Henry Hughes and Co
Henry Hughes and Company of Falcon Works, Loughborough
See also Hughes and March
1857 September. Advert. 'TO THRASHING MACHINE PROPRIETORS. DRUM SPINDLES, Shaker and Riddle Cranks, Fan Spindles, Goucher's Patent Beaters, and every description of Brass and Iron Castings for Portable Engines and Thrashing Machines, kept in stock, or forwarded in hours. HENRY HUGHES, Falcon Works, Loughborough. Estimates for Alterations and Repairs forwarded on application. Experienced Men sent out, and prompt attention paid to accidents.'[1]
1862 Henry Hughes of Falcon Works, Loughborough, exhibited models of plant used by railway contractors at the 1862 London Exhibition
1865 Company founded by Henry Hughes on a seven acre site where he built rail coaches, wagons and horse-drawn tramcars.
1866 of Falcon Railway Plant Works, exhibited small tank locomotive engine at the 1867 Paris Exhibition[2]
Records are very sparse, but it seems that Hughes began producing steam locomotives about 1867 for the Paris Exhibition. His main business, however, was tram engines, lightweight steam engines (usually with condensers) which drew passenger cars, made possible by the Tramways Act 1870. Among these was "The Pioneer" for the Swansea and Mumbles Railway. These were distinct from those tramcars where the boiler and mechanism was integral with the passenger car.
1870 John Downes of Birmingham conceived the idea of a noiseless and steamless engine to haul tram cars. He commissioned an engine from Messrs Hughes which was delivered in 1876.
1874 December. Advert. 'Locomotive Tank Engines of different gauges from 2ft to 4ft 8-1/2in to suit colliery, iron works and branch railways. Hy. Hughes and Co, Falcon Works, Loughborough, have enlarged their premises, can supply locomotives of the best material and workmanship at very short notice...'[3]
1876 Hughes demonstrated their own design of engine in Birmingham, also built for hauling tramcars; as a result Downes sued for breach of his patent. The judgement was in Hughes' favour on the grounds that Downes' concept was based on water condensation whilst Hughes' engine depended on air condensation (sic). It was also recognised that many noiseless engines were in use before the patent was taken out[4]
1877 Demonstrating steam trams in Sheffield.[5]
1877 Partnership dissolved. '... the Partnership in the trade or business of Locomotive Builders and Mechanical Engineers, heretofore carried on by the undersigned, Henry Hughes and Huram Coltman at Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, under the style of Henry Hughes and Co., was dissolved...'[6]
1880 Hughes's Locomotive and Tramway Engine Works was building locomotives
1882 The Falcon Works were taken over by the Falcon Engine and Car Works.
See Also
Sources of Information
- British Steam Locomotive Builders by James W. Lowe. Published in 1975. ISBN 0-905100-816