Brunswick Power Equipment: What Went Wrong?

Brunswick Wharf Power Station, also known as Blackwall Power Station, was a coal- and oil-fired power station on the River Thames in London. The station was built in stages between 1947 and 1956 and decommissioned in 1984. The site was redeveloped, and the power station was demolished between 1988 and 1989, except for the switchgear house, which survived until the 1990s.

Brunswick Wharf Power Station was decommissioned in 1984

The Brunswick Wharf Power Station, also known as Blackwall Power Station, was decommissioned in 1984. The power plant was built on the River Thames in Blackwall, London, and was originally a coal- and oil-fired station. The site was controversial due to the potential for air pollution in a densely populated area of London, as well as the strategic significance of the location, which had been a target during the Blitz.

The station was built in stages between 1947 and 1956, on the former site of the East India Export Dock, originally known as the Brunswick Dock of the Blackwall Yard shipyard. The building was a large brick structure with fluted concrete chimneys, similar in design to the Battersea Power Station. The main civil engineering contractors for the project were Marples, Ridgeway and Partners, with other contractors including Peter Lind & Company, Redpath Brown & Company, Tileman and Company, and Metropolitan-Vickers.

The first phase of the power station was intended to be commissioned in 1948, but it did not begin supplying electricity until 1952. The station was officially opened in 1954 by Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine, the chairman of the British Electricity Authority (BEA). The final configuration of the station included 4 x 55 MW generators and 2 x 60 MW hydrogen-cooled generators, with a total capacity of 118 MW.

In 1958, the power station was used in an experiment called Operation Chimney Plume, conducted by the CEGB, to determine whether power station flue-gas plumes could penetrate fog layers. The experiment found that the hot flue-gas plumes from the Brunswick Wharf Power Station rose through and cleared the fog layer, while the cooler plumes from Battersea and Bankside power stations were subsumed within the fog.

The Central Electricity Generating Board, the successor to the BEA, had the power station converted from coal to oil in 1970-71. This conversion included the installation of the first solid-state furnace controls in the UK, carried out by Associated British Combustion. However, the 1973 oil crisis increased the price of oil, and the CEGB found itself with surplus generating capacity. As a result, the CEGB decommissioned the Brunswick Wharf Power Station in 1984 and sold the site in 1987. The power station was demolished between 1988 and 1989, except for the switchgear house, which was redeveloped in the 1990s. Today, the site is occupied by three blocks called Elektron Towers and a block called Switch House.

The site was redeveloped and Brunswick Wharf Substation remains

The site of the former Brunswick Wharf Power Station was redeveloped after its demolition in 1988–89. The power station, also known as Blackwall Power Station, was a coal- and oil-fired station on the River Thames at Blackwall in London. The station was built in stages between 1947 and 1956 and was decommissioned in 1984 due to the increased price of oil following the 1973 oil crisis.

The redevelopment of the site included the construction of three blocks called Elektron Towers and a block called Switch House. The current site also contains the Brunswick Wharf Substation, which remains as a reminder of the former power station. The substation is located on the site of the former power station, which was originally built on the site of the East India Export Dock, itself originally the Brunswick Dock of the Blackwall Yard shipyard.

The redevelopment of the Brunswick Wharf Power Station site has transformed the area, with new residential and commercial buildings occupying the space. The substation, however, stands as a reminder of the area's industrial past and continues to play an important role in providing electricity to the surrounding area.

Brunswick Corporation has been operating since 1845

The company expanded rapidly and, in 1848, opened its first branch office in Chicago, Illinois. Over the following decades, the company changed its name several times, reflecting the addition of new partners from John Brunswick's family. In 1874, the company merged with a competitor, Great Western Billiard Manufactory, to become the J. M. Brunswick & Balke Company. In 1884, the partners formed the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company with a capital of $1.5 million.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company expanded its product line beyond billiard tables, adding large ornate bars for saloons, bowling balls and pins, and other sporting equipment. They also began manufacturing a variety of diverse products, including toilet seats, automobile tires, and phonographs. In the 1930s, the company sold its record company to Warner Brothers and introduced a line of refrigerators.

During World War II, the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company supplied the U.S. military with small target-drone aircraft. After the war, the company continued to diversify its product offerings, introducing a line of school furniture and, in 1949, the "Model A" Mechanical Pinsetter for ten-pin bowling.

In 1960, the company officially changed its name to Brunswick Corporation. The following year, it acquired Mercury Marine and reported sales of $422 million. Over the subsequent decades, Brunswick Corporation continued to grow and expand its business, acquiring multiple companies and introducing new products. Today, Brunswick Corporation is one of the longest continually publicly-traded companies on the New York Stock Exchange, with global headquarters in Mettawa, Illinois, and operations in 24 countries.

Brunswick Corporation has expanded into many industries

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American company that has been manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. The company was founded by John Moses Brunswick, who came to the United States from Switzerland at the age of 14 or 15. Starting as a carriage-maker, Brunswick soon became fascinated with billiards and began making billiard tables. The company expanded and opened its first branch office in Chicago, Illinois, in 1848. Over the years, Brunswick merged with competitors and expanded its product line to include diverse items such as toilet seats, automobile tires, and phonographs.

In the early 20th century, Brunswick continued to diversify its product offerings. They introduced a line of disc phonograph records under the name Brunswick Records and later sold the record company to Warner Brothers. During World War II, Brunswick supplied the military with small target-drone aircraft. After the war, the company introduced a line of school furniture and, in 1949, premiered its "Model A" Mechanical Pinsetter for ten-pin bowling.

Brunswick continued to innovate and expand its business throughout the decades. They entered the bowling retail business and introduced a line of golfing equipment to compete in the leisure-products market. During the Gulf War, Brunswick supplied the military with camouflage nets and radomes for the Patriot missile. The company also ventured into the bicycle market by purchasing the Roadmaster bicycle division in 1997 but later sold it off due to competition from low-priced imports.

In the 21st century, Brunswick continued to evolve and diversify. They acquired Hatteras Yachts in 2001 and expanded their presence in the yacht and pleasure boat market. The company also ventured into the fitness equipment industry by acquiring Life Fitness in 1997 and later sold its fitness business in 2019. Brunswick has also established a strong presence in the marine industry, acquiring well-known boat brands such as Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Boston Whaler. In 2018, the company acquired Power Products' Global Marine & Mobile Business, further solidifying its position in the marine and recreational vehicle markets.

Today, Brunswick Corporation is a global leader in marine recreation, with over 60 industry-leading brands. The company continues to innovate and transform experiences on the water and beyond, leveraging its advanced technologies to deliver exceptional solutions. With operations in 25 countries and a commitment to sustainability, Brunswick remains a dynamic and trusted business partner.

Brunswick Corporation has been involved in defence contracts

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, has been involved in defence contracts since the First World War. During the war, the company supplied gun stocks and wooden wings for fighter planes.

During the Second World War, Brunswick received its first government contract and began manufacturing defence equipment for the US government. The company converted its facilities to produce items such as parachute bomb flares, assault boats, aircraft fuselages, illuminating mortar shells, and aircraft instrument panels. To augment its work, Brunswick acquired a manufacturing plant in Marion, Virginia. The company was awarded $1.6 million in government contracts and subsequently established a Defence Product Group in 1952.

During the Gulf War, Brunswick supplied the military with camouflage nets and radomes for the Patriot missile. The company has also been involved in manufacturing small target-drone aircraft, as well as developing a machine gun using a delayed blowback operation and an unusual grenade launcher that used a spherical rocket-propelled grenade.

In addition to its defence contracts, Brunswick has a long history in various industries, including recreational boating, marine engines, bowling, and billiards.

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