Old Leeds Firms

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 10 Feb, 2012 10:29 pm

EYRIE wrote: That'll be because Leeds seemed embarrassed by its manufacturing in the late 80s and many firms went to the wall to make way for call centres and banks.Such a shame. I worked at Howson-Algraphy in Seacroft for 17 years and always thought it was great that its only UK rival in printing plates was across the city at Horsell Graphics (later bought by Kodak and closed down). Howson's went Amercan with DuPont and then Belgian with Agfa. Hardly makes anything now - just a processor of stuff made elsewhere.I now work in the back of beyond......that's Goole to those who don't know! Were you there when it was just Wm Howson, in the little factories over the road by any chance?

EYRIE · Post by **EYRIE** » Fri 10 Feb, 2012 10:35 pm

Hi Chameleon,No - I only knew it as Howson Algraphy and it was part of Vickers when I joined in '86. They still had the old No2 and No3 factories as they were known, over the road on the Ring Rd and I worked in No3 factory until they started the strip it out and moved everything into the big site.Vickers sold out to DuPont so they could invest in defence systems at Barnbow and then Blair backed the Sedgefield Vickers Defence site and Barnbow lost out.

EYRIE · Post by **EYRIE** » Fri 10 Feb, 2012 10:55 pm

Does anyone know what happened to George Bray's on Leicester Place (the gas burner firm - not the bakers'). My dad worked there all of his life and an Italian firm took them over just before dad died in 2003.

book · Post by **book** » Sat 11 Feb, 2012 9:07 am

What happened to Peter Scott Engineering on Grape St, Hunslet. I think they made parts for missiles. It was opposite Hunslet Engine Works.

BJF · Post by **BJF** » Sat 11 Feb, 2012 4:53 pm

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/George_Bray_and_Co

EYRIE · Post by **EYRIE** » Mon 13 Feb, 2012 7:32 pm

Thanks for the Grace's guide on Geo. Bray's

col · Post by **col** » Tue 14 Feb, 2012 7:38 pm

HiI am looking for any information , memories and especially photos of Procter Bros., wireworks in Leeds.I have so far only seen 2 on leodis and would love photos of the clock or the ANYTHING IN WIRE sign on the building

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Wed 14 Mar, 2012 1:02 pm

Si · Post by Si » Wed 14 Mar, 2012 1:24 pm

Quote from Col:"HiI am looking for any information , memories and especially photos of Procter Bros., wireworks in Leeds.I have so far only seen 2 on leodis and would love photos of the clock or the ANYTHING IN WIRE sign on the building." I can't find a picture of Proctor's which shows the sign on Google Images, but there appears to be a band called "Anything In Wire" apparently based in Harrogate, so I'm guessing they got their name from this famous sign?

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Wed 14 Mar, 2012 1:25 pm

Leodian wrote: Dunlop & Ranken was a Leeds firm but there seems to be little information about it (or at least that I can find) such as when it closed. I wondered about the firm when a metal beam was exposed during the recent demolition of the old Alwoodley Motors Garage on King Lane. I took the photo on August 9 2011 during one of the many demolition days. The metal beam in the centre has "Dunlop and Ranken Leeds" on it. As the garage and its attached building appear in photos taken in 1938 in the Leodis website (I think the buildings may though be older than that, possibly the 1920's) then the beam will be old Dunlop & Ranken work. They closed around 1995 over several months when all their operations moved to Stourton on the Valley Park ind est.At this time they merged with what was B.T.S.(British Tubes Stockholding) and B.S.D.(British Steel Distribution,formerly Walkersteelstock,Steelstock,G.K.N.Steelstock who were based on Westland Rd,off Dewsbury Rd. in Beeston).This "progressive" merger turned out to be a disaster long term with the site closing over 2 years ago.A v.small regional distribution and sales team transferred up to Wortley at premises already owned by British Steel,but the vast majority were made redundant.Dunlop & Ranken (or D&R) were at one time a household name with their steel brochure being widely accepted as the ultimate steel buyers guidebook.They had belonged to British Steel(now Tata Steel) for many years prior to their demise and were the flagship distribution centre in the North of England and beyond.They had their own railway spurs at Whitehall Rd near to city centre and on site.Similarly B.T.S. had rail offload facilities in Stourton(unused many years by them) however the line is still maintained and I believe used by the Containerbase opposite.