Francis Shaw and Co
of Corbett Street Ironworks, Bradford, Manchester.
1879 Company founded.
1892 'Mr. Shaw commenced this important business about the year 1884, but he had previously had twelve years’ practical experience in very extensive rubber works, having been seven years with Messrs. Charles Macintosh & Co., and five years with Messrs. Broadhurst & Co. Consequently, in commencing the manufacture of rubber machinery generally, Mr. Shaw was possessed of a very large amount of sound practical knowledge, which he has utilised to such advantage that he now stands in the front rank among English rubber machinists and engineers. His works in Corbett Street cover an area of about two thousand square yards, and are at present being extended to meet the increased requirements of the large trade Mr. Shaw has developed. The entire establishment proclaims its proprietor’s skill and experience, the several departments of the works being all laid out in the most convenient manner and perfectly equipped for all the purposes of the industry engaged in. Every facility exists for the manufacture of special machinery upon a very large scale, and employment is given to upwards of seventy hands, all of whom are workmen of the highest practical, ability.
'Mr. Shaw is prepared to produce in the most improved style any and every machine required in the manufacture of India rubber and dermatine, and he makes a special feature of supplying complete plant for rubber works, including all the latest and best appliances known in the trade for economising time and labour and improving production. In all machinery of this class he embodies the best workmanship and materials as well as the highest excellence of design and practical efficiency. Mr. Shaw has recently introduced, and is the sole maker of, Wood and Robinson’s patent spreader, a machine calculated to effect quite a revolution in the waterproofing trade. This valuable apparatus has been proved capable of turning out superior work in 25 per cent. less time than the ordinary machines in use. It can be stopped and started from either end, and the cloth is spread from both ends, the drying being effected by two steam cylinders placed between the spreading rollers. The distance from the spreading rollers to the steam cylinders is 4 ft. 3 in., so that all danger of fire is obviated. The machine being duplex, not only spreads considerably faster than ordinary machines, but produces another very notable effect, in that when the cloth has once passed through, and the proofing has been laid on one way, instead of having to remove the piece to the other end of the machine for the repetition of the process, the action of the machine is simply reversed, and the cloth goes back to the original roller with the proofing laid on another way. This ensures greater strength and durability in the proofing, and also imparts a decidedly superior finish. Although introduced only a few months ago, four of these machines have already been fitted up near Paris, besides one at Riga and one at Milan. Several others are now in course of construction to order, and doubtless every waterproofer who inspects this ingenious and highly-efficient machine, and acquaints himself with its notable improvements, will be irresistibly tempted to give it a trial. ....'[1]
1909 Registered as a private company.
1920 Converted into a public company.
1927 Reconverted into a private company.
1954 Converted into a public company.
1961 Manufacturers of machinery for the rubber, plastics and allied industries. Specialists in complete plants for the manufacture of tyres for motor vehicles etc. Plastic floor coverings and general rubber and plastic products. Also asbestos machinery, belt making equipment, gearing, cable covering machinery, rubber reclaiming plant, rubber plantation equipment and laboratory equipment.
1963 photo of factory environs at Queen Street, Bradford, here.
1968 Opening of new factory to produce rubber and plastics processing machines
1982 Acquired by the EIS Group.[2]
See Also
Sources of Information
- 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- The Engineer of 3rd May 1968 p684