| Topic: | Re:Old Great West Road Factory Query........ | |
| Posted by: | Eric Dicker | |
| Date/Time: | 04/03/13 12:07:00 |
| I started my student apprenticeship with the Pyrene Co in 1957 and at that time, virtually the whole of the ground floor of the main building was devoted to the production of car bumpers whilst the first floor gave space to admin offices, drawing offices, laboratories and the works canteen. The Space Maker building was referred to as the 'New Building' and the ground floor gave space for Goods Inwards, the Experimental shop was located in the basement and a limited amount of portable fire extinguishers were produced on the first floor, the main production plant being located in South Wales at Ferndale. The Climate Centre now occupies the area where the Demonstration Ground was located and I often remember going there on the Thursdays when the public demonstrations of most of the Pyrene range were put through their paces. You knew this was happening as a cloud of black smoke rose into the skies as a 20 feet square tank of water and petrol was ignited to produce the necessary fire. The Dem Ground was also used as a testing ground for new equipment and airfield crash tenders which were assembled nearby in Windmill Road next to St Faiths Church. THe Pyrene Company was taken over by Racal and subsequently Chubb Locks in the '60's to form Chubb Fire Security which meant the car bumper business was sold off, the buildings vacated and manufacture was transferred to Feltham and Sunbury Cross. |