An economic gas cooker of pre-war years. An illustration used in the article and scanned from the newspaper mircofilm roll.

From the seventeenth of an Express weekly industrial feature "We Can Make It" by Allan Halstead. The series outlines each firm's history and development and tells the story of ordinary people. It was linked with a competition "Unsung Hero '71" with a prize of a holiday in Ireland with a companion. The winner to be announced on 22nd June 1971. To find all this series of articles search the website using the words - unsung hero.

This enterprise began in a small plumber's business near Gannow Lane when Mr. Walter Pilkington launched out in 1922 making domestic equipment from sheet metal. Since then there has been a remarkable flexibility in switching of products as fashions changed. From an early gas oven and washer (displayed at the Preston Guild) to the latest automatic gas fire which switches itself on and off to a pre-set pattern. Harry Judson, (travelling salesman) with 47 years service remembers in 1926 the need to expand and the move from Guy Street to Mitre Yard. The next move in 1932 was to the former Greenwood's Flour Mill (Pilling Field Mill, Aqueduct Street, built in 1863), and in 1939 the firm were at Junction Street Mills. During the war the firm produced rocket canisters and four-gallon petrol drums. They also produced many thousands of "dixies" - 4 gallon camp kettles - used in cookhouses to feed the army.

Brothers Harry and Roy Pilkington carry on their father's business and are ensuring the future by alliances with other factories under the Economic Group and by shortly transferring to larger premises at Fulledge Mill in Burnley. The brothers are confident that the benefits of North Sea gas will come in around 1975 and that they will be ready to meet all its demands.

More information about the business can be found at https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Economic_Gas_Boiler_Co