David Evans (1804-1870)
of Prague
Born 1804 in Ilkeston. Died 27 December 1870 in Prague.
In 1830 David Evans and compatriots David Thomas and William Jones were invited by Professor F. X. Riepl of the Vienna Polytechnic to introduce iron puddling technology to the Vítkovice Ironworks. Riepl had met them during a study trip to England, when Evans was in Nottingham. The Vítkovice ironworks were contracted to supply rolled tracks for the Northern Railway, and to accelerate production it was necessary to acquire technology from Britain.
Later, Evans was mentioned in connection with the introduction of production of fine English tulle (bobinet), for Breitfeld and Nottroth. At the beginning of the 1830s he and his compatriot Joseph Lee went to Prague as an employee of a textile machinery shop in Prague's Breitfeld Engineering Works. Soon, they were given the opportunity to construct textile and other machines. In 1834 they were given permission to establish an engineering factory in Prague. Production included steam and agricultural machinery, including threshing machines. However, the plans proved to be over-optimistic, due to the shortage of skilled workers and of appropriate material. In 1838 Evans left Lee, but he remained in Prague and continued to operate a small engineering plant in Štěpánská Street. At the end of the 1840s, sugar-processing machinery was also being produced.
Evans established a business relationship with Breitfeld's Engineering Works and he became a silent partner from 1850. They also established a joint engineering plant in Floridsdorf near Vienna. In 1862 Breitfeld died, and in 1868 his heirs reported to the Commercial Court in Prague their intention to continue with Evans, who continued to work hard to improve machine production. He undertook study trips to Western Europe and applied his experience in the Prague Engineering Works. The business supplied mining and mining machinery to all major mining districts in Bohemia and Hungary. It also produced equipment for cement plants. In 1853, there were 250 workers, and in 1870, 600. Following Evans's death, the business became Breitfeld - Daněk AS.
Source of the above information is here [1]