Yates and Thom

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Yates & Thom Ltd, or Yates of Blackburn, was a British manufacturer of stationary steam engines and boilers at the Canal Ironworks, Blackburn, Lancashire, England.

The company had its origins in a blacksmith's shop started by William Yates in 1824. [1]

Leigh Spinners cross compound steam engine Steam engine, Leigh Spinners. - geograph.org.uk - 733978.jpg
Leigh Spinners cross compound steam engine

In the 1860s, the company supplied a cam operated, drop valve compound engine operating at 100 psi to the India Mill, Darwen. [2] Other mills supplied by Yates and Thom included the Durban Mill, Oldham. This was an 1800 hp triple-expansion four-cylinder engine built in 1906. It had a 24" HP cylinder, a 29" IP cylinder and two 38" LP cylinders with a 5 ft 6 in stroke. At 180 psi, it drove a 27-ft, 67-ton flywheel with 38 ropes at 65 rpm. It used Corliss valves on all cylinders. [3] An engine, one of a pair supplied by the firm, survives at Leigh Spinners. [4]

The company supplied a 3,300 horsepower twin tandem compound engine, which survives in the engine house at the Astley Green Colliery Museum. It was the largest steam winding engine used on the Lancashire Coalfield. [5]

In 1928, the company became Foster, Yates and Thom when it was acquired by Joseph Foster & Sons. [6] The company continued to manufacture boilers until 1964, with the remainder of the works closing in 1973. [1]

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Archive news from the This Is Lancashire". www.thisislancashire.co.uk.
  2. Hills 1993 , p. 177
  3. Roberts 1921
  4. Historic England. "Leigh Mill, Park Lane (1253119)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  5. Historic England. "Astley Green Colliery (623407)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  6. "Death of Sir W. Thom". Lancashire Evening Post. British Newspaper Archive. 11 April 1939. p. 8.(subscription required)

Bibliography