Parkinson Cowan Limited was created out of the amalgamation of W. Parkinson Ltd, a London business operating a 'gas undertaking' founded in 1816, and W. and B. Cowan of London, Manchester, Edinburgh and New South Wales, manufacturers of gas meters and other gas apparatus, in November 1900. The amalgamated business changed its name from Parkinson and W. and B. Cowan to Parkinson Cowan in 1928.

The Company number was 67826.

Parkinson Cowan opened a factory manufacturing gas meters in Stretford, Manchester in 1919. During the Second World War the business became involved in manufacturing parts for aircraft, particularly the de Havilland Mosquito.

The business formed several subsidiaries, including Parkinson Cowan (Gas Meters) Ltd (from 1900), Metropolitan Leather Co. Ltd. (from 1930), and Parkinson Cowan Appliances Ltd. By 1960 Parkinson Cowan had acquired Measurement Ltd of Oldham. Further acquisitions in the 1960s saw the business takeover Bastian and Allen and Fischer Bendix.

In 1971, business losses led to Parkinson Cowan being taken over by Thorn, and becoming part of Thorn Electrical Industries. The company was restructured in 1982 and the boilers business operated under the name Thorn EMI Industrial Boilers. Parkinson Cowan entered liquidation in January 1993, however the name Parkinson Cowan continued to be used for a brand of cooking appliances manufactured by Electrolux.