CHUBB HISTORY

Founded in 1818
by Charles and
Jeremiah Chubb

Discover more Discover more

1818

Charles and Jeremiah Chubb respond to the increasing demand for greater security by inventing the original secure lock mechanism, patented as the Detector Lock.

1835

The Chubb brothers patent the burglar resistant safe.

1870s

A Time Lock mechanism is developed for protecting vault and safe doors. Although the designs have since been refined, the basic principles of security and quality have remained the same.

1881

Read & Campbell Ltd is established by two Scottish engineers who register a design in GB to cover the “arrangement for piercing capsules” to expel water, carbon tetrachloride etc by means of a CO2 cartridge (the patent was granted in 1909).

1903

Minimax opens its first office in London and soon becomes world-renowned for its conical extinguisher – The Minimax.

1907

Pyrene Company of Delaware is set up by a Scottish engineer.

1910

Rampart Engineering Company Ltd is formed to make fire extinguishers for the trade by Leonard Jones, the grandson of Samuel Jones – the founder of Samuel Jones and Co Ltd (paper converters and finishers).

1911

Read and & Campbell takes out a patent in Argentina for its ‘Petrolex’ extinguisher – designed for fighting petrol fires.

1912

Rampart Engineering becomes the engineering department of Samuel Jones and Co Ltd.

1914

Pyrene Company Ltd is brought to the UK by Wallace B Phillips in London selling pump extinguishers.

1929

Rampart Engineering officially changes its name to Samuel Jones and Co (Engineering) Ltd.

1941

Panorama Equipment is established to produce industrial safety equipment.

1945

Chubb expands its operations overseas and extends its product range into fire protection.

1955

Pyrene Company Ltd purchases Minimax.

1959

Pyrene purchases the safety product business of Panorama Equipment, and trades as Pyrene Panorama.

1962

Chubb acquires Burgot Alarms and Rely-a-Bell, moving the company into electronic security for the first time, resulting in the launch of Chubb Alarms.

1964

Chubb and Sons acquires Read and Campbell but it continues to operate at Read and Campbell until the formation of Chubb Fire Security Ltd in 1971.

1967

Chubb and Sons takes over Pyrene, which it continues to operate under the name Pyrene until 1971.

1968

Chubb and Sons Ltd purchases Samuel Jones (Engineering) Ltd, in 1971 acquires Fireward Ltd (specialist manufacturers of 1997 plastic bodied fire extinguishers).

1971

Chubb Fire Security Ltd is formed from the Chubb Security and a number of businesses owned by Chubb (who had been trading under their own names up until that date).

1975

Chubb Fire launches its new range of extinguishers under the banner ‘seize and squeeze’ standardising the head so that it is operated by withdrawing a pin and squeezing a lever for all types of extinguisher.

1984

Racal Electronic Group acquires Chubb Fire Security Ltd.

1992

Chubb emerges from Racal to form Chubb Security plc.

1993

Williams plc – security and home improvement group acquires Chubb. Williams plc buys Thorn Fire Protection and re-brands the business Kidde Thorn (started 1918 and originally specialised in marine fire detection and extinguishing systems).

1996

Chubb is first to market with European Standard extinguishers. Chubb launch The Hydrospray Elite 3 Litre extinguisher, later named as a ‘Millennium Product’ by the UK’s Design Council.

1997

Chubb merges with Kidde Thorn. The group now offer an unparalleled product range.

2000

A Swedish-based lock manufacturer, Assa Abloy acquires Chubb’s Lock Security Group in August. In November, Chubb de-merges from Williams plc to become Chubb plc (fire and security install and service) and Kidde de-merges to become Kidde plc (fire and security products).

2003

United Technologies Corporation (UTC) acquires Chubb plc in July.

2007

In July, UTC expands its UK coverage and capabilities by purchasing Initial Fire and Security, and integrating them into Chubb’s UK business. Initial traces its security roots back to 1962, with the founding of ‘Shorrocks’.

2018

Chubb celebrates its 200 year anniversary. In that time Chubb has become a globally-recognised fire and security service business. Its technology and service solutions are essential in an ever changing world.

2020

UTC separates out its commercial businesses. Carrier is now a stand-alone business of which Chubb forms a part.

2022

APi Group Corporation (NYSE: APG), a global, market-leading business services provider of safety and specialty services, acquires Chubb in January.

2022 and beyond

Chubb is a globally-recognised fire and security service business, building on the legacy of its founding fathers, with advancements that continue to make its technology and service solutions essential in an ever-changing world. Now part of APi Group Corporation (NYSE: APG), a global, market-leading business services provider of safety and specialty services.

Discover more
about our range
of fire safety solutions

Discover more
about our range
of fire safety solutions

Discover more about our range of fire safety solutions

Contact Email