Walter Kidde Inc.
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| Subsidiary of UTC | |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Headquarters | Mebane, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Parent | United Technologies Corporation |
| Website | www |
Kidde (/ˈkɪdə/) is a brand and division of United Technologies Corporation. It is a group of businesses that manufactures and distributes fire detection and suppression equipment, as well as smoke and CO alarm units. Kidde is one of America's largest manufacturer of smoke alarms and fire safety products. Kidde Fire Safety North America is headquartered in Mebane, NC.
The company was founded by Walter Kidde in 1917 in the United States. The founder was of Czech ancestry, and unrelated to the Danish author Harald Kidde.
Walter Kidde founded Kidde Inc. in 1917 with $300 he had in savings. In 1918 the company, then known as Walter Kidde & Company, purchased the rights to the "Rich" system a way to detect fires on board ships.
In 1923, Kidde purchased the patent rights for a siphon device that allowed quick release of carbon dioxide, improving the function of fire extinguishers. In 1924, the company produced the first portable carbon dioxide fire extinguisher and in 1925 it installed the first built in industrial fire extinguishing system. In 1926, Walter Kidde & Company partnered with the Navy to design a system to protect airplane engines against fires.
The company established a British operation at Northolt in 1935 as its first overseas operation. The company further expanded to Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.
When Walter Kidde died in 1943 his son John took control of the company. At that time, the company employed over 5,000 people, and was producing over $60 million of war supplies.
At the end of WWII the company saw a significant drop in sales. In the 1950’s, the company diversified into machinery and tool manufacturing, siphon devices for consumer and medical uses, and aircraft accessories.
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