First came a mains sync movement known as model 701. Cases were all of wood to a high standard. In order to offer a full range of products Metamec bought in clockwork movements from Smiths and fitted them in their own cases.
In 1948 a compression press was obtained and the movement capsule, hitherto bought in, was made in the works as also were plastic case mouldings.
March 1955 saw a new factory in use and this was expanded and new manufacturing processes adopted, including bezel production,dial making, screen printing, brass machining and electroplating.
During 1950s and '60s major changes were the introduction of thermoplastics for clock parts and cases and the introduction of a battery operated movement. At first the battery movements were of a rewind type bought in (probably from Mauthe) but later transistor movements were used.
The factory was enlarged during 1960s and '70s and employed about 750 people with some 350 models and a production increasing to 25,000 per week. Metamec was then the largest clock manufacturer in the UK.
In the mid 70s quartz movements came into use, at first bought in. Then in 77/78 metamec made its own movement which was assembled automatically reaching a peak of one movement every four to five seconds!
It appears that Metamecs share of the market declined due to penetration by the German clock industry and imports from the far east and Metamec decided to put all its export efforts into a subsidiary for the American market.
The company slowly reduced its labour force to 250. It went into receivership in December 1984 and was purchased in Jan 1985 by FKI of Halifax, Yorks who continued to use the name until 1993.
One interesting adaptation of the 30 hour wind up movement was the fitting of a metering device, as required by an insurance company, so that florins had to be fed into the clock at intervals to keep it going. By this means a policy holder was encouraged to put aside his premiums in small amounts. These clocks are sometimes called "tick clocks" where "tick" is slang for "credit". Officially they were known as SM clocks (Savings Movement)