Smiths Group

S Smith & Sons

Samuel Smith (1826-75), founder of Smiths Group

The watch chronometer and instrument retailer's business was established by Samuel Smith as a jewellery shop at 12 Newington Causeway in south east London in 1851. The firm moved the centre of its operations to 85 The Strand in 1872, next door to the premises of Charles Frodsham. A large business operating as diamond merchants emerged in 1885, based at 6 Grand Hotel Buildings, Trafalgar Square, and from 1895 at 68 Piccadilly.^[5]

The firm supplied high quality precision watches to the Admiralty, typically made by Nicole Nielsen of Soho Square. Retailing and wholesaling of Smiths-branded motor accessories was added in 1904 when Nicole Nielsen produced Smiths' initial speedometer, the Perfect Speed Indicator, the first of which was delivered to Edward VII for the Royal Mercedes. Nicole Nielsen had to open a new factory in Watford in 1907 to keep up with demand. Growth was fast. Smiths began to manufacture some of their own motor products particularly speedometers. From mid-1913 all motor accessories activities were carried out from handsome purpose-built premises at Speedometer House, 179-185 Great Portland Street ("Motor Row").^[6] The premises in the Strand became a Lyons tearoom but the jewellers establishments were retained at Trafalgar Square and 68 Piccadilly. By this time motor accessories production included Smiths multiple-jet carburettors (designed by Trier & Martin), lighting sets, headlamps, sidelights, tail lights, dynamo and electric starters, generators and the Smith's Auto-Clear mechanical horn.^[7]

The outbreak of war in 1914 led to the capture of markets around the world previously held by the German competition. By 1915 new War Office contracts for aeroplane accessories, lighting sets etc. and munitions required the speedy erection of a new freehold factory. The new factory, known as Cricklewood Works, was built at Cricklewood, north London.^[8] In 1921 Great Portland Street activities were moved to Cricklewood following 1920's purchase of the former Metallurgique works alongside their Cricklewood Works.^[9] Post World War I their accessories became standard fittings in new cars all provided by the manufacturer.^[10]

First half of 20th century

Nicole Nielsen speedometer, badged for S. Smith & Son, c.1907

At the start of the 20th century, the age of the early automobiles, Smith & Sons retailed one of the first British odometers ("mileometer") and speedometer.^[11] In the 1930s Smiths agreed a trading deal with Lucas whereby the two would not compete in certain areas and Lucas took on part of Smiths non-instrumentation assets.^[12]

Instruments by Smiths Instruments 1955

Instruments by SMITHS c. 1960

Smiths became the dominant supplier of instruments to British motorcar and motorcycle firms.^[13] These later 20th century instruments carried a distinctive logo, the word "SMITHS" centred above the middle of the dial and silk screened onto it in a unique house font familiar to generations of drivers.^[14]

The KLG Sparking Plug distribution rights were purchased from Kenelm Lee Guinness in 1919. Smiths purchased 75 per cent of Ed. Jaeger (London) Ltd in 1927 (which became British Jaeger Instrument Company in 1932). Also in 1927, Smiths purchased the KLG Sparking Plug Company (Robinhood Engineering).^[15] The Jackall hydraulic jacking system was manufactured from 1935 by Smith's Jacking Systems and immediately became standard equipment in many popular cars. In 1937 a separate aircraft and marine department was created in the parent company and named Smiths Aircraft Instruments. It operated with Smiths subsidiary Henry Hughes and Son manufacturers of aircraft and marine instruments.^[16] In 1946, Smiths and the Ingersoll Watch Company founded the Anglo-Celtic Watch Co. Ltd., which produced watches in Wales. This became one of the largest producers of watches in Europe before closing in 1980.^[17]

Second half of 20th century

1949 de Havilland Comet instruments by S. Smith & Son

Separate Smiths Aviation and Smiths Marine divisions were set up in 1958.^[11] In 1960, an Industrial division was formed whose main operations were industrial instrumentation.^[11] With increasing diversification and international operations the name Smiths Industries Ltd was adopted in 1967^[18] when the advertised product range was: automotive — aerospace — marine — building — medical — clocks — watches — appliance controls — industrial instruments — ceramics — electronics.^[19]

Clocks, watches, and automotive instruments eventually ceased to be significant markets for Smiths,^[11] and by the 1980s, the automotive instrument division had been sold,^[11] first to Lucas, and eventually to the factory employees. The new company, Caerbont Automotive Instruments, continues to produce classic Smiths-branded instruments with the blessing of Smiths Group plc.^[20]

21st century

The company's name was changed to Smiths Group plc on 30 November 2000^[21] and on 4 December, Smiths completed a merger with TI Group. TI had interests in aerospace, industrial seals and automotive parts.^[22] However Smiths divested TI Automotive shortly after the merger.^[23] In 2007 GE Aviation, a division of General Electric, acquired Smith's aerospace subsidiary, Smiths Aerospace, for US$4.8 billion.^[24]

In September 2011 Smiths Group acquired the United States-based power technology enterprise, Power Holdings Inc., for £145 million.^[25] It was announced on 21 April 2016 that Smiths Group will be acquiring Morpho Detection LLC, a US-based subsidiary of Safran, as part of Smiths Detection division.^[26]

Smiths Detection

Smiths Detection designs and manufactures sensors that detect and identify explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, nuclear and radioactive material, narcotics and contraband. These sensors are widely used in airports, cargo screening at ports and borders, in government buildings and other critical infrastructure, as well as by the military and emergency responder services. The business uses a wide range of technologies including x-ray, trace detection, millimetre-wave, infra-red, biological detection and diagnostics. The business also carries out research to develop advanced technologies and introduce new products to combat terrorism and the illegal passage of goods.

Smiths Medical

Smiths Medical makes specialty medical devices for infusion therapy, vascular access and vital care and other specialty products and services. Their devices are found in hospital, emergency, home and specialty care environments and are used during critical and intensive care, surgery, post-operative care and for support in managing chronic illness.

John Crane

John Crane provides products and services for the major process industries, including the oil and gas, power generation, chemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper and mining sectors. Products include wet seals, gas seals, couplings, seal support systems, specialist filtration systems, hydrodynamic bearings, and equipment for upstream applications.

Smiths Interconnect

Smiths Interconnect designs and manufacture products that connect, protect and control critical systems for the various markets.

Flex-Tek

Flex-Tek supplies of engineered components that heat and move fluids and gases for various markets.