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The transcript is an interview with Denis Frearson as transcribed by Microsoft Word and summarised by ChatGPT and subject to errors.
Early Career and Background
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Denis Frearson began working at Concordia Electric in Long Eaton (near Nottingham) as an office boy, earning ten shillings a week.
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At Concordia, he met Oscar Engel, a German engineer who came to England in 1926 with a 10-year contract to develop enamelling machines.
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Engel gained British citizenship after this contract but eventually left Concordia to establish his own business.
Founding of Triangle Wire Works
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In 1936, Engel sought a location to set up a wireworks factory. He found premises in Ramsbottom.
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Denis joined Engel in January 1937, just after marrying. They initially lived together with another family before finding their own accommodation.
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Denis worked for Triangle from 1937 until 1978 (43 years).
Early Struggles and Development
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The business began with minimal facilities and relied heavily on Engel’s expertise and help from local mechanics.
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In the first years, the company made losses, but by the third year it turned a small profit.
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Denis helped both with production and sales, building relationships with major firms.
Production and Products
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The company specialised in enamelled copper wire, produced by repeatedly passing wire through enamelling and heating processes.
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Products were essential for electric motors, televisions, radios, washing machines, and general electrical equipment.
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In the late 1930s, Denis witnessed the birth of the British television industry, supplying firms in London with enamelled wire.
Impact of WWII
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When the war broke out, Engel’s German origins caused suspicion, though he was already a British citizen.
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The factory continued operating throughout the war, producing wire for electrical goods.
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Denis was exempted from military service because Engel insisted his technical knowledge was vital to keeping production going.
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Labour shortages meant long shifts (12 hours, often seven days a week). Women took on more roles, particularly winding wire onto reels.
Growth and Reputation
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Triangle developed strong relationships with key clients, including Murphy Radio (Welwyn Garden City), Ferguson, Philips, English Electric, and GEC.
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By offering fast delivery — even setting up a London depot for overnight distribution — Triangle outperformed larger rivals in responsiveness.
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The firm became one of the top five wire manufacturers in Britain, competing with giants like AEI and GEC.
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Engel secured cheap machinery from bankrupt firms, which helped the company grow at low cost.
Workforce and Conditions
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Jobs at Triangle were much sought after, despite modest wages, because the company was steady and provided good working conditions.
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Workers often described it as a “family firm,” with staff parties, recognition for long service, and close relationships.
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Denis recalls teaching younger workers basic literacy skills when needed.
Takeovers and Corporate Changes
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Over time, Triangle was taken over by Winterbottom Industries, later absorbed by larger groups including GEC.
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Despite ownership changes, Denis remained in a senior role, becoming second to Engel and later Sales Director.
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After Engel retired, a successor from outside the firm was appointed, which disappointed Denis.
Engel’s Life and Legacy
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Engel (full name: Oscar Engel) avoided using his surname prominently for fear of anti-German sentiment, especially during the war.
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He was respected by workers as fair, generous, and brilliant, though private about his personal life.
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Engel and his wife had no children and considered the workforce as their “family.”
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He died around 1968, aged about 68. His wife lived into her 90s.
Denis’s Reflections
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Denis valued his 43 years at Triangle as “a very happy life.”
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He was proud of the company’s resilience, reputation, and role in powering Britain’s growing electrical industry.
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He described the close-knit community, the parties, and the loyalty of workers as highlights of his career.
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Retired in 1978 after being offered a redundancy package when GEC rationalised the business.
Key Themes
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Immigrant entrepreneurship: Engel, a German émigré, built a successful British company despite prejudice.
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Industrial growth: Triangle contributed significantly to Britain’s electrical and television industries.
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Wartime challenges: Labour shortages, long hours, and suspicions about German connections.
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Community and loyalty: Strong bonds between workers, with the factory functioning like a family.
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Corporate consolidation: Small firms like Triangle eventually absorbed by industrial giants.
👉 This detailed account captures the company history, technological importance, wartime role, workforce culture, and Engel’s personal story, all as remembered by Denis Frearson
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