Forgrove Machinery Co

Wrapping machinery for margarine at the Olympia Oil and Cake Co.

Wrapping machinery for margarine at the Olympia Oil and Cake Co.

Forgrove Machinery Co, makers of packaging machinery, of Leeds.

1897 Andrew Forbes and Frederick Grover developed a machine for wrapping soap bars but it was not successful; nor did it succeed for butterscotch but eventually it was found that it worked well with moulded chocolate.

1901 Forgrove Machinery Co Ltd was established, named after the founders.

1901 Automatic wrapping machine

1904 Moved to larger premises at Admiral St, Dewsbury Rd, Leeds.

WWI Sub-contracted work on munitions but also built 80 wrapping machines

1922 Employees: 90. Directors: Frederick Grover A.M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E. (Managing), J. W. Bennett A. R. Barfoot, W. O. Bennett, A.M.I.C.E., G. R. Bennett.

1928 Baker, Perkins, who were selling Forgrove machines at home and abroad, took a minority interest in the company.

WWII Made gun-sights and breech mechanisms, and later the Polsten machine gun.

1943 Amalgamation with Baker, Perkins

1944 Started return to production of packaging machines

1950 Extra factory at Gateshead; total of 700 employees

1958 Development of Flowpak suitable for ice lollies

1961 Baker, Perkins acquired Rose Brothers (Gainsborough)

1967 Baker, Perkins brought together all of its packaging machinery businesses in Rose Forgrove Ltd.

1985 Forgrove Machinery was renamed Baker Perkins BCS Ltd

1988 Renamed APV Baker FES Ltd

See Also

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Sources of Information

• History of Forgrove Machinery Co [1]