"B.I. Callender's world service to Industry" - press advert issued by British Insulated Callender's Cables, c1949
It is the sort of advert that, when you've read through the text, you feel as if you should stand to attention, raise the flag and salute! Days of Empire and industrial grandeur! Even the name "British Insulated Callender's Cables" gives an image to stiff upper lip, waxed moustache - and, I hope, cables! BICC - as they were more frequently known - was formed in 1945 from Callender's Cable and Construction and British Insulated Cables and was a major manufacturer of cables and associated electrical equipment. As well as power cables they manufactured telecommunications cables (including some of the world's first undersea cables) and equipment for rail, tram and trolleybus systems. Their main works were in Erith (a Thames-side 'home' for both companies in early years) and in Merseyside, particularly in Prescot. Like many other UK manufacturing concerns they fell on hard times at the end of the 20th century and only exist now under the name of one their famous subsidiaries, Balfour Beatty.
One thing did strike me about this ad - it feels quite an early use of the workd 'telecommunications'.
"B.I. Callender's world service to Industry" - press advert issued by British Insulated Callender's Cables, c1949
It is the sort of advert that, when you've read through the text, you feel as if you should stand to attention, raise the flag and salute! Days of Empire and industrial grandeur! Even the name "British Insulated Callender's Cables" gives an image to stiff upper lip, waxed moustache - and, I hope, cables! BICC - as they were more frequently known - was formed in 1945 from Callender's Cable and Construction and British Insulated Cables and was a major manufacturer of cables and associated electrical equipment. As well as power cables they manufactured telecommunications cables (including some of the world's first undersea cables) and equipment for rail, tram and trolleybus systems. Their main works were in Erith (a Thames-side 'home' for both companies in early years) and in Merseyside, particularly in Prescot. Like many other UK manufacturing concerns they fell on hard times at the end of the 20th century and only exist now under the name of one their famous subsidiaries, Balfour Beatty.
One thing did strike me about this ad - it feels quite an early use of the workd 'telecommunications'.