Hordern-Richmond was a British aeronautical engineering company that traded between 1937 and c. 1990.
History
Hordern-Richmond Aircraft Ltd was registered as a private company on 29 April 1937 with a nominal capital of £10,000 in 10,000 shares of £1. The objects were to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in aircraft and aeronautical equipment.
Frederick Gordon-Lennox, 9th Duke of Richmond
Frederick Charles Gordon Lennox, 9th Duke of Richmond, 9th Duke of Lennox, 9th Duke of Aubigny, 4th Duke of Gordon (5 February 1904 – 2 November 1989) was a British peer, engineer, racing driver, and motor racing promoter.
Biography
Freddi ...
with Edmund Hordern (former test pilot of
Heston Aircraft Company Ltd.) originally formed the company with the intention of producing aircraft of their own design, specifically the
Hordern-Richmond Autoplane, based at
Denham Aerodrome
Denham Aerodrome is an operational general aviation aerodrome located east of Gerrards Cross, near Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. It lies beneath London's Class D airspace. VFR entry/exit points are at Maple Cross (CHT) and St Giles Ch ...
. As the time did not appear appropriate, effort was concentrated on the production of wooden airscrews, with the intention of using plastics and compressed woods for the same purpose at a later date. The company employed A.A.D. Lang, who had long experience of airscrew production and Tony Fletcher as chief designer. Hordern-Richmond merged with Lang Propellers of Weybridge, and a new factory was built at
Haddenham, near Thame, Buckinghamshire. In April 1940 ''
Flight
Flight or flying is the process by which an object moves through a space without contacting any planetary surface, either within an atmosphere (i.e. air flight or aviation) or through the vacuum of outer space (i.e. spaceflight). This can be a ...
'' magazine reported that the
de Havilland company acquired an interest in the company with A.S. Butler taking a seat on the board.
Personnel
The Board and Management as constituted was: Chairman, The Duke of Richmond and Gordon; Managing Director, E. G. Hordern; Directors, A. A. D. Lang, H. S. K. Civil-Davies, C. Campbell, A. S. Butler (of de Havilland Aircraft), and C. D. Harrison; Chief Designer, A. A. Fletcher; Works Manager, A. J. Stevens; Secretary, W. J. Drummond.
The company's principal business was the development and production of airscrews using its Hydulignum laminated wood process to form the propeller blades. This product is still used today by the Permali group of companies.
Permali and Hordern-Richmond merger
In 1954 Permali Limited purchased Hordern-Richmond Limited, both companies were manufacturers of
densified wood laminates and Bakelized products, Permali under the trade names "Permali" and "Dialam." Hordern-Richmond were manufacturers of "Hydulignum" wood laminates and other products. In 1956 a new Permali factory at Gloucester was opened. This factory brought together the various manufacturing processes within the Permali group, which includes Hordern-Richmond, Ltd., Hydulignum-Jabroc (Tools), Ltd., and Jabroc, Ltd., under the trade names "Permali," "Permawood," "Hydulignum" and "Jabroc," together with "Dialam" Bakelized paper bushings and "Permaglass" glass-fibre laminates.
[Flight, 9 November 1956]
Permali companies in the UK still trading in 2013
As new composite material technologies were developed and as older technologies were replaced, there have been a number of new companies formed as a result of corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions. Permali Gloucester Limited now concentrates on composite materials using glass and aramid fibres, and used in defence and medical markets, and is privately owned following a management buy-out in 1998. Permali Deho Limited is owned by a German company, and continues to make laminated wood composites. Mekufa UK Limited manufactures epoxy insulation products used mainly in electrical engineering applications.
Hercules Propellers acquires Hordern Richmond Ltd
In 201
Hercules Propellers Limited whose principle business is a worldwide aircraft propeller manufacturer, acquire
Hordern Richmond Aircraft Limited Both companies are now based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK.
Rupert Wasey, CEO of Hercules Propellers and Hordern Richmond received an archive of over 100 original technical drawings for Hordern Richmond designed aircraft propellers, dating back to the late 1930s, The drawings had seemingly been lost for over half a century. In 2019, the 1942 Hordern Richmond Spitfire propeller drawings were used to enable the manufacture a new propeller blades for airworthy Spitfires. Propellers for Spitfire aircraft and many other vintage aircraft types are now back in production under the Hordern Richmond Aircraft Limited name, supplying the community of vintage aircraft owners and operators.
In 2015 Hordern Richmond Aircraft Limited launched an aviation inspired gift collection which include
The Spitfire Pen made from decommissioned WWII Spitfire Propellers.
Hordern Richmond still has strong links with the Duke of Richmonds family and the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex.
See also
*
List of aircraft propeller manufacturers
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hordern Richmond
Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Technology companies established in 1937
Aerospace companies of the United Kingdom
Aircraft propeller manufacturers
Manufacturing companies established in 1937
1937 establishments in England
Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1998
1998 disestablishments in England