Osram
1905 Hugo Hirst learnt of the development of Tungsten filaments for lamps in Austria-Hungary, went to investigate and acquired rights[1].
1906, the Osram incandescent lamp was developed; its name was formed from the German words OSmium, from the element osmium, and WolfRAM, from the element tungsten (called Wolfram in many languages and an alternative name in English).
GEC imported Osram filaments from Germany for their own production of light bulbs[2].
1906/7 GEC established a factory in U.K. to manufacture lamps, Osram Lamp Works, having offered one-third shares to the Austrian and German patent holders[3].
1908 Advertisement for Osram lamps by GEC [4]
1909 Factory at Hammersmith completed; quality of the product as good as that from the Continent[5]
1911 The Deutschen Gasgluhlicht AG (Berlin), which manufactured the Osram lamp in Germany and is "considerably interested" in the Osram works in London and Paris, made an offer for the Welsbach Incandescent Gas Light Co[6]
1912 GEC's investments included the Lamp Works at Hammersmith, one of a number of enterprises which was directed or controlled by GEC[7].
Before the War, Lemington Glass Works (Lemington-on-Tyne) supplied about 80% of the electric light bulbs and tubing used by Osram-Robertson Lamp Works[8].
WWI: installed 2 new regenerative gas-furnaces to increase the capacity substantially[9].
1915 The large German shareholding in the Osram Lamp Works Ltd had provoked negative press treatment. Hugo Hirst, the Chairman of GEC, told the company meeting of GEC that a way had been found that would give future control of the works into British hands, he trusted for ever[10]. Osram Lamp Works, Robertson Lamp Works and Lemington Glass works were amalgamated by GEC[11].
1917 GEC was part owner of the Osram-Robertson Lamp Works Ltd and had managed the Works since opening. Purchased further shares in Osram-Robertson Lamp Works Ltd [12].
1919 GEC took over Osram, including the Osram-Robertson Lamp Works[13].
In 1920, Auergesellschaft, Siemens & Halske, and Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG) combined their electric lamp production with the formation of the German company Osram (which is now part of Siemens AG).
1921 Osram GEC Lamp Works at Hammersmith
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ History of GEC http://gechistory.org/index.php/people/hugo-hirst?start=3
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osram
- ↑ History of GEC http://gechistory.org/index.php/people/hugo-hirst?start=3
- ↑ The Times, Wednesday, Nov 25, 1908
- ↑ The Times, 23 July 1909
- ↑ The Times, 2 Mar 1911
- ↑ The Times, 10 July 1912
- ↑ Glass-Making in England, by H. J. Powell
- ↑ Glass-Making in England, by H. J. Powell
- ↑ The Times, 10 July 1915
- ↑ History of GEC http://gechistory.org/index.php/people/hugo-hirst?start=3
- ↑ The Times, 18 July 1917
- ↑ The Times, Thursday, Jul 10, 1919