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Other Pye Sites
Other Pye Sites
When Germany began bombing cities and industrial sites many firms were pressured by the Government to set up ‘shadow’ factories in the North and West of England and in Wales.
When Germany began bombing cities and industrial sites many firms were pressured by the Government to set up ‘shadow’ factories in the North and West of England and in Wales.
Pye refused, but instead diversified into towns and villages all around East Anglia (Royston, Sawston, Kings Lynn, Lowestoft, Leiston, Swafham, Mildenhall, etc.)
Pye refused, but instead diversified into towns and villages all around East Anglia (Royston, Sawston, Kings Lynn, Lowestoft, Leiston, Swafham, Mildenhall, etc.)
A dispersed work-force of 14,000 workers produced the Pye equipment and sub-assemblies in village halls and other buildings (e.g. Sawston Bakery) for transportation to Cambridge for testing and despatch.
A dispersed work-force of 14,000 workers produced the Pye equipment and sub-assemblies in village halls and other buildings (e.g. Sawston Bakery) for transportation to Cambridge for testing and despatch.
Tanks were shipped by rail to Pye in Royston to have their WS 19 radios fitted.
Tanks were shipped by rail to Pye in Royston to have their WS 19 radios fitted.
The Pye "factory" in a bakery in Sawston village, Cambridgeshire during WW2.
As a consequence, when peace finally came, Pye had a trained and skilled workforce of almost 15,000 people ready to staff its factories. Factories not only in the city of Cambridge but also in many parts of the UK and overseas. Here are a few of them.
As a consequence, when peace finally came, Pye had a trained and skilled workforce of almost 15,000 people ready to staff its factories. Factories not only in the city of Cambridge but also in many parts of the UK and overseas. Here are a few of them.
Over the years the Pye business thrived and it developed into a truly global company.
Over the years the Pye business thrived and it developed into a truly global company.
Malmesbury
It was the government’s industrial relocation policy at the time of WW2 that brought EKCO to Malmesbury. A group of EKCO employees from Southend working on radar took up residence in the High St and that was later followed by the purchase of Cowbridge House over the hill on the road to Wootton Bassett by the company in 1940. During the war, production of radar equipment and radio sets was undertaken and these continued in the post war years. In 1946, work on nucleonic equipment began on the site.
Post war, In 1948, “Thermotube” heating products were introduced - convectors, storage heaters, fan heaters - and manufactured alongside the new military radio products and radiation meters.
During the 1950s, Ekco produced further radio sets and a number of radar systems for military use. It also supplied weather radars for a variety of civil aircraft, including years later in 1965 the Concorde 1.
In 1958, the range of EKCO heating equipment, which had steadily expanded over the years, was extended by the addition of a complete range of domestic reflector fires. The heating range was further supplemented by the addition of EKCO 'Warmglow' electric blankets as the result of the acquisition of the old established Warmglow Company Ltd. in Leigh on Sea. When the military and radar products moved back to Southend and a new factory in Rochford in 1959/60, heating products continued to be produced and were the backbone of the activity during the 60s. It is reported that there were 742 employees in 1960.
In 1960 Pye Ltd took over both the Southend based EKCO group and The Telephone Manufacturing Company (TMC) based in Kent. These takeovers were destined in due course to have a large impact at Malmesbury.
Initially, however, both EKCO and PYE continued to trade as separate entities with their own products. At that time, EKCO Heating and Electricity Ltd was a profitable business with its range of domestic heaters and heating equipment for horticulture, industry and marine use.
In 1974/5, under the influence of Philips Electrical Industries, which had taken over Pye in 1967, TMC closed its manufacturing activity in Dulwich and moved its headquarters, marketing and development activities to Malmesbury.. The site was very little changed from EKCO days, with pre 1939 and Second World War buildings still in use, including the Tower, which was originally used for testing radar in the 1940s. Many of the old buildings were demolished and replaced by modern labs and offices.The bulk of TMC’s production was transferred to an existing Pye factory in Airdrie.
Pye TMC, as it was then known, became a part of the Philips Telecoms and Data Systems Product Division. Another Philips business, the Hilversum based Public Switching group set up a software development team on the site (PRX). In 1984, this Philips business went in to partnership with AT&T (later spun out to become Lucent Technologies), before selling out to Lucent 3 years later.
The (eventual) liberalization of the UK telecoms market brought a boom time and British Telecom was an eager customer for TMC’s small private switching products and handsets as it tried to consolidate its hold on the UK market.
The privatization of BT in the mid-80s and the arrival in the UK of international competitors brought with it tougher conditions. In 1986 it was decided to move the TMC activities from Malmesbury to Scotland to be closer to the production facility at Aidrie and a site at Bishopbriggs to the north of Glasgow was found.
Lucent Technologies continued operating at Malmesbury until 2002 when it moved its existing 150 staff to Swindon.
Larne
Larne
Strong demand following the end of the war meant that additional manufacturing facilities were needed.
Strong demand following the end of the war meant that additional manufacturing facilities were needed.
Under the Industrial Development Act, companies were offered grants, premises and equipment to attract new industries to Northern Ireland and this was an influential factor in Pye setting up Corran Works Ltd in Larne, Co. Antrim.
Under the Industrial Development Act, companies were offered grants, premises and equipment to attract new industries to Northern Ireland and this was an influential factor in Pye setting up Corran Works Ltd in Larne, Co. Antrim.
Established in 1947 for the mass production of domestic radio receivers, and later car radios, by the 1960s it was a major presence in the town with over 1000 people employed, about half on component manufacture and half on receiver assembly.
Established in 1947 for the mass production of domestic radio receivers, and later car radios, by the 1960s it was a major presence in the town with over 1000 people employed, about half on component manufacture and half on receiver assembly.
Components made in the factory included plastics mouldings, pressed metal parts, printed circuit boards, printed scales and dials and all types of coil and transformer.
Components made in the factory included plastics mouldings, pressed metal parts, printed circuit boards, printed scales and dials and all types of coil and transformer.
Like all Pye sites, it had a very active sports and social side, as evidenced by the Facebook site, “Memories of Larne.”
Like all Pye sites, it had a very active sports and social side, as evidenced by the Facebook site, “Memories of Larne.”
Cross-channel transport costs and increasing competition from Japanese manufacturers put pressure on the operation in Larne and after some years of uncertainty, it closed in 1965.
Cross-channel transport costs and increasing competition from Japanese manufacturers put pressure on the operation in Larne and after some years of uncertainty, it closed in 1965.
It is interesting to note that in 1960 C.O. Stanley said that “the cost of making the same output in Larne and shipping it through Liverpool was £80,000 more than at Cambridge, where the wages were similar”. How times change!
It is interesting to note that in 1960 C.O. Stanley said that “the cost of making the same output in Larne and shipping it through Liverpool was £80,000 more than at Cambridge, where the wages were similar”. How times change!
Corram Works, Bay Rd, Larne
Corram Works, Bay Rd, Larne
Lowestoft
Lowestoft
In 1952, Pye opened a new factory to meet the growing demand for television, and transferred all TV manufacture from Cambridge.
In 1952, Pye opened a new factory to meet the growing demand for television, and transferred all TV manufacture from Cambridge.
At it’s peak, some 3500 staff were employed there and at its satellite sites.
At it’s peak, some 3500 staff were employed there and at its satellite sites.
After the Philips takeover, the new owners didn’t want two UK television factories, so Lowestoft was closed in 1982 and production moved to Croydon.
After the Philips takeover, the new owners didn’t want two UK television factories, so Lowestoft was closed in 1982 and production moved to Croydon.
Sanyo took over the site but they in turn shifted production and closed the site in 2009.
Sanyo took over the site but they in turn shifted production and closed the site in 2009.
Southend
Southend
Eric K Cole’s Southend factory, which made TVs and Radios, grew substantially after the war.
Eric K Cole’s Southend factory, which made TVs and Radios, grew substantially after the war.
By 1958, it employed around 5000 employees there, not just on TV production but in a range of other activities including a large plastics factory, measuring instruments and avionics.
By 1958, it employed around 5000 employees there, not just on TV production but in a range of other activities including a large plastics factory, measuring instruments and avionics.
In 1960 Pye took over Ekco but had closed the factory by the end 1971.
In 1960 Pye took over Ekco but had closed the factory by the end 1971.
The site was taken over by ACCESS to process credit card transactions.
The site was taken over by ACCESS to process credit card transactions.
Linton
Linton
Founded in 1953, Cathodeon Crystals moved to this factory in 1960.
Founded in 1953, Cathodeon Crystals moved to this factory in 1960.
It made quartz crystals, crystal filters and crystal oscillators for the radio communications industry.
It made quartz crystals, crystal filters and crystal oscillators for the radio communications industry.
At its peak it employed 550 staff.
At its peak it employed 550 staff.
It became part of Cambridge Electronic Industries in 1981.
It became part of Cambridge Electronic Industries in 1981.
Due to the falling demand for quartz crystals, the company closed in 1989.
Due to the falling demand for quartz crystals, the company closed in 1989.
Haverhill
Haverhill
Haverhill, a London overspill town, offered incentives to companies setting up there.
Haverhill, a London overspill town, offered incentives to companies setting up there.
Pye Telecom opened its third factory there in the 1957 as demand for its products rose.
Pye Telecom opened its third factory there in the 1957 as demand for its products rose.
It employed nearly 400 staff, producing microwave, mobiles and fixed stations.
It employed nearly 400 staff, producing microwave, mobiles and fixed stations.
Three Works Buses brought many employees into work from surrounding areas.
Three Works Buses brought many employees into work from surrounding areas.
As new technology seriously reduced the need for product assembly staff, Telecom closed the factory in 1984.
As new technology seriously reduced the need for product assembly staff, Telecom closed the factory in 1984.
Newmarket
Newmarket
Pye established three companies in Newmarket, all in a row down Exning Road.
Pye established three companies in Newmarket, all in a row down Exning Road.
Magnetic Devices, later Pye Electro Devices, was formed in 1949 and made relays, solenoids and switches.
Magnetic Devices, later Pye Electro Devices, was formed in 1949 and made relays, solenoids and switches.
Newmarket Transistors (shown here) was set up in 1955 as transistors began to be universally used.
Newmarket Transistors (shown here) was set up in 1955 as transistors began to be universally used.
Varelco made connectors.
Varelco made connectors.
Between them, they employed nearly 700 staff, making them probably Newmarket’s biggest employer.
Between them, they employed nearly 700 staff, making them probably Newmarket’s biggest employer.
They each became part of Cambridge Electronic Industries in 1981 but have since been sold.
They each became part of Cambridge Electronic Industries in 1981 but have since been sold.
New Zealand
New Zealand
Australia
Australia
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