Griffin and George
of Ealing Road, Alperton, Wembley, London, manufacturer/supplier of science teaching apparatus and other laboratory equipment
1954 Merger of W. and J. George and Becker and Standley, Belcher and Mason based in Ealing Road, Alperton with branch offices in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow, Edinburgh. A subsidiary, Griffin and George India Private Ltd., had a factory in Bombay, offices in New Delhi, Calcutta and Madras.
1954 Merger of Griffin and Tatlock with W. and J. George and Becker Ltd to become Griffin and George Ltd.
NIVOC & MICROID names were retained for basic lab essentials, glasswares, retort stands etc. (NIVOC) and education (MICROID) particularly items designed for the Nuffield curriculum
1954 Issued first catalogue of scientific instruments[1]
1958-1973 Traded at Wembley
By 1960s had acquired R. and J. Beck maker of microscopes
1960 Won order from Russia for 13 gas-liquid chromatography apparatus[2]
1961 Formed Engineering Laboratory Equipment, a joint venture with Soil Mechanics Ltd
1964 Advertised themselves as being the world largest laboratory equipment and chemical wholesalers. By this time there are a lot of products listed made by Fisher Scientific of the USA
1966 Cut-backs at the Plymouth factory[3]
1972 Acquired by Gallenkamp, a similar size business in the laboratory instrument field[4]
1977 Gallenkamp was acquired by Fisons
Griffin and George Ltd, together with T. Gerrard & Co., formed the Education Group of Fisons Scientific Equipment Division.
By 1984 was part of the scientific division of Fisons Ltd[5]
1999 Company closed.
A collection of their products is held by the London Science Museum.[6]
See Also
Sources of Information
- Science Museum collection
- Biography of John Griffin, ODNB [2]