- S G Brown Ltd
S. G. Brown was established in 1903 to manufacture scientific instruments, its best known product was the gyroscopic compass. When
WWII started, in order to increase the company's productive capacity, the Admiralty financed an extension to the factory which the company ran on the Admiralty's behalf. By 1940, relations between the company and the Admiralty had become strained. The reason for the deterioration in the relations between the company and the Admiralty was a conflict over war-time priorities and the unwillingness of the company to carry out the Admiralty's wishes.At the end of the war, the Labour Government retained control because of the importance of gyroscopic instruments in the development of postwar defence programmes.In 1948, the firm moved from its premises in Acton to
Watford . A joint venture gyroscope was developed with the Arma division of theBosch Arma Corporation.In 1960 the company was sold to theDe Havilland division ofHawker Siddeley . [cite journal|date=22 June 1960 |title=S. G. BROWN, LTD. (SALE)|journal=Hansard |url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1960/jun/22/s-g-brown-ltd-sale|accessdate=2008-09-19 "In accordance with the decision announced in the House on 8th June, 1959, the Admiralty has agreed to sell S. G. Brown Ltd. on 30th June. ... "]S G Brown was later owned by Vosper Thornycraft which merged it with another of its companies, TSS (motion sensor specialist) in April 2000 to develop underwater gyros.
References
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