Crompton Parkinson
Historic British electrical engineering manufacturer formed by the 1927 merger of Crompton & Co. and F. & A. Parkinson Ltd.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Crompton Parkinson was a major British electrical engineering manufacturer whose origins reached back to the late nineteenth century. The company was created in 1927 through the merger of Crompton & Co., the lighting and electrical-equipment business founded by R. E. B. Crompton in 1878, and F. & A. Parkinson Ltd., an established manufacturer of electric motors founded by the Parkinson brothers. The combination brought together expertise in electric lighting, motors, generators and related industrial equipment. Crompton & Co. had built an early reputation through electrical-lighting installations, including work associated with Windsor Castle and Holyrood Palace. F. & A. Parkinson contributed a strong motor-manufacturing capability and an important connection with Leeds, where Frank Parkinson later became a major benefactor of the university. The Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds, opened in 1951, commemorates that association. During the twentieth century Crompton Parkinson developed a broad electrical-product portfolio. Its activities included electric motors, generators, switchgear, ceiling fans, lamps and light bulbs, power cables, electrical measuring instruments and batteries. Its instruments included products such as voltmeters, ammeters and current transformers. The company also supplied electrical equipment for British railway diesel locomotives, including equipment used on locomotives in Classes 26, 33, 44 and 45. For a short early period it also made spark plugs. The company participated in wartime industrial production. During the Second World War, factories at Guiseley and Doncaster produced substantial quantities of .303 rifle ammunition and 9 mm pistol cartridges. Its industrial footprint included manufacturing sites in places such as Chelmsford and Guiseley. The Guiseley complex near Leeds became one of its principal locations for lamp and electric-motor production. The lamp works closed in 2002, while the adjacent motor works closed in 2004; the site was demolished in 2006, although its clock tower was preserved and moved to a nearby car park. Crompton Parkinson became part of a succession of larger industrial groups. Hawker Siddeley acquired the company in 1968. Hawker Siddeley subsequently became part of BTR in 1992, and BTR merged with Siebe in 1999 to create Invensys. After disposing of various businesses, Invensys was acquired by Schneider Electric in 2014. The historic business was divided across successor operations and related brand owners rather than continuing as an independent company. The brand’s motor activities are now associated with Brook Crompton, which is owned by China’s Wolong Holding Group. Other former Crompton-related activities followed separate paths: Crompton Lighting Australia became part of Gerard Lighting, while Crompton Lamps was sold to Cooper Industries and later became independent. The Vidor battery business, acquired by Crompton Parkinson after the collapse of Royston Industries in 1968, was sold to Ray-O-Vac in 1989 and the Vidor name is no longer in regular use. Crompton Parkinson is therefore best understood as a historic industrial brand and corporate predecessor whose product and engineering heritage survives in successor businesses, especially Brook Crompton.
History
Crompton Parkinson’s history began with two separate British electrical businesses. Crompton & Co. was established in 1878 by R. E. B. Crompton as a lamp manufacturer and electrical-engineering enterprise. It became associated with early electric-lighting work at prominent buildings, including Windsor Castle and Holyrood Palace. The company’s activities later expanded beyond lamps into a broader range of electrical products and industrial systems. The second predecessor was F. & A. Parkinson Ltd., founded by brothers Albert and Frank Parkinson. It developed a substantial electric-motor manufacturing business. Frank Parkinson was connected with the University of Leeds as a student and later as a major benefactor; the university’s Parkinson Building, opened in 1951, bears his name. The two predecessor companies merged in 1927, creating Crompton Parkinson and combining lighting, motors and related electrical capabilities. The resulting company manufactured a wide range of electrical goods. Its portfolio included motors, generators, switchgear, ceiling fans, lamps, light bulbs, cables, batteries and electrical instruments. Measuring equipment included voltmeters, ammeters and current transformers. Crompton Parkinson also supplied electrical systems for British railway diesel locomotives, including locomotives in Classes 26, 33, 44 and 45. The company briefly produced spark plugs and developed a substantial wartime manufacturing role. During the Second World War, its Guiseley and Doncaster factories manufactured large quantities of .303 rifle ammunition and 9 mm pistol cartridges. Its civilian industrial network included a major plant on Writtle Road in Chelmsford and a large Guiseley factory near Leeds. The Chelmsford premises were later occupied by Marconi Radar Systems before redevelopment; part of the former head-office building remained identifiable by the Crompton name. At Guiseley, lamp and motor production continued for many years. The lamp operation closed in 2002 and the motor works in 2004. The whole site was demolished in 2006, with the clock tower retained and relocated nearby. In 1968 Hawker Siddeley acquired Crompton Parkinson. The business thereafter formed part of a changing sequence of British industrial conglomerates. Hawker Siddeley became part of BTR in 1992, and BTR merged with Siebe in 1999 to form Invensys. Invensys later sold or reorganized several divisions and was acquired by Schneider Electric in 2014. The company also entered batteries through the acquisition of Vidor after Royston Industries collapsed in 1968. Vidor had been founded in 1934 by Thomas Noah Cole and was linked with Burndept Wireless. Wartime bombing destroyed much of Vidor’s Erith factory in 1941, leading to production relocation to Dundee and the opening of additional Scottish and northern English facilities. Crompton Parkinson later sold Vidor to Ray-O-Vac in 1989; the brand subsequently ceased regular use. Crompton Parkinson no longer operates as a standalone company. Its historical motor business and brand heritage are associated with Brook Crompton, now owned by Wolong Holding Group of China. Other successor businesses developed independently: Crompton Lighting Australia became part of Gerard Lighting, and Crompton Lamps was sold to Cooper Industries before becoming independent. The result is a dispersed legacy in which the original company is defunct but its engineering, lighting and product names remain visible through successor enterprises.
- 2014
Invensys acquired by Schneider Electric
[1]Schneider Electric acquires Invensys, the final major transaction identified in the company’s principal corporate ownership chain.
- 2006
Guiseley site demolished
[1]The former Guiseley factory site is demolished, with its clock tower preserved and moved to a nearby location.
- 2004
Guiseley motor works closes
[1]The electric-motor works at Guiseley closes.
- 2002
Guiseley lamp works closes
[1]The lamp works at the Guiseley manufacturing complex shuts down.
- 1999
Invensys formed
[1]BTR merges with Siebe, creating Invensys and extending the company’s corporate succession.
- 1992
Hawker Siddeley becomes part of BTR
[1]Crompton Parkinson’s corporate ownership chain moves into BTR.
- 1989
Vidor sold to Ray-O-Vac
[1]The Vidor battery business leaves Crompton Parkinson ownership.
- 1968
Hawker Siddeley takeover and Vidor acquisition
[1]Hawker Siddeley acquires Crompton Parkinson, while Crompton Parkinson separately acquires Vidor following Royston Industries’ collapse.
- 1941
Vidor Erith factory destroyed in wartime raid
[1]A German incendiary raid severely damages the Erith plant, prompting the relocation of production and expansion into other factories.
- 1934
Vidor founded
[1]Thomas Noah Cole establishes the Vidor battery business, which later becomes part of Crompton Parkinson.
Products and positioning
A vertically capable British electrical-engineering manufacturer serving industrial, infrastructure, transport, lighting and consumer-electrical markets.
Industrial electrical equipment
Electric motors
Electric motors were among Crompton Parkinson’s core products, inherited particularly from F. & A. Parkinson Ltd. The company operated major motor-manufacturing facilities, including the Guiseley works near Leeds, and its motor activities later became associated with the Brook Crompton successor business.
Power equipment
Electric generators and switchgear
The company produced generators and switchgear for electrical supply and industrial applications. These products formed part of a broad engineering portfolio alongside motors, cables and measurement equipment.
Lighting · 1878
Lighting products
Lighting was central to the Crompton heritage. Crompton & Co. began as a lamp manufacturer and became known for prominent early electric-lighting installations. Later products included lamps and light bulbs, with related activities eventually separated into successor businesses such as Crompton Lamps and Crompton Lighting Australia.
Test and measurement equipment
Electrical measuring instruments
Crompton Parkinson manufactured electrical measurement equipment, including voltmeters, ammeters and current transformers. These instruments supported industrial electrical maintenance, testing and power-system work.
Batteries · 1934
Vidor batteries
Vidor was a battery brand acquired by Crompton Parkinson in 1968 after the collapse of Royston Industries. It supplied batteries for uses including radios and flashlights. Crompton Parkinson sold the brand to Ray-O-Vac in 1989, and the name is no longer in regular use.
Railway equipment
Railway electrical equipment
Crompton Parkinson supplied electrical equipment fitted to several British Railways diesel-locomotive classes, including Classes 26, 33, 44 and 45. This work extended the company’s industrial engineering role into rail transport.
Defence manufacturing · 1939
Ammunition
During the Second World War, Crompton Parkinson factories at Guiseley and Doncaster produced .303 rifle ammunition and 9 mm pistol cartridges as part of wartime industrial production.
Brand decisions
2004
Close Guiseley motor worksStrategyBackground
The Guiseley site had been a major location for lamp and electric-motor manufacturing.
Action taken
Close the motor works after the lamp operation had already shut in 2002.
Aftermath
The wider Guiseley factory site was demolished in 2006, although its clock tower was preserved.
1989
Sell Vidor to Ray-O-VacM&ABackground
The battery activity was no longer retained within the Crompton Parkinson portfolio.
Action taken
Crompton Parkinson sold Vidor to Ray-O-Vac.
Aftermath
The Vidor brand eventually ceased regular use.
1968
Acquire VidorM&ABackground
Royston Industries collapsed, making its Vidor battery business available.
Action taken
Crompton Parkinson acquired Vidor and related battery operations.
Aftermath
Vidor became part of Crompton Parkinson until its sale to Ray-O-Vac in 1989.
1968
Accept Hawker Siddeley takeoverM&ABackground
Crompton Parkinson was absorbed into a larger British aerospace and industrial group.
Action taken
Hawker Siddeley took over Crompton Parkinson.
Aftermath
The business became part of a longer ownership sequence involving BTR, Invensys and later Schneider Electric.
1927
Merge Crompton & Co. with F. & A. Parkinson Ltd.M&ABackground
The two British electrical manufacturers had complementary capabilities in lighting and electric motors.
Action taken
Combine the businesses under the Crompton Parkinson name.
Aftermath
The merger created a diversified electrical manufacturer with activities spanning motors, lighting and industrial equipment.
Sources1 sources
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