Qualcast
of Derby
1801 Company founded.
1920 Private company. The first Qualcast mowers were made by Derwent Foundry of Derby
1928 Company made public. Qualcast Ltd was formed as a separate company.
1937 Ironfounders. "Qualcast" Grey Iron Castings. [1]
1938 Absorbed Follows and Bate of Manchester, makers of handmowers
1958 Acquired H. Kaufmann, Suffolk-based lawnmower maker
By 1960 had acquired Suffolk Iron Foundry (1920) Ltd, maker of Suffolk Punch lawnmowers[2]; Sifbronze was a trading division.
1961 Ironfounders and manufacturers of lawn mowers, kitchen furniture, lightweight tubular chairs, carpet sweepers, domestic appliances, pottery, jigs and tools and general engineering. 5,000 employees. [3]
1963 Motor Show exhibitor. Ferrous die castings. [4]
1965 Acquired Charles H. Pugh Ltd, maker of the Atco Mowers.
1967 Merger of Birmid Industries and Qualcast to form the public company Birmid Qualcast[5].
1982 Specialised in brake and tractor part product ranges.[6]
1988 The Birmid Qualcast group was acquired by Blue Circle who sold off the foundry divisions[7].
1991 The Derby site was closed with all activities transferred to Stowmarket. Atco-Qualcast was formed but the famous brand names were protected.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- ↑ The Times, Apr 09, 1960
- ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- ↑ 1963 Motor Show
- ↑ The Times, 14 February 1967
- ↑ The Engineer 1982/03/04
- ↑ Qualcast website [1]