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Hivac

    
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Hivac was the brand name of The High Vacuum Valve Co Ltd, 113-117 Farringdon Road, London, EC1 (in 1938). This company looks to have been formed from The Freedman Valve Co Ltd.

Hivac introduced its first valves in 1932 when just three types were produced. In 1935 the company, which traded under the brand name of HIVAC, started the manufacture of miniature valves, a specialist area in which they soon became a market leader. These miniature valves were produced for use in portable radio equipment and also for hearing aid amplifiers. At the end of 1936 Hivac announced a unique 'All-Purpose Valve', having five grids and a critical-distance anode; by various connection methods the valve could be used in a wide range of applications.

It is believed that Pye Ltd (of Cambridge) acquired an interest in Hivac in the 1930bs. The controlling interest in the company passed to Automatic Telephone and Electric Co. Ltd. in 1939, and in 1944 they became the sole owners.

By 1948, Hivac Ltd., had relocated to Greenhill Crescent, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex. In 1955 and 1970, at Stonefield Way, Victoria Road, South Ruislip, Middlesex. Post war they made only miniature devices, valves and 'Nixie' tubes.

ATE was acquired by Plessey in the early 1960s.

References: 1004 et al.

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