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stay in business for 100 years is truly a great achievement,
but to do it in a century that has seen such unprecedented social
and technological change is almost a miracle. Yet through all
that the century could throw at it, including two world wars,
Furse has remained a constant force in an unpredictable world.
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It
started in 1893 when William Joseph Furse (pictured,
left) acquired the premises and steeplejacking business
of Joshua Till on Burton Street in Nottingham. Starting
with one employee, Mr Furse improved and expanded the
business. Recognising at an early stage the growing importance
of electricity, he diversified into electrical installation,
and opened a workshop in Goldsmith Place for the manufacture
of switchgear and components. |
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next seven years to the turn of the century saw a relocation
to Traffic Street, and the further development of the
business into a multi-disciplined engineering concern,
adding lift and theatre equipment manufacture and
installation to its existing activities. |
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The first quarter of the new century including the years of
the Great War 1914-1918 saw a continuation of the company's
growth with electrical installation subsidiaries opened in Manchester
and London, and a steeplejacking branch also in Manchester.
The company was incorporated in 1912 as W J Furse & Co Ltd with
the founder as chairman, and his sons W F Furse and H J Furse
as directors.
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In
1926 Furse Wholesale Ltd was set up as a subsidiary
of the main company, to handle trade sales of electrical
equipment. In 1927 the Refrigeration Division was formed
to sell the 'Frigidaire' range of products. |
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William Joseph Furse died in 1937. His son W F Furse became
group chairman and Managing Director.
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Throughout
the Second World War, the company was heavily involved
in war work which fuelled considerable growth.
By the early 1950's Furse was ready to expand again, and
new offices and stores were built at Wilford Road for
the Steeplejack Division. This was followed in 1954 by
relocation of the foundry from Traffic Street to Wilford
Road. |
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In
1958 the company was acquired by E V Industrials Ltd,
who in turn sold their interests in the organisation to
Crown House in 1967. The following years under
Crown House were a stable, but not uneventful period. |
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Furse Electrical Contracting was merged with other interests
within the Crown House Group to form Crown House Engineering.
In 1972 the refrigeration division was closed down, and the
following year, Peerless Engineering was acquired. |
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Mr
J K Furse, the last member of the Furse family to be connected
with the company, retired in 1977.
Also in that year, Furse Power Products Ltd (formerly
Furse Wholesale Ltd) was merged with other interests to
form National Electrical Supplies Co Ltd later becoming
Best and May, and now Senate. |
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The later 1980's and early 1990's were a turbulent time for
Furse. In 1987, the organisation changed hands twice, as first
Coloroll Plc and then Thomas Robinson Group took control. Coloroll
had taken over the whole of the Crown House Group in order to
obtain its tableware interests. The engineering companies within
the group were quickly sold on, with Furse finding a buyer in
the rapidly growing Thomas Robinson Group, based in Derby.
Robinson's saw the need to create three separate companies from
the three divisions of W J Furse and from January 1988, Lift
Division became Furse Lifts Ltd, Steeplejack Division became
Furse Specialist Contracting Ltd, and Engineering Division retained
the original company name of W J Furse & Co Ltd. Theatre Products
was sold off to CCT in the following year, but Thomas Robinson
commenced a £2m programme of investment in the rest of the Furse
organisation including a new computer system, production equipment
and building improvements. Furse Lifts Ltd was acquired by Thyssen
Lifts and Escalators, the UK arm of a German based company.
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At
the beginning of the 1990's the UK slipped into recession, and
the fortunes of the Thomas Robinson Group changed for the worse.
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| In
June 1991 W J Furse & Co Ltd and Furse Specialist Contracting
Ltd were acquired by East Midlands Electricity Plc,
a UK regional electricity company. |
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EME afforded W J Furse their full support and encouraged the
company's ambitious investment program in new and improved manufacturing
facilities.
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Since
1998 Furse have been a part of the Thomas & Betts corporation.
Thomas & Betts, based in Memphis, USA, are a world leader
in the supply of electrical components. CLICK
HERE for the Thomas & Betts web site.
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| Over
100 years after the firms inception, the Furse name continues
to be synonymous with innovative engineering and management
success, and stands as a tribute to its founder. |
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