Laurence Scott & Electromotors Ltd
Business reminiscence page
(Click here for the full range of LSE topics covered)
Laurence Scott official Website - click here

Picture courtesy of Eastern Counties Newspapers ©
(click on photo for larger version)
Above Laurence Scott & Electromotors Ltd apprentices intake 1979.
Watch the LSE video: I want to be an engineer - Windows Media Player
:
To check whether you need DVD RW+ or DVD RW- please first research - such as the following Web site - http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php
Read the story of the making of the film
A brief outline of the history
- 1883 - Jeremiah Colman commisioned Hammond Electric Light and Power Supply Company of Nottingham to install electric light into the Colman's mustard plant. William Harding Scott and E A Paris came to Colmans and were each paid a salary. Scott's dynamo works and lighting arrives at Colmans. Scott is provided with accommodation by Colmans - a cottage in Bracondale.
- 1884 - Scott rented property at 107 King Street, Norwich on a 21 year lease and the partnership of Paris and Scott began,
- 1888 - Reginald Laurence joined joined Paris and Scott and formed the Limited Company Laurence Paris and Scott. His investment - £6,000! Jeremiah Colman bought shares to the value of £3,000 and the partners all took a total of £3,000 in shares.
In this year E R Coote joins the Company - read his personal letter (- page two)
- 1890- Laurence Scott and Co floated in this year. "Norwich Ship Lighter" released into the marine market
- 1896 - New works building began. The land for the new works was bought on the north bank of the Wensum.
- 1897 - C Wilson became a Company Director
- 1898 - Transfer of land completed and the new factory was to be called the Gothic Works. The factory space covered at least 7,500 square feet and had 150 employees. - Sisling made Company Director in this year.
- 1901- First motorised crane was installed
- 1905 - Another measure of land was purchased and a New Test Shop was constructed
- 1908 - New Test Shop completed in 1908
- 1912 - Torrential rain flooded parts of the Gothic Workshops and offices - under 2 feet of water. Scott turned his attentions to electrically starting and lighting cars
- 1920 - A large house purchased by Laurence and Scott in Thorpe Road, Norwich, it was converted into offices and control gear works built in the grounds. It became known as "Switchworks"
- 1923 - Death of Laurence. "Switchworks" completed
- 1929 - Formation of Laurence Scott and Electromotors Limited
- 1937 - A further extension was added to the Works - this doubled the Works in size and there were then 3,000 employees.
- 1938 - Sadly in this year Scott's youngest son Tom and then Scott himself died within a month of each other.
- 1940 - Captain G J Scott, Scott's older son, dies in this year
- 1953 - A new building was completed and the most up to date equipment installed, which was designed to cope with all types and sizes of motors envisaged
- 1957 - New office block completed
- 1959 - Laurence and Scott established another facility at Blantyre in Scotland
- 1960 - Enlarged heavy machine Bay completed
- 1980's (mid) - Plating Shop closed. Doncaster based Mining Supplies Limited take over LSE
- 1982 - Mining Supplies Limited moved the Instrument Department from Thorpe Road to Salhouse Road in Norwich. The Switchgear went to the Gothic works and LSE (Wolverhampton)Ltd
- 1981 - Dispute and threat of redundancies due to lack of demand for the products at Openshaw
- 1986 - Thorpe Road foundry and Wolverhampton, the Salhouse Road Works retained by Mining Supplies as part of LS (Defence Systems) Ltd which later became MSI Defence Systems
- 2005 - Business bought by George Clair, an American businessman.
- 2007 - Company went into Administration and then Liquidation. 79 employees were told their jobs were redundant on one day, many by telephone.
- 2007 - The business was purchased by ATB Morley (Leeds), one of the Companies owned by ATB AUSTRIA ANTRIEBSTECHNIK AG
Read:
LSE THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Visit the Photo Gallery.
Visit the advertising and products Photo Gallery.