The Pyrene Company Limited
Encyclopedia
The Pyrene Company Limited from their beginning in 1914, until 1971 when they became Chubb Fire Security
Limited, were among the world's leaders in the manufacture of fire fighting
equipment. The name Pyrene was epitomised by their famous 'pump' extinguisher which was installed on public transport, commercial and private vehicles throughout the western world.
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A British offshoot, The Pyrene Company Limited was founded in 1914 when Wallace B Phillips, an American businessman set up in Great Queen Street, London, selling 'pump' extinguishers. The company moved to Grosvenor Gardens, London in 1918, and then to Stoke Newington
in 1920, where a factory to manufacture soda-acid and foam fire extinguishers was established.
The London General Omnibus Company awarded Pyrene the contract for its fire extinguishers in 1924.
In 1927, a metal-finishing division was established, which developed the Parkerizing
process for metal rust-proofing.
Pyrene moved to a new Art Deco style factory in 1930, located on the Great West Road
, Brentford
and established the concept of major fire demonstrations with the construction of a massive demonstration ground behind the Brentford factory, to simulate an oil storage depot.
Pyrene Phomene installations were fitted to many ships during the 1930s, and the 'car bumper' division became well established and by 1960 was producing around one third of the car bumpers used in the UK motor industry.
1931 saw the company’s equipment providing protection for such events as Brooklands, the RAF Pageant Hendon, and the Tidworth and Aldershot Tattoos.
The liner Queen Mary
was protected by the installation of a Pyrene foam fire-fighting system in 1933.
During World War II, Pyrene designed and manufactured ARP equipment for ordnance factories, industry and power stations. Expansion was rapid with the war-time demand for fire-fighting equipment, and production of projectiles. A major contract was one from the Air Ministry to supply airfield crash tenders.
In 1950, a new factory was opened in Ferndale, South Wales
for the manufacture of fire extinguishers.
The Pyrene Manufacturing Company of Canada, the CO2 Equipment Company of Canada and the American Pyrene Company were all acquired during 1953-54.
During 1955, the now world-famous FB5X foam making branch pipe was introduced, and the Pyrene ED-HOL system in ships, which recycled the ship's own inert exhaust gases to fight fires in the hold, was developed. Over the years Pyrene fire fighting systems were installed in a number of the world's largest passenger liners including the Queen Elizabeth, Oriana and Empress of Britain.
The fire extinguisher manufacturer Minimax Limited
, was purchased by Pyrene in 1955.
Important contracts undertaken by the company during the late 1950s included, a smoke detection system at the BBC Lime Grove Studios
in London, smoke detectors for the Bristol Britannia
aircraft, CO2 fire-fighting systems for a number of British Rail
diesel locomotive
s, and supplying fire detection and CO2 systems for Lloyds of London.
In 1959, Pyrene acquired the safety product business of Panorama Equipment, and traded as Pyrene Panorama.
Pyrene was taken over by Chubb and Sons
in 1967 and continued to operate under the name Pyrene until 1971 when Chubb Fire Security Limited was formed. In that same year a Bristol Britannia
aircraft landed on a carpet of Pyrene foam at Manston
piloted by Donald Chubb.
Chubb Security
Chubb Security is an electronic security and fire safety business. It is owned by United Technologies Corporation.-History:The Company was founded by Charles and Jeremiah Chubb, who patented their Chubb detector lock in 1818. Apparently the Prince Regent accidentally sat on a Chubb lock complete...
Limited, were among the world's leaders in the manufacture of fire fighting
Fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment...
equipment. The name Pyrene was epitomised by their famous 'pump' extinguisher which was installed on public transport, commercial and private vehicles throughout the western world.
Company history
In 1907, a Scottish engineer unable to get financial backing in the UK took his idea for a fire extinguisher to the USA. He set up what became known as the Pyrene Company of Delaware in 1909.A British offshoot, The Pyrene Company Limited was founded in 1914 when Wallace B Phillips, an American businessman set up in Great Queen Street, London, selling 'pump' extinguishers. The company moved to Grosvenor Gardens, London in 1918, and then to Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
in 1920, where a factory to manufacture soda-acid and foam fire extinguishers was established.
The London General Omnibus Company awarded Pyrene the contract for its fire extinguishers in 1924.
In 1927, a metal-finishing division was established, which developed the Parkerizing
Parkerizing
Parkerizing is a method of protecting a steel surface from corrosion and increasing its resistance to wear through the application of an electrochemical phosphate conversion coating...
process for metal rust-proofing.
Pyrene moved to a new Art Deco style factory in 1930, located on the Great West Road
Golden Mile (Brentford)
The Golden Mile is the name given to a stretch of the Great West Road north of Brentford running west from the western boundary of Chiswick in London, United Kingdom.It was so called due to the concentration of industry along this short stretch of road...
, Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
and established the concept of major fire demonstrations with the construction of a massive demonstration ground behind the Brentford factory, to simulate an oil storage depot.
Pyrene Phomene installations were fitted to many ships during the 1930s, and the 'car bumper' division became well established and by 1960 was producing around one third of the car bumpers used in the UK motor industry.
1931 saw the company’s equipment providing protection for such events as Brooklands, the RAF Pageant Hendon, and the Tidworth and Aldershot Tattoos.
The liner Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
was protected by the installation of a Pyrene foam fire-fighting system in 1933.
During World War II, Pyrene designed and manufactured ARP equipment for ordnance factories, industry and power stations. Expansion was rapid with the war-time demand for fire-fighting equipment, and production of projectiles. A major contract was one from the Air Ministry to supply airfield crash tenders.
In 1950, a new factory was opened in Ferndale, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
for the manufacture of fire extinguishers.
The Pyrene Manufacturing Company of Canada, the CO2 Equipment Company of Canada and the American Pyrene Company were all acquired during 1953-54.
The fire extinguisher manufacturer Minimax Limited
Minimax Limited
Minimax Limited was a British manufacturer of fire extinguishers founded in England in 1903. Their unique conical fire extinguisher was known as 'The Minimax'. The company was purchased by The Pyrene Company Limited in 1955.- History :...
, was purchased by Pyrene in 1955.
Important contracts undertaken by the company during the late 1950s included, a smoke detection system at the BBC Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios was a film studio complex built by the Gaumont Film Company in 1915 situated in a street named Lime Grove, inShepherd's Bush, west London, north of Hammersmith and described by Gaumont as "the finest studio in Great Britain and the first building ever put up in this country...
in London, smoke detectors for the Bristol Britannia
Bristol Britannia
The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire...
aircraft, CO2 fire-fighting systems for a number of British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s, and supplying fire detection and CO2 systems for Lloyds of London.
In 1959, Pyrene acquired the safety product business of Panorama Equipment, and traded as Pyrene Panorama.
Pyrene was taken over by Chubb and Sons
Chubb Security
Chubb Security is an electronic security and fire safety business. It is owned by United Technologies Corporation.-History:The Company was founded by Charles and Jeremiah Chubb, who patented their Chubb detector lock in 1818. Apparently the Prince Regent accidentally sat on a Chubb lock complete...
in 1967 and continued to operate under the name Pyrene until 1971 when Chubb Fire Security Limited was formed. In that same year a Bristol Britannia
Bristol Britannia
The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire...
aircraft landed on a carpet of Pyrene foam at Manston
Manston
Manston is the name of a number of settlements:* Manston, Dorset* Manston, Kent** location of RAF Manston* Manston, Leeds...
piloted by Donald Chubb.
External links
- http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Pyrene_Co
- http://www.chubb.co.uk
- http://www.mewe.org.uk/londondeco/Factories.html