Chubb locks brand to disappear

The iconic Chubb brand, synonymous with the Black Country for almost 200 years, is to disappear from the high street, it emerged today.

The famous name will be replaced in August next year, nine years after Chubb was taken over by Willenhall-based Assa Abloy.

The company said today it will still continue to make the locks created by the Chubb brand but, apart from jail locks, its products will no longer bear the name.

The news follows the end of negotiations over licensing agreements between Assa Albloy and UTC, the American company that owns the rights to the name.

Assa Abloy manufactures and sells locks branded as Chubb under two UTC licences. The first, which covers most of the products, expires next year. The second licence for custodial products will not expire until 2100.

Tradition

Paul Browne, business director at Assa Alboy which also has other brands including Yale and Union, said today: "We know the Chubb name has a long tradition and loyal customer following so in an ideal world, we would have continued with the brand. But we also understand UTC's decision.

"Although we recognise this will be a surprise for customers, the reality is that nothing will really change other than the name."

Chubb was started as a ship's ironmonger by Charles Chubb in Winchester, before the company moved to Portsmouth and then into the locksmith business in Wolverhampton.

The company worked out of a number of premises in the city, including the factory in Fryer Street, which is today housed by the Light House cinema.

In 1823, the Chubb company was awarded a special licence by George IV.

In 1997 the company was taken over by Assa Abloy.

By Victoria Nash