James Watts and Co
of Norwich
1834 James Watts continued the business established by his father Thomas Watts
1843 January. Advertisement. 9-hp low-pressure condensing engine. James Watts and Co, Rose Lane Foundry, Norwich.[1]
1844 Mention of the "Emperor" steam-packet, plying from Norwich to Yarmouth. Proprietors are James Watts, Robert Wortley and James Thompson.[2]
1846 Partnership dissolved. '...the Partnership heretofore subsisting between James Watts, Robert Thompson, and Robert Wortley, at the city of Norwich, under the firm of James Watts and Company, as Engineers, Iron and Brass Foundrymen, and Steam Packet Proprietors, ceased and was determined and dissolved on the 31st day of January now last past...'[3]
1846 Trade sale[4]
Rose Lane Foundry.
WILLIAM SPELMAN & SON, RESPECTFULLY acquaint the Public that they are instructed to Sell Auction on Thursday and Friday the 28th and 29th of May instant, upon the Foundry premises Rose Lane, Norwich, lately occupied by the firm of Messrs. J. Watts & Company, the entire and valuable Machinery, Lathes, Moulds, Patterns, Implements, and Stock Trade.
Steam Engines, superior high pressure Steam Engine of six-horse power and boiler, in complete working order, supplementary pump and apparatus, and the brick work fixed with furnace and sliding doors, a new high pressure Steam Engine of six-horse power from the same pattern the above, nearly complete, with five segments for fly-wheel, arms, and boss, without a boiler, second hand high pressure Steam Engine of four-horse power, with a boiler, nearly new, and broad rim fly-wheel, well adapted for saw mill, second hand high pressure Steam Engine of two-horse power, with boiler and fittings, machinery to attach to a steam with two pairs of bevel wheels/pitch trimmed, with bright upright shaft and frame and horizontal shaft connected with three pairs of cup joints, and five driving pullies, plummer blocks, with brass couplings supported by four iron columns.
Splendid Turning Lathes, cast iron 11-feet slide lathe complete, with reversing gear, boring apparatus, double slide rest, hand rests, and wheel for screw cutting, very complete; a cast-iron lathe, 8 feet 6 inches bed, with double slide rest complete; turning lathe, with 10-feet wood bed, hand rests, extra poppit, and back centre; large lathe, with oak beds, cone pullies, and 3 driving drums; separate horizontal wrought-iron shafts, with 2 pair cup joints, 2 pairs of mitre wheels, 8 cast-iron carnages, with plummed blocks and brasses, and short shaft attached, with two large driving drums; lathe, with wood beds, 18 feet long, hand rests, back gears, extra poppit, 4-feet driving shafts, cone, and 3 small cast-iron lathe, with crank, may be used as a foot lathe; superior cast-iron foot lathe, complete, with double slide and hand rests, 2 extra poppits, index-plate, various brass wheels, and appendages for cutting screws; a surface lathe, wood beds, and fly wheel, with standards to ditto, horizontal shaft, with drums, plummer blocks, carriages, and brasses. A large collection of turning tools of every description,
Machines, A cast iron punching machine with steel cutter for plates, dies, cast steel punches and powerful lever, and 10 feet fly-wheel, chain and pullies complete; anew tobacco cutting machine, press steeping pan, and all requisite fittings very complete; cost iron planing machine, fitted with reversing slide, rest, and fly-wheel complete; second-hand skin splitting machine complete ; glazing machine with wood frame and driving pullies; large crane with wheel and pinion, ratchett barrell and pall; 3 and fold blocks and chain, iron step, (about 12 cwt,) and iron stays, calculated to raise 3 tons; a traversing crane, wheel and pinion, barrel ratchet and pall; 3 fold blocks and chain, and all apparatus thereto belonging; 2 fans for furnaces; anew threshing machine, horse power, quite new, with barn works, carriages, &c. complete; a second-hand threshing machine not complete; second-hand threshing machine; grind stone 5 feet diameter, 10 inches wide, with shaft and plummer blocks, brasses and driving pullies; upright spindle; driving fork and cast iron ball and pan for coal mill with oak frame; 4 furnaces for metal, and cupola with iron standards attached; a bark mill
Particulars of the moulds and patterns, manufactured stock and other property, will appear next week's papers, and in Catalogues; which will be ready for delivery at the Auctioneer's offices, St. Giles street, Norwich, days prior to the sale.
ORDER OF SALE. First Day - Principal portion of the Iron, the contents of the Carpenters', Smiths', Tinning, and Boiler Shops, Manufactured Stock. Horse, Gig, and Counting room.
Second day - Steam Engines, Lathes, Machines, Moulds and Fixtures, and the contents of the Foundry
1851 Advertisement. James Watts, Engineer, Rose Lane Foundry, Norwich.[5]
1851 Employing 6 men.[6]
In 1865 the Rose Lane Foundry was the business of W. S. Boulton