Electrocult Ltd

Photo:Electrocult Ltd, offices, with caretaker's flat above, 1950s

Electrocult Ltd, offices, with caretaker's flat above, 1950s

Photo:Alec Holton & Harry Joyce, c. 1945

Alec Holton & Harry Joyce, c. 1945

B. Joyce, LHS archives

Photo:Inside the Electorcult factory, c. 1945

Inside the Electorcult factory, c. 1945

Company brochure, LHS archive

Photo:Letterhead for Electrocult, c 1950

Letterhead for Electrocult, c 1950

Manufacturers of soil sterilizers

By Rosemary Ross

Brian Joyce recently donated a file of photographs and copies of brochures from Electrocult Ltd, the firm for which his father, Harry Joyce, worked from November 1940. 

The company had started in premises in Thomsons Close, a short way up from Bowers Parade on the left hand side.  They made electrical items to support the horticultural business, such as soil sterilizers and electrical heating equipment for greenhouses.  They later moved to Station Road, Batford and became involved in other general sheet metal work products, including some for the aircraft industry.  

The company was presumably incorporated into Bedco, later Imhof-Bedco, whose factory was demolished in the 1990s.  The site is now occupied by Balfour Court, a development of about 60 flats.

Some documentation about Electrocult, including trade leaflets, is held at the Museum of Rural Life.

 

This page was added by Rosemary Ross on 25/01/2011.
Comments about this page

Does anyone remember Mr. Jack Walsh at Imhof - I think they moved to an ex-Electrolux factory in Luton.

By M Turner
On 17/04/2012

I hope this helps: I remember Jack Walsh. He was the head of the maintenence department when I worked there years ago. I can reemember many names and faces and if you are looking for more information I can probably help. I served my time at Bedco and it was a great company in which to work. I would like to catch up with ex-employees of the company, but now live in Eire.

By Dave Lawson
On 01/05/2012

To Dave Lawson; Many thanks for info. I googled I/B to see if they were still around, because we worked for Jack Walsh as outside contractors, usually on the ancient boilers at Harpenden, but latterly in fitting-out the heating at Luton. I know his son worked there, but can't remember any other contacts on site. Just remembering some of our sites after a long career in industrial heating and saw the comments page. Regards; M Turner.

By M. Turner
On 19/06/2012

During the mid 1970s I visited Imhof Bedco many times as a lorrry driver, working as a sub contractor for Seabourne Express of Barking; we carried mixed freight mainly for the motor industry and the growing computer market. I was travelling mainly to Scandinavia and IBM sometimes made up the bulk of the outward journey to their factory in Jarfalla, just north of Stockholme, often reloading empty IBM wooden crates in Jarfalla destined for Imhof Bedco in Harpenden, where I think the crates went for cleaning.

A load to Imhof was very convenient for me as I lived for a short time in Aysgarth Close off Crabtree Lane, sometimes parking my lorry in the car park in Amenbury Lane, which I'm sure was frowned upon at the time....Happy days though!

Nick Eagle, Bedford.

By Nick Eagle
On 07/04/2015
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