Strand Lighting
Encyclopedia
Strand Lighting is an international theatre and television lighting company founded in 1914 in London's
West End
that supplies lighting fixtures and controls for the entertainment industry. Strand's products have been used on countless theatre productions and TV shows worldwide.
In 1968, Strand Lighting was purchased by the famous Rank
film Corporation and thus became Rank Strand.
In 1969, Rank took over Century Lighting (Started in New York in 1929) which became Strand Century in the US.
In 1976, Rank acquired Stagesound Ltd from Theatre Progects and created Rank Strand Sound.
In 1986 Rank Strand bought Quartzcolor, an Italian based manufacturer of TV & Film Lighting.
In 1990 Strand Lighting became the first company (and only North American company) to achieve ISO9000 Quality certification.
Strand was eventually bought from Rank by a venture capitalist group in the late 1990s.
On 11 July 2006 the Genlyte Group
, a US company, announced their acquisition of Strand Lighting. Genlyte has since been acquired by Royal Philips Lighting
Today, Strand Lighting is still run as a separate, independent company within Royal Philips Lighting, and continues as a leading name in stage, television, motion picture, and architectural lighting and services.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
that supplies lighting fixtures and controls for the entertainment industry. Strand's products have been used on countless theatre productions and TV shows worldwide.
History
Strand Electric, as it was originally named, was created in 1914. Arthur Earnshaw and Phillip Sheridan were both London theatre electricians when they set up their company.In 1968, Strand Lighting was purchased by the famous Rank
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
film Corporation and thus became Rank Strand.
In 1969, Rank took over Century Lighting (Started in New York in 1929) which became Strand Century in the US.
In 1976, Rank acquired Stagesound Ltd from Theatre Progects and created Rank Strand Sound.
In 1986 Rank Strand bought Quartzcolor, an Italian based manufacturer of TV & Film Lighting.
In 1990 Strand Lighting became the first company (and only North American company) to achieve ISO9000 Quality certification.
Strand was eventually bought from Rank by a venture capitalist group in the late 1990s.
On 11 July 2006 the Genlyte Group
Genlyte Group
The Genlyte Group was a company that manufactured and sold lighting fixtures and controls. Products designed by the Genlyte Group include indoor and outdoor fixtures for the commercial, residential, theater, and industrial markets...
, a US company, announced their acquisition of Strand Lighting. Genlyte has since been acquired by Royal Philips Lighting
Today, Strand Lighting is still run as a separate, independent company within Royal Philips Lighting, and continues as a leading name in stage, television, motion picture, and architectural lighting and services.
External links
- Official site
- Philips/Genlyte official site
- The Strand Archive Complete history of the company
- Regal Group Collection of restored Strand Lighting consoles and followspots by Regal Group, UK.
- dimmer.com Technical information for various Strand Lighting products