Grace's Guide
British Industrial History
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 130,448 pages of information and 207,488 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.
Parkinson and W. and B. Cowan
From Graces Guide
1900 On 16th November Parkinson and W. and B. Cowan was incorporated as a public company[1], manufacturers of gas meters and other gas apparatus, being the amalgamation of 2 of the oldest firms in this business: W. and B. Cowan Ltd of London, Manchester, Edinburgh and New South Wales, and W. Parkinson Ltd of London and Birmingham[2].
1925 Offer of shares to the public[3].
1925 Having been developing electric meters for some time, it was expected these would soon be generating profits for the company.
1925 Parkinson and W. and B. Cowan owned 98% of the shares in the Gas Meter Co which in turn had a minority interest in the Diaphragm and General Leather Co Ltd[4].
1928 The company was renamed Parkinson and Cowan - new shares quoted[5].