{{Short description|British-based firework company}} thumb|alt=Standard Fireworks advert from 1928|Standard fireworks poster from 1928, showing children playing with fireworks {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Use British English|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox company | name = Standard Fireworks | logo = | type = Limited company | industry = | fate = | predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = --> | successor = <!-- or: | successors = --> | founded = {{Start date and age|1891}} in Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire | founder = James Greenhalgh | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | hq_location_city = Huddersfield | hq_location_country = | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = | products = Pyrotechnics | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | num_employees = 100+ | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | parent = Black Cat Fireworks | website = {{URL|https://www.blackcatfireworks.co.uk/}} }}
'''Standard Fireworks''' is a former British-based firework company, now a brand name of the Chinese firm Black Cat Fireworks.
==History== Standard was founded in 1891 by James Greenhalgh — pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n|h|æ|l|ʃ}} (Greenhalsh) — in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.<ref name=GGSF>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Tweedie |title=Standard Fireworks |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Standard_Fireworks |website=Gracesguide.co.uk|access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> Due to expansion, in 1910 the firm moved to its current site in Crosland Hill where, during the First and Second World Wars, the company produced munitions for the war effort. After the Second World War the company expanded its operations with two new sites in South Elmsall.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thomas |first=Matt |title=Standard Fireworks|url=https://thestoryofsouthelmsall.co.uk/2024/11/02/standard-fireworks/|access-date=15 December 2024|website=thestoryofsouthelmsall.co.uk|date=2 November 2024}}</ref> The Crossland Moor site also functioned as a firework testing range and a distribution centre, both under the management of Sergeant Major Ellis Wood.
In 1959 the company was floated on the Stock Market and a period of domination in the UK fireworks industry began, with many retailers having to wait several years for an account with the company. In 1988 Standard bought Brocks Fireworks Ltd. This led to all firework activity being transferred to the Huddersfield site making Standard one of the largest employers in the Yorkshire region, with over 500 workers.
In 1998 Standard went into receivership.<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Bond |title=A blast from the past |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/a-blast-from-the-past-1-2588912 |newspaper=The Yorkshire Post |location=Leeds |date=3 November 2005 |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> They were purchased by China-based Black Cat Fireworks, bringing an end to production in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Rowe |title=British fireworks industry fizzles out |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/british-fireworks-industry-fizzles-out-1182055.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/british-fireworks-industry-fizzles-out-1182055.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=1 November 1998 |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> The Standard brand is now one of several trading names of Black Cat in the UK, with the former Standard offices now the UK headquarters for this operation.<ref name=GGSF/>
A box of Standard Fireworks was at the centre of a story that comedian Bob Mortimer told on the TV show ''Would I Lie To You?''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqmd39GdDww |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/Rqmd39GdDww |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Did Bob Mortimer once set fire to his house with a box of fireworks? - Would I Lie to You? [CC]|date=26 May 2016 |access-date=23 October 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.blackcatfireworks.co.uk/}}
Category:British brands Category:English brands Category:Fireworks companies Category:Companies based in Huddersfield Category:1891 establishments in England Category:Chemical companies established in 1891 Category:Manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom Category:British companies established in 1891 Category:Companies disestablished in 1998 Category:1998 disestablishments in England