Description:Employees are pictured alongside a generator stator frame which would later form part of a hydro-electric generator for the Waitaki power station built on New Zealand’s South Island during the 1920s to 1930s. Additional generators were supplied by The English Electric Co. when Waitaki power station was extended in the 1940s and 1950s. English Electric in Stafford was renowned for its electrical products including generators, transformers and switchgear and supplied power stations around the world with this type of equipment including Australia and India. In later years during GEC’s ownership hydro-electric generators were manufactured at the Rugby Works and at the Lichfield Road Site in Stafford. At Stafford they were often known as ‘Water Wheels’.
This image is taken from a glass negative donated to the Staffordshire County Museum by Alstom Power, Lichfield Road, Stafford.
Siemens Brothers purchased the land in 1901 and built the factory and offices which were ready to start production in 1903. In 1918 Siemens merged with several companies, including Dick, Kerr and Co., to become the English Electric Co. Two years later in 1920, The English Electric Co bought the Stafford Works. The English Electric Co merged with GEC (The General Electric Company) during 1968 and the Lichfield Road Site became part of GEC Power Engineering Ltd. On 22 March 1989 became part of GEC ALSTHOM, an Anglo French Joint Venture. On 22 June 1998 became part of ALSTOM with global HQ in Paris and to date (May 2015) continues to be part of the ALSTOM Group.