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Cameron Balloons is acompany established in 1971 inBristol, England, byDon Cameron to manufacturehot air balloons.[1] Cameron had previously, with others, constructed ten hot air balloons under the name Omega.[2] Production was in the basement of his house, moving in 1972 to an old church in the city. In 1983 Cameron Balloons moved into its current premises in the former Robinsons paper bag/printing factory (built in 1887 in theBedminster area of the city).[3] In 1989 the company received theQueen's Award for Export.
| Industry | Balloon manufacture |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 April 1971 |
| Headquarters | , England |
Key people | Don Cameron |
| Website | Cameron Balloons Ltd. |
Output has grown to around 110 balloons per year. As of December 2007[update], Cameron Balloons accounted for 1,073 of the 1,553 hot air balloons registered with theUnited Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.[4]Cameron Balloons is also famous for its special shapes, the first being Robertson's Golly, constructed in 1975. Most special shapes are made for commercial advertising, but some have been bought privately. Notable amongst these private buyers is the lateMalcolm Forbes ofForbes magazine, who commissioned a number of special shapes, includingHarley-Davidson motorbike,Sphinx, bust ofBeethoven, FrenchChateau,Pagoda andMinaret.[5][6] The company also produced the BBC Globe balloon, made popular by theBBC One 'Balloon' idents.[7] More recently the company has manufactured special shapes forKAWS[8] andPatricia Piccinini.[9]
Expansion via acquisitions
editDuring the 1990s, the company strengthened its position, via a string of acquisitions. First, Cameron acquired its main British competitor Thunder & Colt Balloons.[10] Then, it bought the smaller Sky Balloons, which had been formed by former Thunder & Colt employees after the company's sale.[11] Finally, Cameron acquired two-thirds ownership ofLindstrand Balloons, which had been formed byPer Lindstrand after he left Thunder & Colt in the early 1990s.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Work Life: Hannah Cameron, Hot-Air Balloon Pilot". Stylist. Archived fromthe original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved16 November 2015.
- ^"Omegas, Western & Cameron". Ballooning History.Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved16 November 2015.
- ^"The History of Cameron Balloons Ltd. (Bristol)". Balloning History.Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved16 November 2015.
- ^"G-INFO database search".United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved31 December 2008.
- ^"Bristol lift-off for billionaire's flying chateau".Bristol Post. 26 September 2009. Archived fromthe original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved16 November 2015.
- ^"We Made It: Cameron Balloons". Bruichladdich. Archived fromthe original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved16 November 2015.
- ^"Last flight for BBC balloon".BBC News. 9 August 2002.Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved5 November 2022.
- ^"Artist KAWS GIGANTIC".Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved18 January 2023 – viaYouTube.
- ^"Skywhales".Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved18 January 2023 – viaYouTube.
- ^"Thunder & Colt". Airship and Blimp Resources.Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved16 November 2015.
- ^"Manuals and TCDSs". Easy Balloons. 2 April 2012.Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved16 November 2015.
- ^"19 jobs go as Oswestry hot air balloon factory closes".Shropshire Star. 15 April 2015.Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved16 November 2015.