Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Broom Wade Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Broom, Harry S
  • Wade, Jethro T
  • Chadwick Patent Bearing Co
  • Holman Brothers Ltd
  • International Compressed Air Corp Ltd
  • CompAir Ltd
  • Imperial Continental Gas
  • Siebe Plc
  • Gardner Denver Co

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire, South East, England

Sectors:

  • Mechanical engineering Compressor & pneumatic tools production
  • Transport equipment production Motor vehicle production
  • Mechanical engineering Woodworking machinery production

Notes:

Traced origins to Broom & Wade, later known as Broom Wade, established in 1898 by Harry S Broom and Jethro T Wade as a small general engineering business. A specialisation was soon woodworking machinery for the local furniture industry. Early on also briefly made lorries. c1914-18 gave up making woodworking machinery to build compressors 1919 which soon became the business's main focus. 1920s started to made pneumatic tools such as rock drills, etc, which became the business's second specialisation. Sometime associated with the Chadwick Patent Bearing Co. 1968 merged with Holman Brothers Ltd to form International Compressed Air Corp Ltd which shortly afterwards was renamed CompAir Ltd. By 1975 largest makers of compressors / pneumatic tools in UK. c1981 acquired by Imperial Continental Gas and sold on in 1985 to Siebe Plc. 2008 acquyired by Gardner Denver Co

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