Girlings

.... `Girlings` is as Synonymous to Cwmbran as `Fish is to Chips` ....

.. Everyone knows someone who works there or previously worked there - You may even work there yourself ..

.. And so my friends, this web page is dedicated to Girlings, it's Workers` and it's Memories ..

* Inventor of the Girling Brake * 60th Anniversary of Brake Production * Photographs *

* Message Board * Girling Apprentices *

* War Time Activities * Lucas Lamps * Memorabilia *

* Girling Midland Ross Air Actuation Ltd. *

If you would like to contact a past colleague or have a memory you would like to `relive and share` etc; click here to email me and I will add your message to the Girling Message Board

A brief history :-

Circa 1872 - Joseph Lucas (born April 12th 1834) opened a factory, known as the Tom Bowling Lamp works, which manufactured lamps for ships in Little King Street a couple of miles north of Birmingham city centre. In the 1890's he moved his expanded business to Great King Street.

1897 - The Lucas Company later diversified into the manufacture of automotive parts.

*`I have read that Joseph was a strict teetotaller and whilst spending a vacation in Naples, refused to drink wine, and only drank the local water. He unfortunately died of typhoid there in 1902`.

1925 - Captain A. H. Girling patented his wedge/roller actuated drum brake known as the �Girling Brake,� a concept still in use today.

1938 - Girling became part of the Joseph Lucas Group.

1939 - The Birmingham engineering firm of Joseph Lucas moved to Cwmbran and opened a new factory alongside Grange Road and was to be known as `Grange Works` The reason to relocate to Cwmbran was primarily to reduce the risk of air-raids, coupled with advantages of transport facilities, proximity to Newport Docks and room for expansion. Lucas devoted their operations exclusively for the war effort via the `Ministry of Aircraft Production, producing and refurbishing `Gun turrets for bomber aircraft used in the second World war. After the war the works remained and reverted to `peacetime production` through subsequent years by producing car brakes, master cylinders, actuators, shock absorbers, lorry brakes, off highway and tractor brakes. At their peak four to five thousand workers were employed.

1943 - Lucas purchases the New Hudson Company; owner of the Girling Brake patent and combines it with the Bendix Brake and Luvax shock absorber to form Girling Ltd.

1968 - Lucas opened a new factory at New Road, New Inn - Pontypool.

1996 - Lucas merged with Varity (USA) to become Lucas Varity.

1998 (November) - Lucas Varity sells it's Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems division to Meritor Automotive (USA) for �235m.

1999 (May) - Lucas Varity plc. accepts a bid of 4 billion pounds from TRW (U.S.A) for the Light Vehicle Braking Systems division .

2000 (July) - Meritor Automotive Inc. (USA) merged with Arvin Industries (USA) to become Arvin Meritor Inc.



.. An example of a Girling Limited Cwmbran - `Certificate of Apprenticeship 1953 - 1958` ..

Click here to enlarge

.. An example of an Apprentice wage at Cwmbran 1953 - 1958 ..

During the
15th
year of age at the rate of
14/10
per week of 44 hours
+8/1 bonus.

    ..        .. 16th      ..         ..         ..         .. 18/2      ..               ..        .. +9/11 ..

    ..        .. 17th ..         ..         ..         .. 21/6      ..               ..        .. +1/9 ..

    ..        .. 18th ..         ..         ..         .. 29/9      ..               ..        .. +16/3 ..

    ..        .. 19th ..         ..         ..         .. 34/8      ..               ..        .. +8/11 ..

    ..        .. 20th ..         ..         ..         .. 41/3      ..               ..        .. +22/6 ..

    ..        ..
201/3rd
..         ..         ..         .. 45/5      ..               ..        .. +22/6 ..

    ..        .. 202/3rds ..         ..         ..         .. 51/-      ..               ..        .. +22/6 ..

    ..        .. 21st ..         ..         ..         .. 67/11      ..               ..        .. +35/- ..

.. To view a wage docket dated 16th August 1968 click on the image below ..

To view `Lucas Girling ` on Facebook click here