S G Brown Ltd
Encyclopedia
S. G. Brown Ltd was established in 1903 by British engineer Sidney George Brown
, to manufacture scientific instruments, its best known product was the gyroscopic compass.
When World War II
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 the Bosch Arma Corporation.
In 1960 the company was sold to the De Havilland
division of Hawker Siddeley.
S G Brown was later owned by Vosper Thornycraft which merged it with another of its companies, TSS (motion sensor and subsea pipe/cable tracker specialist) in April 2000 to develop underwater gyros, the company now selling all products under the name VT TSS International.
Following a management buyout from the VT group and several subsequent years trading as 'TSS International', TSS were purchased by the Teledyne
group in 2008 and now trade as Teledyne TSS International. Some products continue to be sold under the SG Brown banner; principally gyrocompass and hand-steering units for military vessels.
Sidney George Brown
Sidney George Brown FRS was a British electrical engineer and inventor. He is best remembered for his pioneering work on the design of gyro compasses, radio equipment and loudspeakers.-Early life:...
, to manufacture scientific instruments, its best known product was the gyroscopic compass.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
. A joint venture gyroscope was developed with the Arma division of the Bosch Arma Corporation.
In 1960 the company was sold to the De Havilland
De Havilland
The de Havilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey de Havilland had been chief designer, was sold to BSA by the owner George Holt Thomas. De Havilland then set up a company under his name in September of that year at Stag Lane...
division of Hawker Siddeley.
S G Brown was later owned by Vosper Thornycraft which merged it with another of its companies, TSS (motion sensor and subsea pipe/cable tracker specialist) in April 2000 to develop underwater gyros, the company now selling all products under the name VT TSS International.
Following a management buyout from the VT group and several subsequent years trading as 'TSS International', TSS were purchased by the Teledyne
Teledyne
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated is an industrial conglomerate primarily based in the United States but with global operations. It was founded in 1960, as Teledyne, Inc., by Henry Singleton and George Kozmetsky....
group in 2008 and now trade as Teledyne TSS International. Some products continue to be sold under the SG Brown banner; principally gyrocompass and hand-steering units for military vessels.