ERIC'S EKCO AND OTHER ECHOES SUCH AS ECCO AND ECKO! PART 2 - THE WAR YEARS TO THE SWINGING 60'S

 Wartime brought its own challenges as Ekco struggled with essential and secret war work leading to shadow factories being established in Malmesbury, Aylesbury, Preston, Woking and Rutherglen. The Southend-on-Sea factory continued making bakelite mouldings with the remainder of the site being turned over to making  wiring looms for military aircraft . 

It is estimated that by 1945 EKCO had over 8,000 people working for it across various sites and Mr Cole was a pioneer in paid holidays for employees, workplace pensions and apprenticeships which ensured a loyal and stable workforce.  Ala, the employee numbers dwindled from this point following a period of consolidation after Ekco bought Dynatron in 1954 , Ferranti Radio in 1957 before finally merging with Pye in 1960 to form a new holding company, British Electronic Industries Ltd (BEL).

In 1961, Cole resigned from the board of BEL and retired.  He died on 18 November 1966 in the Bahamas due to a bathing accident, his wife Muriel having predeceased him in 1965.

British Electronic Industries was put up for sale in 1966, and in the same year Pye closed the Southend-on-Sea factory  which then became the Access Credit Card Headquarters in late 1966.

By the early 1970s the Ekco brand had all but disappeared.

The story continues BUT you will have to wait till next week for Part 3!