Ingersoll
of Ingersoll Building, 223-7 Saint John Street, London, EC1
1905 Establishment of the London House of Ingersoll[1] by Mr Estee Stowell Daniells and Mr Robert H. Ingersoll as a branch of the Ingersoll Watch Co of USA.[2]
Note: The Ingersoll Watch Company was established in New York City by brothers Robert H. Ingersoll and Charles Ingersoll. They embarked on mass producing affordable high quality watches in the 1890s. [3]
WWI Introduced the first inexpensive wrist watch for the Services
1921 Ingersoll Watch Co Ltd moved from temporary premises in Regent's Street, London to Kingsway[4]
1930 Ingersoll Ltd formed, a British company, to acquire the business of the Ingersoll Watch Co Ltd in Britain, Northern Ireland and Europe, importers and dealers in Ingersoll watches. Planned move head office to Clerkenwell.[5]
1937 Watch and clock manufacturers. [6]
WWII Produced radio components and aero-engine parts, including patented inventions.
1944 Acquired the Ingersoll Watch Co's business in Eire[7]
1946 Ingersoll Ltd was a British controlled company. Having had business links with Switzerland for many years, it was developing a national capability for watch manufacture, with government support. A factory had been built in South Wales for Anglo Celtic Watch Co, which was jointly owned with Smiths English Clocks and Vickers-Armstrong Ltd. These 3 partners were also involved in a factory in the Team Valley. The watch repair service for private customers was being re-established after the war. Had acquired Crusader Watch Co from Adie Brothers of Birmingham. The company had also developed and patented a design of lock which it was preparing to bring into production[8] - see Ingersoll Locks
1954 Negotiations were in progress for the sale of its interests in the subsidiaries Serco Ltd and A. Boucher (Metals). Sale of the Ruislip premises, following the move back to London[9]
1957 Intended to sell Ingersoll Locks in order to concentrate on clocks and watches[10]
1977 Acquired by Heron Corporation; the business would now concentrate on digital watches using imported components to be sold through conventional channels such as jewellers[11]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times May 2, 1956
- ↑ The Times July 20, 1960
- ↑ [1] Ingersoll 1892 website
- ↑ The Times Mar. 23, 1921
- ↑ The Times Mar. 24, 1930
- ↑ 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- ↑ The Times Mar. 31, 1945
- ↑ The Times , Apr. 9, 1946
- ↑ Western Mail 29 September 1954
- ↑ The Times May 6, 1957
- ↑ The Times July 9, 1977