 Great Dover Street HQ, now student apartments | |
| Industry | Engineering |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1835 in London |
| Founder |
|
| Fate | Acquired by Babcock & Wilcox Ltd |
| Products | Boiler tubes, valves, gauges |
Dewrance & Co. Ltd was a manufacturer of engine and boiler accessories, such as pumps and gauges.
It was established in London in 1835 as a partnership by Joseph Woods, with John Dewrance. It was involved in the building of the locomotive Lion in 1838 for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. [1] [ failed verification ] In 1844 after Wood's death the firm became a company specialising in manufacturing engine and boiler accessories. It produced a brass pressure gauge for Lloyd's Register of shipping to pressure-test ships' boilers before insuring them. [2] Such gauges have become collectable. [3] A pair are on display at the Internal Fire – Museum of Power. [4]
Dewrance died in 1861 and left the business to his son. [5] The firm's introduction of the groove-packed plug cock in 1875 was a major innovation because it made steam safety valves easier to operate. [6] Sir John Dewrance, [7] who was married to the granddaughter of Richard Trevithick took over the business in 1879. [8] In 1937 after Dewrance's death it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. [8]
In 1961 it had 2,000 employees. [5]
The firm was sold by Dresser Industries in 1998 to Tyco International. It was then operating from Skelmersdale. [9]
John Dewrance conducted experiments on the distribution of heat in steam boilers. [10] There are claims he was responsible for the construction of George Stephenson’s locomotive the Rocket and for supporting it at the Rainhill trials. [9] [lower-alpha 1] He was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway from 1840 to 1844 during which time his 2-2-2 designs at the Edge Hil workshops were noted for their neatness. [11]
In October 1845 he entered the employ of the Great Southern and Western Railway of Ireland and was selected from three candidates as Locomotive Superintendent in March 1847 at a salary of £300 pera anuum with housing assistance. [lower-alpha 2] He was immediately seconded to locomotive manufacturer William Fairbairn & Sons, Millwall, London to gain experience. Following a review in October 1947 his services were dispensed with due to claim his remuneration was inappropriately high for his abilities. [13] He was then appointed Locomotive Superintendent by the rival Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) of Ireland, again for £300 per annum with a house in Cabra Road, Dublin. [14] Following the decision of the MGWR director's to let the operation of the line Dewrance was released with three months salary. [14]
Dewrance died in 1861 and left the business to his son. [15] [5]
Sir John Dewrance, who was educated at Charterhouse and then at King's College London before marrying the granddaughter of Richard Trevithick, took over the business in 1879. [7] [16] [8] He took out 114 patents relating to steam fittings and boiler mountings. [17] He was involved with the Primrose League. In 1899 he became chairman of Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. [18] From 1920 to 1926 he was the President of the Engineering Employers’ Federation. [19]
Dewrance died in 1937 with the firm becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. [8] [20]
The Sir John Dewrance prize is awarded to the two best mechanical engineering students each year at City University. [21]
One of the GWR Hawthorn Class locomotives built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company was named after the company in 1865. [22] British Empire Medals were awarded to Arthur Edgar Caswallon Evans, a Brass Turner in the 1946 New Year Honours, [23] [24] to Jasper Sidney Jeal, a Centre Lathe Turner in the 1953 Coronation Honours [25] and to Maud Unwin, a Fettler, in the 1956 New Year Honours. [26] James McWaters Storey, the Managing Director, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1959 New Year Honours. [27]
The firm's archives are held in the British National Archives. [28]
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