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PLUMBING CONNECTION
AUTUMN 2015
CRANE COPPER CLOSES ITS DOORS
COMPANY BEGINNINGS & EARLY
YEARS
Crane Copper Tube can trace its
history back to 1867 when George
Ekins Crane established the building
supplies firm of G E Crane and Sons in
Circular Quay, Sydney.
In 1893 G E Crane & Sons
established the Sydney Lead works
which operated until 1930 and was
known for converting pig iron from
Broken Hill into lead sheet, pipes, wire,
rods, bars, sash weights and glazing
lead.
The Crane business continued as a
family business for 41 years until 1908
when conversion to company status
was made.
At this time it was known for its own
building lines, ornate stamped steel
ceilings, sheet metal manufacturing
and wrought ironwork.
In the First World War years the
Crane Company expanded its plant and
machinery and commenced making
collapsible metal tubes.
Following the war, the company
expanded its metal work to include
plumbers’ brassware and copper sheet
manufacture.
The Depression years (1929-1935)
interrupted the rapid rate of progress
but the business avoided operating
losses during these grim years by
producing lead, guttering and down
pipes, copper sheet, aluminium tools
and dies and aerosol cans.
In 1937 the company acquired
a majority interest in C.O.N Pty
Limited located in Brisbane. This
gave G E Crane control of a major
manufacturing plant for high and
low-pressure plumbers’ brassware
supplying the Queensland market.
WAR YEARS AND MANUFACTURING
INNOVATIONS
At the outbreak of World War II, G E
Crane & Sons had almost completed
the installation of a non-ferrous metal
rolling mill at its Concord site. The role
of this plant was changed through the
war effort and, at the Government’s
request, G E Crane and Sons became
the first company in Australia to
roll aluminium sheet for aircraft
production. This pioneering role was
the beginning of the modern aluminium
industry.
Four years after WWII, G E Crane
& Sons Limited converted to a
public company and its shares were
first listed on the Australian Stock
Exchange in 1949. The first directors
of the company were four of founder
George Ekin’s oldest sons – Frederick,
Henry, Alfred and Walter. Walter took
on the position of managing director of
the Sydney Lead Works.
In June 1961, Crane Enfield Metals
Pty Limited, a jointly-owned company
by the G E Crane group and Enfield
Rolling Mills of England was formed at
Concord to produce copper tube for
the plumbing industry. Rapid growth
brought about this company’s move to
Crane Copper Tubes current location
at Penrith. The plant was expanded to
include an aluminium extrusion plant
in 1964.
Further expansion came in 1971
THE CRANE COPPER TUBE FACTORY IN PENRITH CEASED MANUFACTURING AND DOMESTIC TRADING AT THE END
OF 2014 AND IS TRANSITIONING OUT OF EXPORT TRADING. THE CLOSURE MARKS AN END OF AN ERA. PLUMBING
CONNECTION LOOKS BACK OVER THE HISTORY OF A COMPANY LONG ASSOCIATED WITH MANUFACTURING
INNOVATION IN AUSTRALIA.
Copper Crane Tube’s Penrith site will remain in Fletcher Building ownership once
the plant and other assets are sold or removed.
END OF AN ERA