Heenan, Beddow and Sturmey

Constructional and general engineers of Manchester and Willenhall

1937 Prospectus published to raise capital for a new business Heenan, Beddow and Sturmey Ltd established to acquire the Newton Heath part of Heenan and Froude, constructional engineers, as well as 2 old established businesses: Beddow and Sturmey Ltd of Willenhall (designer and manufacturer of locks), and C. H. Pinson and John Minors and Sons of Willenhall (manufacturer and retailer of locks) which had been carried on in association with Beddow and Sturmey. The issue was heavily oversubscribed.

WW2: work included howitzer shells, rocket-fired bombs, and craft used in connection with D-Day and the Mulberry Harbour.

1945 Strong business; government contracts dominated the business but civilian work would be taken on where there was capacity.

1946 Further improved financial position. Disposal of shares in Lane Fox and Co. All government work now completed.

1948 Good order book but business constrained by fuel crisis

1955 Dividend passed; not reinstated for many years

1964 Workload was well below capacity; small increase in orders would improve profitability without increasing overheads

1970 Take-over by merchant bank Innes Segal and Co

1970 Offer to purchase public unquoted company Standard Bottle

1970 Increase in authorised share capital. Change of name to Heenan Beddow. Existing constructional and general engineering activities transferred to subsidiary William Knott and Son who would take on the name Heenan, Beddow and Sturmey to preserve goodwill in that name.

1971 Acquired Rosedale Industries, maker of toys and other plastic goods

1972 Acquired W. and H. H. James and the remaining shares in Monmer Foundry not already owned by James

1972 Reverse take-over of Spark Holdings, an industrial holding company with interests in engineering, merchanting, textiles and printing, to form Heenan Spark

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