The
companies themselves did not stand still. A definite move towards
acquisition and conglomeration was visible during the 20s and
30s with its most obvious effect being the creation of the Radiation
Group. With gas utilities, particularly the London based Gas
Light and Coke company, wielding incredible power, companies
saw advantage in amalgamating to form a larger unit with economies
of scale. Initially Radiation comprised Fletcher Russell, Arden
Hill, Eagle Range Company, New World, Willsons & Mathiesons,
Davis Gas Stove Company, Richmond Gas Stoves & Meters and
John Wright Ltd although other companies were incorporated later.
Its inspiration and direction came from Ivan Yates, an entrepreneur,
JF Davis who as ‘front man’ created the right image
for the group and Dr Hartley who provided the technical know-how.
Up to World War II, the individual companies retained their
names with many designs being sold under a variety of names
to different gas companies.
The inter-war period saw a host of other innovations. Jordans,
part of the Radiation Group, perfected stove enamel - enamel
for heating and cooking stoves -, which could be applied in
a wealth of ‘modern’ colours. The move to enamel
was, in part, stimulated by the growing affluence of the middle
class who saw their homes as something to be ‘decorated
fashionably’ as well as somewhere to live. Other developments,
often regarded as ‘post war’ innovations, were first
created in this era. The Metro Log Fire, a forerunner of today’s
living flame fires was sold by the Gas, Light & Coke Company
in 1932. The Raytonic fire of 1935 had a simple heat exchanger,
often regarded as a 1950s feature. The Raytonic design was itself
seen as a replacement for soapstone clad fires, which had improved
gas fire convection output since their inception in 1932.
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