Warren and Brown

The company of Warren and Brown was founded as a partnership in 1921 by Mr Andrew C. Brown and Mr William H. Warren, commencing at this time as "jobbing engineers", specializing in tool making and gear cutting.
Extension of work
After carrying out work of this nature for several years, the Company's production focus shifted to the manufacture of tools to service the motor trade which was then in its infancy. An early innovation was tooling for inserting valve seats into cylinder heads; This would remain a "W & B" speciality.
The business was gradually extended with the development of a number of production lines suited to automotive reconditioning equipment.
In December 1930 the partnership was converted into a proprietary company.
World War II
At the outbreak of World War II the factory's resources were used to aid the war effort and apart from manufacturing its normal range of products, the company took a leading part in production of tools and gauges for military purposes and was largely responsible for the more important tooling associated with .303 ammunition.
The company was next approached by the United States Government's Director of Machine Tools and Gauges and requested to undertake the manufacture of a range of s. These chucks had never been manufactured in Australia before and information regarding overseas manufacturing procedures was not available. Warren and Brown commenced an extensive design and tooling programme and after many initial problems made their first deliveries of chucks to Government in February, 1942. Substantial protection was needed during its post-war expansion.
In 1948, Warren and Brown took out patents on what has now become known as the "Dual Signal" trip mechanism for their range of torque wrenches. They were released onto the market in 1949 and to this day still hold a major share of the Australian market despite an onslaught of cheap imports.
Renamed Warren and Brown and Staff, the company became a privately owned Proprietary Limited company.
Under this structure the company has continued as a manufacturer and supplier of specialized tools to the automotive, industrial, electrical and electronic industries.
When the company applied its electronics expertise to its long established clinical air pumps, this resulted in the first switch mode circuit being designed and patented in Australia. This circuit, which can operate on either 12volts DC or 90 to 260 AC enabled suffers of asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and other respiratory ailments to be fully mobile, as the pump could operate in a car and aeroplane or from any domestic electricity system around the world.
Warren and Brown is established in export markets throughout the world with its traditional range of automotive tools and equipment. Global markets include the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, the United States and Asia.
Achievements
*Exertech Exercise Monitoring Equipment, in conjunction with Repco Research and the Australian Institute of Sport.
*Electronic Switch Mode Circuit for Multivoltage Air Pumps.
*World's first Cylinder Head machine.
*World's first modular design Dynamic Wheel Balancer.
*Development of Synchronized Valve Seat Honing System.
*Development of tooling and methods to extrude fire-retardant plastics.
*Development of factory service tools for Ford, GMH and Nissan.
Telecommunications
Through the Lightpaths brand Warren and Brown Technologies have continued to develop a range of telecommunications products through various research & development programs. Specialising in optic fiber management, distribution and termination Warren and Brown along with major telecommunications companies have developed new age FTTH solutions.
Hand tools
The other side of Warren and Brown's success has been its range of precision tools including torque wrenches, soldering irons, including the unique "Scope" range, and various hand tools

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