SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Let's talk this economy up...Ainsley Harriott cuppa soups Symington's up Dewsbury Rd "..Symington's manufactures all of the Ainsley Harriott range of dehydrated products, including Savoury Rice, Risotto, Dinner Kits, Amazing Grains, Cous Cous and Cup Soups.." At least I think they do it in Leeds?Woodrupp Chimerabelt drive, sealed hub, s&s couplings (folds), Reynolds 725 tubing.http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodrup_cy ... 6968678198    

Optare buses.Wharfedale speakers if it's still going.Leeds Brewery.

Hesco Concertainer (Helping to save our troops)

Airedale Air Conditioning World wide for cooling computer suites

Wharfedale speakers are still being made, Geordie-exile, but I don't think they are in Leeds. The original company was founded by Gilbert Briggs in Bradford in, I believe, the 1930s. Since the 50s or 60s the company has changed hands several times, moving to Crossgates in the 70s and 80s. They then moved back to Bradford (Idle - I took the woofers from my 1979 bought Teesdales back there for re-coning), but more recently have been owned by IAG, based in Shenzen China, who have a British operation at a site in Huntingdon Herts.I still have the speakers, which sound fine. Unfortunately the woofers had cone rolls which deteriorated and broke up after about eight years, so after three re-conings by Wharfedales' Crossgates and Idle factories I finally replaced them with some from Wilmslow Audio which (touch wood) seem to be much more durable.    

I would think 90% of the things that were made in Leeds in the past are no longer made here.Most of our industry has closed down we could start a thread of things that used to be made in Leeds i bet it would be a lot longer than made in Leeds now.

jim wrote: Wharfedale speakers are still being made, Geordie-exile, but I don't think they are in Leeds. The original company was founded by Gilbert Briggs in Bradford in, I believe, the 1930s. Since the 50s or 60s the company has changed hands several times, moving to Crossgates in the 70s and 80s. They then moved back to Bradford (Idle - I took the woofers from my 1979 bought Teesdales back there for re-coning), but more recently have been owned by IAG, based in Shenzen China, who have a British operation at a site in Huntingdon Herts.I still have the speakers, which sound fine. Unfortunately the woofers had cone rolls which deteriorated and broke up after about eight years, so after three re-conings by Wharfedales' Crossgates and Idle factories I finally replaced them with some from Wilmslow Audio which (touch wood) seem to be much more durable.     Thanks jim.

jim wrote: Wharfedale speakers are still being made, Geordie-exile, but I don't think they are in Leeds. The original company was founded by Gilbert Briggs in Bradford in, I believe, the 1930s. Since the 50s or 60s the company has changed hands several times, moving to Crossgates in the 70s and 80s. They then moved back to Bradford (Idle - I took the woofers from my 1979 bought Teesdales back there for re-coning), but more recently have been owned by IAG, based in Shenzen China, who have a British operation at a site in Huntingdon Herts.I still have the speakers, which sound fine. Unfortunately the woofers had cone rolls which deteriorated and broke up after about eight years, so after three re-conings by Wharfedales' Crossgates and Idle factories I finally replaced them with some from Wilmslow Audio which (touch wood) seem to be much more durable.     That brought back memories for Mrs Kango who used to solder and fit the circuit boards for the cross over units for wharfedale's speakers in Idle back in the 70sKango    

Geordie-exile wrote: Thanks jim. 1950s Goon Show:-Bluebottle:- "Eccles, who is that little man looking out of your top pocket?"Eccles:- (with great pride) "That is Little Jim."Bluebottle:- "Ohh. (pause) Can he talk? Ask him to say something."Eccles:- "Say something, Little Jim." Little Jim:- (indecipherable babbling noise, cross between a pre-speech child and a Clanger)Bluebottle:- "Eccles, I can't understand him, ask him what he said."Eccles: "What did you say, Little Jim?."Little Jim:- (more babble)Eccles:- "He says he can't understand him, either."(S. Milligan esq.)

Currently, now 'produced' here? Product or Service but "Made in Leeds"Optaire is a good one, forgot them.