Prestcold
Encyclopedia
Prestcold was a British refrigerator
manufacturer, established by the Pressed Steel Co. Ltd
of Oxford
in 1934. Prestcold operated several manufacturing plants in the UK including Theale
(near Reading) and Crymlyn Burrows
in Wales. Prestcold household refrigerators were often known for their good design and durability.
The company opened a brand new £5M factory at Crymlyn Burrows
, Swansea
in 1961.
In the early 1960s, John Bloom’s Rolls Razor
company sub-contracted Prestcold to manufacture his low price Rolls Rapide washing machines. This initially boomed, but later closed down after orders reached saturation point.
Prestcold, along with other parts of Pressed Steel, was absorbed into BMC
in 1966 which became part of British Leyland in 1969. Prestcold passed into Leyland Special Products after the Ryder Report
.
Prestcold ended household refrigerator production and focused on commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment. The Crymlyn Burrows factory was sold to the Ford Motor Company
in the mid 1960s and used to manufacture car parts.
In 1976, Prestcold bought the Searle company and in 1981 Prestcold was acquired by Suter plc, a diverse engineering and chemicals company based in Grantham
, Lincolnshire
.
The Prestcold brandname was also used for household refrigerators by McAlpine Prestcold Limited in New Zealand.
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
manufacturer, established by the Pressed Steel Co. Ltd
Pressed Steel Company
The Pressed Steel Company Limited was a British car body manufacturing company founded at Cowley near Oxford in 1926 as a joint venture between William Morris, the Budd Corporation and an American bank. Today at what was the company's Cowley plant, the BMW new MINI is assembled, this site is...
of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1934. Prestcold operated several manufacturing plants in the UK including Theale
Theale, Berkshire
Theale is a large village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. The village has many of the attributes of a small town, with a high street lined with shops, pubs and restaurants.- Location :...
(near Reading) and Crymlyn Burrows
Crymlyn Burrows
Crymlyn Burrows is an area of land in Wales, UK to the east of Swansea city centre, and south of Crymlyn Bog. It is bounded by Jersey Marine Beach to the south and the River Neath to the east...
in Wales. Prestcold household refrigerators were often known for their good design and durability.
The company opened a brand new £5M factory at Crymlyn Burrows
Crymlyn Burrows
Crymlyn Burrows is an area of land in Wales, UK to the east of Swansea city centre, and south of Crymlyn Bog. It is bounded by Jersey Marine Beach to the south and the River Neath to the east...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
in 1961.
In the early 1960s, John Bloom’s Rolls Razor
Rolls Razor
Rolls Razor Limited was a British company known for its manufacture of a sophisticated safety-razor and an "affordable" twin-tub washing machine.-Origins: razor:...
company sub-contracted Prestcold to manufacture his low price Rolls Rapide washing machines. This initially boomed, but later closed down after orders reached saturation point.
Prestcold, along with other parts of Pressed Steel, was absorbed into BMC
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
in 1966 which became part of British Leyland in 1969. Prestcold passed into Leyland Special Products after the Ryder Report
Ryder Report
Ryder Report can refer to either of two official reports produced, coincidentally both by D Ryders:*Ryder Report - the 2003 official report resulting from the inquiry by U.S...
.
Prestcold ended household refrigerator production and focused on commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment. The Crymlyn Burrows factory was sold to the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in the mid 1960s and used to manufacture car parts.
In 1976, Prestcold bought the Searle company and in 1981 Prestcold was acquired by Suter plc, a diverse engineering and chemicals company based in Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
The Prestcold brandname was also used for household refrigerators by McAlpine Prestcold Limited in New Zealand.