I have been carrying out some research into the Granta story. In a nutshell, Granta was originally Folboat, based in London, originally segt up by J Kissner. After Kissner decided to emigrate to US to set up business there in about 1936, AS Cavender took over the London business, which at the outbreak of WW2 was contracted to build folding kayaks for the military. Before the order was completed, the London premises were bombed. The work was then transferred to two other companies - one of which was Tyne. Granta moved to Cottenham, near Cambridge sometime during or soon after the WW2, and at sometime the Walter Kidde Co took over the assets of Folboat in UK but I do not have any further details on this. Granta then continued production of a selection of boats until the 1960s, or perhaps sometime later, when the interests, as already stated were passed over. The trail then goes somewhat cooler however, I believe the interests of Granta are now owned by Ottersport! s as already stated. I do have quite a lot of additional information which at some time will be put on the net on an unofficial site of the Historic Canoe and Kayak Association for which I write the quarterly Newsletter. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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