Avimo
Avimo of Herbert Street, Taunton, Somerset. Telephone: Taunton 3634. Cables: "Avimo, Taunton"
1937/9 Company formed[1] to manufacture Bronzavia aircraft equipment under licence.
See Aircraft Industry Suppliers
1947 British Industries Fair Advert for Cameras and Equipment for Research Work. Manufacturers of Optical, Mechanical, Electrical Instruments. Aeronautical Instruments, High Speed Continuous Film Cameras, Cinematograph Cameras, Film Assessors and Projectors. Cathode Ray Recording Equipment, Film Scanning Microscopes, Lenses, Prisms, Reflectors, Scientific Research Instruments. (Scientific and Optical Section - Olympia, Ground Floor, Stand No. E.1798) [2]
1954 Avimo of Taunton. Manufacturers of pressure heads for use with airspeed indicators; pipe couplings for coolant, oil and fuel pipe lines, cameras, cathode-ray recording instruments, oxygen regulators, gyros and special aircraft equipment; film assessors and analysers; electronic apparatus. Directors: H. W. Martin (Chairman)', Air Cdre. B. C. H. Drew, C.M.G., C.V.O., C.B.E.; Col. V. C. Steer-Webster, O.B.E. (Managing). General Manager: E. A. Doran. Head Office and Works: Taunton, Somerset. T.: Taunton 3634-5. T.A.: Avimo Taunton.[3]
1971 Avimo then sold 2 subsidiaries (Mayflower Automotive Products and Avimo Telecommunications) to Fairey Aviation Co. The deal leaves Avimo free to concentrate on production of optical and electronic instruments.[4] Acquired by United Scientific Holdings[5]
1989 United Scientific Holdings announced loss due to problems at Avimo[6].
1992 USH's electro-optic businesses was transferred to the Avimo Singapore subsidiary.
2000 Maker of infra-red cameras and thermal imaging systems. Acquired by Thomson-CSF
2001 The company became Thales Optronics (Taunton) Ltd, part of the Thales Group. [7].
Production ended c.2007.