Dowty - 21st Anniversary

Founded in 1931, Dowty Equipment celebrated its 21st Anniversary in 1952 and here were some of the achievements:

• 1931 The firms first order came from the Kawasaki company, Japan, for internally sprung aircraft wheels. In the execution of this order the company Aircraft Components was established

• 1933 There were 11 employees working for Aircraft Components

• 1934 The begining of two long associations with famous aircraft constructors commenced with order for Dowty undercarriages for the Gloster Gladiator and tail wheels for the Bristol Bulldog. In this year, the total employees numbered 45

• 1935 Orders on the books only totalled £5,000. In the same year Arle Court House was purchased

• 1939 By this time the order book had reached £10,000 and Dowty had established companies in USA and Canada

• 1940 Company named changed from Aircraft Components to Dowty Equipment Ltd

• 1942 First Ashchurch factory acquired

• 1946 Manufacturing of Pit Props and Moulded Seals commenced at Ashchurch acquired

Chris Wren a famous cartoonist for various aviation magazines, published the cartoon below, to celebrate Dowtys 21st Anniversary