Curran Steels
Formerly | Edward Curran Engineering Co. | |
---|---|---|
Founded | 1903 | |
Founder | Edward Curran | |
Defunct | 2005 | |
Headquarters | Parent Reed International (1973–1985) | Caradon Ltd (1985–2005) |
Curran Steels was a manufacturing company in Cardiff, Wales, founded as the Edward Curran Engineering Co and known locally as Curran's.
The factory was located on the east bank of the River Taff, near to Cardiff Docks. It was served by the Riverside branch railway.
History
The Edward Curran Engineering Co. was founded in Cardiff in 1903 by Edward Curran, whose father Charles was an Irish stonemason who had settled in Cardiff, then a thriving coal port. Edward Curran was also a stonemason.
Immediately before the outbreak of the
After the First World War the business diversified and it products included enamelled metalware, including cups and plates.[1] These were manufactured using the staff and equipment previously used for shell casing production, and Curran's maintained their capability to manufacture munitions.[2]
By the 1930s Curran's was virtually the only British company with significant munitions manufacturing capability, and it took a leading role in the
After the Second World War the factory resumed the production of enamelware. In 1961 they started production of pressed steel baths, and acrylic baths in 1972.[4]
In 1973 the company was acquired by the Building Products division of
Curran's factory in Cardiff closed in 2005. The buildings were demolished and the site used for housing.[3][2]
References
- ^ a b c "The girls were as strong as men at armaments firm Currans". Wales Online. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Crawford, Johnny. "GGAT 130: The Sinews of War: South East Wales Industry and The First World War" (PDF). Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. pp. 83–84.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4456-5661-8.
- ^ a b "Timeline". Twyfords History. Retrieved 13 April 2017.[self-published source]
- ISBN 978-0-85738-394-5.