Holden & Brooke Ltd

‎Mechanical engineering firm, manufacturing pumps, valves, compressors and hydraulic equipment.

Established in 1883 by Harry Holden and Robert Grundy Brooke, the company was first situated at St Simon's Works, Salford. It became a limited liability company in 1887, with Brooke as its Managing Director.

The company initially manufactured injectors along with drilling machines and gas engines. However, demand for steam injectors was so great that they stopped producing drilling machines and gas engines and concentrated on injectors. In 1890 Robert Brooke patented the 'One-Movement' Injector, which became the company's best-known product.

In 1897 because of increased production they moved to larger premises: the Sirius Works, West Gorton, Manchester. The firm opened its own brass and iron foundries at around this period. The company increased its range of steam related equipment and in 1912 started to produce centrifugal pumps, which they continued to produce. As well as pumps the Heater Department was expanded and they designed and manufactured all types of heat exchangers for industrial use.

Robert Brooke's eldest son, Geoffrey Brooke joined the firm in 1909. He became a company director in 1919.

During the First World War, Holden & Brooke undertook work for the Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry and Ministry of Munitions. This included parts for use in submarines and airplanes.

In the interwar years an initial boom period was followed by a period of reorganisation following a major fire that had destroyed the business' pattern shop and drawing office in 1920. By 1924, however, the firm was in a position to open a London office under Walter Richard. Richard was a member of the Board in 1925, alongside Geoffrey Brooke's brother Robert.

1925 saw Brookes & Holden launch another successful product, an accelarator for water heating systems known as 'Selfix'. Its popularity prompted the firm to build a new light assembly shop. At this time the company was also manufacturing heat transfer plant for the chemical, oil refining and artificial silk industries.

Robert Brooke (senior) died in 1929, and was succeeded by Harry Holden as Chairman, and by his son Geoffrey Brooke as Managing Director.

The business continued to expand, opening offices in the Midlands and the North of England.

The company was later bought by Armstrong Fluid Technology.