilots seat from a Whitley! Looks like they made those too…

Cheers

Many thanks Vega ECM, even though your message contains the words I was half expecting to see! Might be worth getting in touch anyway…

And in return for hijacking your thread Elliott, here’s the entry for E.G. Browne and Co. Ltd. Have you tried ringing Tottenham 2257 just in case? 🙂

British Built Aircraft series of books by Ron Smith may help. Does cover fates of some companies. in the text.
Also has contemporary adverts too…

Archival magazines from the right period often carried advertising from the various widget companies – might be worth seeing if you can get to those copies – larger libraries, perhaps, or a local aviation museum / club etc?

The 1945 Janes’ All the World’s Aircraft was reprinted as a facsimile in the 1990s, IIRC, and has a number of adverts from British manufacturers in the front and back.

What was Rotax is now Goodrich Power Systems, Pitstone Green (technically the Rotax actuation products became Goodrich Actuation Systems, Wolverhampton via Lucas ). If your looking for anything pre c1970 I understand they’ve binned their archive.

Many thanks Vega ECM, even though your message contains the words I was half expecting to see! Might be worth getting in touch anyway…

And in return for hijacking your thread Elliott, here’s the entry for E.G. Browne and Co. Ltd. Have you tried ringing Tottenham 2257 just in case? 🙂

Rotax UK

In a similar vein, and without hi-jacking your thread, does anyone know exactly where Rotax ended up?

What was Rotax is now Goodrich Power Systems, Pitstone Green (technically the Rotax actuation products became Goodrich Actuation Systems, Wolverhampton via Lucas ). If your looking for anything pre c1970 I understand they’ve binned their archive.

Thanks Mark

I’ll feed it into ebay and see what turns up.

Elliott

I have a 1961 edition of:-

‘The Aeroplane Directory of British Aviation incorporating Who’s Who in British Aviation’

The is was put out by Aeroplane magazine.

This or earlier editions would fit your bill. They are all in there.

Mark

Thanks James – no need to apologise, i’ll take a look.

At the risk of stating the obvious, for British companies, try Companies House.

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk

Their online records are very good, but aren’t likely to back as far as you want, but it may be worth contacting them direct. If they can’t help, they may be able to advise how or who can.

Apologies if you’ve been down this route.

Hijack away Alan! It’s all part of the same story! 😉

I’d like to take a look at your handbook sometime if that’s okay – sounds interesting…

I can’t help with the answer to your question Elliott, but it is an interesting subject.

I have a 1939 S.B.A.C. Handbook and Directory which is full of such companies, most now long gone.

In a similar vein, and without hi-jacking your thread, does anyone know exactly where Rotax ended up? I don’t mean the Canadian manufacturer (at least, I don’t think I do), I’m referring to the manufacturer of so much wartime electrical equipment. The Company’s archives would occupy me for many hours!

Elliott

I have a 1961 edition of:-

‘The Aeroplane Directory of British Aviation incorporating Who’s Who in British Aviation’

The is was put out by Aeroplane magazine.

This or earlier editions would fit your bill. They are all in there.

Mark

Hi Al,

Rotax Limited were part of Lucas and I think that they reverted to the Lucas fold in the mid 90s.

Regards
Ross

At the risk of stating the obvious, for British companies, try Companies House.

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk

Their online records are very good, but aren’t likely to back as far as you want, but it may be worth contacting them direct. If they can’t help, they may be able to advise how or who can.

Apologies if you’ve been down this route.

I can’t help with the answer to your question Elliott, but it is an interesting subject.

I have a 1939 S.B.A.C. Handbook and Directory which is full of such companies, most now long gone.

In a similar vein, and without hi-jacking your thread, does anyone know exactly where Rotax ended up? I don’t mean the Canadian manufacturer (at least, I don’t think I do), I’m referring to the manufacturer of so much wartime electrical equipment. The Company’s archives would occupy me for many hours!