Glenfield & Kennedy
Thomas Kennedy came to Kilmarnock from the West Highlands
in 1824. He had realised the need for an accurate device for
measuring water consumption, and with the help of John Cameron, the
local clockmaker, he perfected a design that was patented in 1852.
A syndicate of four people was formed to finance the manufacture
and marketing of the invention, and this led to the formation in
1896 of a private company called "The Kennedy Patent Water Meter
Co. Ltd.". In 1865 the same individuals formed the Glenfield Co.
Ltd to make castings for the Meter Company but gradually widened
its interests and built up an extensive valve and hydraulic
engineering business. In 1899 the two companies merged to form
Glenfield and Kennedy Ltd., which became the largest company of its
type in the Commonwealth.
Click here for information on Thomas Kennedy.