Bentley Engineering Co
Makers of industrial knitting machines
1910 The company was formed as the Earth Driven Clock Co by Mr. P. A. Bentley, manufacturing the earth-driven clocks and scientific instruments invented by him in 1911.[1]
1912-14 During the manufacture of earth-driven clocks, the pedograde machine, which had been patented by Mr. Harry Church, was redesigned and perfected. See Pedograde Co. The manufacture of this instrument called for modern methods of production and scientific construction, among which was the provision of a Vernier scale reading. The importance of three-point contacts was also realized. The machine was employed for accurate measurements of feet to provide data to determine the measurements of footwear. At that time Mr. Bentley also designed a magneto with magnets so arranged that a much greater spark was produced than hitherto.
WWI The firm was engaged in research for the production of accurate screw gauges; it then concentrated on the production of both male and female screw gauges, which were used in all branches of munitions production for the Army, Navy, and Air Force; the company was employed on this work up to the last year of the War. Consultations were held at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, to enable corrections to be carried out to a high degree of accuracy.
In connexion with this work, which confirmed the great accuracy of the gauge system, it was found necessary to introduce a new system for checking not only dimensions, but also shapes and forms of all types of threads. This method was the means of introducing the projection system of shadow values, which again entailed the solution of many problems and much perseverance, before it was perfected.
1916 The name of the firm was changed to that of Bentley Engineering to manufacture "earth-driven clocks" and scientific instruments invented by Mr. Bentley. Larger and more up-to-date premises were obtained.
Post-War: Introduced a fully automatic hose, half-hose, and sock machine making products with seamless-ribs
The success of the hosiery machine made it necessary to move to larger premises again.
1934 the business was made into a private limited liability company: Bentley Engineering Group.
1935 Acquired the business of Messrs. T. Grieve and Company, Ltd. to manufacture hosiery latch needles.
1945 Issue of preference and ordinary shares[2]; subsidiary companies were:
- William Cotton Ltd
- George Blackburn and Sons Ltd
- T. Grieve and Company Ltd
- W. Hammond and Sons (Bearded Needles) Ltd
- J. T. and C. Grudgings Ltd
- Economic Stampings Ltd
- George Woodcock and Sons Ltd
and an associated company Bentley Martin Ground Form Cutter Co.
1949 Acquired Wildt and Co[3]
1950 The company acquired the Clarendon Engineering Co, which was on the point of going into liquidation. The sale included the recently-opened factory in Parker Drive, Leicester, which covered 80,000 square feet.[4]
1954 Acquired Mellor, Bromley and Co[5]. Issue of shares to raise funds for this. Charles Clore was a director as a result of his company owning a considerable number of shares in the company[6]. Additional subsidiaries were:
- Pegson Ltd of Coalville
- L. Tansey and Co of Nuneaton
- Brown and Green of Luton.
1954 Was a subsidiary of Haverton Holdings when J. Sears and Co (True-Form Boot Co) Ltd acquired Haverton Holdings[7]
1955 Sears Holdings acquired the outstanding shares in the company[8]
1961 Manufacturers of hosiery machinery. 1,270 employees. [9]
1968 Queen's Award to Industry for Export Achievement [10]
1974 The downturn in the market for knitting machinery hit Bentley's profits[11]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ I Mech E visit to works 1934
- ↑ The Times, Sep 05, 1945
- ↑ The Times, Jul 20, 1949
- ↑ Leicester Daily Mercury 16 March 1950
- ↑ The Times, Mar 20, 1954
- ↑ The Times, Aug 12, 1954
- ↑ The Times, Sep 15, 1954
- ↑ The Times, May 16, 1956
- ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- ↑ The Engineer 1968/04/26 p650
- ↑ The Times May 01, 1974