The Valor trade mark was first used by a small business in Birmingham, England which began in 1890, to manufacture oil-storage cabinets principally for the Anglo-American Oil Company (subsequently better known as Esso). This business later expanded its product range to include kerosene heaters and millions of these appliances were sold world wide in the first half of the last century.

With the introduction of North Sea natural gas to Britain, Valor became the leading UK manufacturer of energy efficient gas burning fireplaces and by 1989, the Birmingham plant employed 750 people. Today, Valor is part of the Baxi Group with annual sales of home heating equipment in excess of $ 2 billion under many brand names.