GEC Power Engineering Ltd. Stafford

Description:The Instrumentation and Measurement Laboratory at GEC's Lichfield Road Site, Stafford.

Left to right: George Maddick, Bill (unknown), Ross Lowry, Bill Fox (in the corner), Graham Guy, Derek Taylor (with his back to the camera), Adrian Keighley, Don Pickin and Dave Smart (wearing glasses).

In this department the work was specifically on controls of high voltage DC valves in transmission of electricity. Amongst the equipment in the picture are oscilloscopes and signal generators. The Stafford Works was renowned for its electrical equipment products including generators, transformers and switchgear.

Additional information: Siemens Brothers purchased land by the Lichfield Road in 1901 and built a 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 this in turn became part of ALSTOM with global HQ in Paris and on 2 November 2015 the Stafford Grid and Power Businesses became part of GE (General Electric, an American Company).