Patwintab

Nu-Swift International Limited is a fire security business. It is owned by London Security Plc.

J Blakeborough and Son Ltd

J Blakeborough & Son Ltd was an engineering firm in Brighouse, West Yorkshire which commenced business in 1828. In 1926 due to the exceptional fire risks in the woollen and cotton industries Blakeborough's in a section of their valve making factory commenced the manufacture of the original Nu-Swift Extinguisher No. 1000.

In 1933 Blakeborough's disposed of the fire extinguisher section of their business and it was formed into a separate concern named The Nuswift Engineering Co Ltd. This business was first moved to an old building off Elland Lane but in 1936 the present factory was acquired.

Originally a woollen mill built around 1863 and known as Whitwell Mill which later was destroyed by fire in 1877. The mill was re-built by it's owner Stephen Hemingway. In 1907 the building was taken over empty by Wadsworth and Fairbank Ltd who were cotton doublers and then closed in 1930. It was through broken window frames that the new owners first entered the derelict mill in 1936.

F Graucob Limited

The Nuswift Engineering Co Ltd is acquired by F Graucob Ltd in 1943 and a new chapter starts in the history of the old building. The dust and grime from over the years were removed and the neglect of the building was made good. The business developed rapidly in the early years of the war and when the company was acquired by F Graucob Ltd the workforce had grown from 20 to 150.

The physical improvements of the building had been considerable; gas lights had been replaced by electric fluorescent lighting, efficienct new machinery had been installed and the factory had been transformed in some parts by clean and bright paintwork.

In 1946 the name of the company was changed to Nu-Swift Ltd.

The Royal Navy and Nu-Swift

Severe losses through fire during the first world war caused the Admiralty to search for the most efficient fire extinguisher. The Nu-Swift Universal was chosen and standardized in all the King's ships.During the war Nu-Swift supplied to the Admiralty more than 100,000 extinguishers and over 250,000 charges. In war time three quarters of the output went to the service departments. After the war a wide demand had been created in all parts of Britain. Large numbers were sold to the National Coal Board, the textile industry, to bus companies, farmers, shopkeepers, storage depots, Government Departments and to factories and homes. Abroad Nu-Swift was marketed through concessionaires and sub-concessionaires in 32 countries.

Nu-Swift Limited

In 1962 Nu-Swift Ltd became known as Nu-Swift International Limited in recognition of the growing importance of their export business. Nu-Swift International was owned by Nu-Swift Industries Plc, this was the parent company and a public company whose shares were quoted on the London Stock Exchange.