Braithwaite and Kirk
Bridge builders, of Crown Bridge Works, West Bromwich
1884 Founded by Richard Charles Braithwaite and Walter Kirk
By 1890 also had premises at Norfolk House, Handsworth.
1897 Supplied the 100 ft span Tsitsa steel bridge to South Africa.
1897 Supplied the Touw River Bridge for the road between George and Knysna. 95ft clear span. Shipped to Mossel Bay. It was then conveyed in fourteen wagon loads to the site over a two month period. [1]
The Company was engaged exclusively for a number of years on the manufacture of steel bridges, the majority of which was for export.
1914 Bridge maker, of Crown Bridge Works, West Bromwich; constructed a railway bridge to span the Ganges, 120 miles above Calcutta; to the design of Sir A. M. Rendel; Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co shared the work[2]
1914 Patent to Braithwaite and Kirk, Albert Ernest Braithwaite, and James Hulse Humphryes, for the Invention of "Improvements in and relating to the Driving of Screw Piles"[3]
1917 Dissolution of the Partnership between Albert Ernest Griffin Braithwaite, James Hulse Humphryes and Alexander Anderson, carrying on business as Engineers, at 117, Victoria-street, Westminster, S.W., Daimler House, Paradise-street, Birmingham, the Crown Works, West Bromwich, and Neptune Works, Newport, Monmouthshire, and also at 8, Clive-street, Calcutta, under the style or firm of BRAITHWAITE & KIRK,. All debts settled by James Hulse Humphryes and Alexander Anderson, who will continue the said business under the style or firm of Braithwaite & Co.[4]
There is also a reference to 1896/7 Directory: Listed as makers of steam boilers[5]