Beck and Co

1881

June 1888. Water meters.

At Barrington Court, Somerset.

October 1949. Beckmaster.

Hydraulic engineers and meter makers, of 130 Great Suffolk Street, Southwark, London, SE

1822 John Beck moved to London from Rotherham, setting up business as general engineers in Great Suffolk Street

1837 Company founded.

1862 J. Beck exhibited Valves for gas, water, and steam; fire-cocks, etc.

1877 Beck and Co Ltd was incorporated, general engineers

c.1880 Thomas Angus Wheatley joined Beck

Wheatley secured the designs and patents of a new type of water meter which became a staple product for the company.

1881 Association with Clay Cross Co .

The business was largely concerned with water meters and valves

1888 Producers of Schonheyders Patent Positive Water Meter.

1912 A. Ronald Wheatley joined his father in the business

1914 Hydraulic and general engineers. Specialities: positive water meters, water, gas and steam fittings.

Ronald Wheatley developed the water pump design so that the company could produce a metering pump suitable for use with petrol.

1932 Began making electrically operated petrol pumps

From 1935 specialised in supply of "Beckmeter" petrol pumps, as well as valves, fittings, etc for the petroleum industry.

1939 Bought the gas mantle factory in Mitcham.

1948 Became public company. Ronald Wheatley was chairman

1953 A majority interest was acquired by Hattersley (Ormskirk)

1953 Formation of JV with Avery-Hardoll called Pump Maintenance Ltd., a nationwide petrol pump maintenance business.

1958 Wheatley retired

1960 Acquired Tuscan Engineering Co, maker of flame-proof motors

1961 Manufacturers of "Beckmeter" petrol pumps, petrol/oil mixing pumps, valves, oil and water meters. 500 employees.

1968 Became part of Pegler-Hattersley on its formation

1970 Beckmeter was grappling with the issues of decimalisation<ref>The Times July 6, 1970<ref>

See Also

• 1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class VIII.: J. Beck
• 1874 London: Engineers - Hydraulic
• 1882 North East Coast Exhibition
• 1883 Engineering Exhibition
• 1906 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Visits to Works
• 1914 Whitakers Red Book: E
• 1914 Who's Who in Business: Company B
• 1922 Who's Who In Engineering: Company B
• 1923 Public Works Roads and Transport Exhibition
• 1936 Motor Show
• 1937 Motor Show
• 1948 Motor Show
• 1949 Motor Show
• 1950 Motor Show
• 1951 Motor Show
• 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
• A. R. Wheatley
• Avery-Hardoll
• Beck and Co (Meters)
• Clifford Green
• Engineering 1924 Jan-Jun: Index: General Index
• Engineering 1927 Jan-Jun: Index: General Index
• George Barr
• Hattersley (Ormskirk)
• Henry Handoll
• Light Car and Cyclecar: 1932/09/02
• Pegler-Hattersley
• Pump Maintenance
• The Engineer 1861/06/14
• The Engineer 1882/10/13
• The Engineer 1883/07/27
• The Engineer 1883/08/10
• The Engineer 1884/04/11
• The Engineer 1886/04/30
• The Engineer 1895/10/04
• The Engineer 1899/05/26
• The Engineer 1903/05/08
• The Engineer 1906/03/23
• The Engineer 1910/04/01
• The Engineer 1923/12/14
• Tuscan Engineering Co
• Walter Edward Butcher

Sources of Information

[[Category: Weighing and Testing Machinery[[