John Mason (of Rochdale)
Of Globe Works, Rochdale
Iron and brass founders and makers of textile machinery and machine tools.
1831 'HORRID DEATH.- As a mechanic of the name of Edge was, on Wednesday se’nnight, employed in the machine shop of Mr. John Mason, of Rochdale, in putting a strap upon the drum, which was in motion, it slipped from a pulley attached to machine which it should have turned, and in moment involving his body, it was dragged round a strong iron shaft, which was only about eighteen inches from the upper floor, at every revolution crashing his bones and lacerating the flesh in a most shocking manner. At length he fell from the shaft, and it was then found that his ribs, back, arms, legs and thighs were broken, his skull fractured, and the fingers of both hands were torn away at the knuckle joints.— Of course he was quite dead ; and an inquest bring held upon the body a verdict of "accidental death" was returned. — Manchester Paper.[1]
1864 'Mr. John Mason, of Rochdale, has been endeavouring to obtain a gift from the Government of the cast-off infantry great coats for the use of the unemployed factory operatives in Lancashire. Earl de Grey and Ripon has caused Mr. Mason to be informed that the coats will not be given, but that they may be purchased at 2s. 6d. each. A large number has already been obtained for Blackburn and Bamber Bridge, and it is said that they are found to be very serviceable.'[2]. Note: This relates to the crisis in the cotton textile industry which resulted from the workers' refusal to use cotton from the southern states during the American Civil War.
John Mason patented numerous improvements relating to textile production. A few examples below.
1839 Patent granted: John Mason, of Rochdale, Lancaster, machine maker, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for boring and turning metals and other substances. — 15th of August; six months[3]
1852 Patent sealed: John Mason, of Rochdale, machine maker, for improvements in processes of bleaching and dyeing textile materials and fabrics. Dated December 15th, 1852.[4]
1853 John Mason, of Rochdale, machinist, and Luke Ryder, of the same place, mechanic, for improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing and spinning cotton and other fibrous substances. Dated June 27 1853.[5]
1854 Patent sealed: John Mason, of Rochdale, in the county of Lancaster, machinist, and Leonard Kaberry, of the same place, manager, for improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing cotton, wool, and other fibrous materials for spinning. Dated Jan. 5th, 1854.[6]
1854 Patent sealed: John Mason, of Rochdale, machinist, and Louis Christian Koeffler, of the same place, dyer and bleacher, for improvements in scouring and in washing wool, hairs, and yarns and in machinery or apparatus for effecting the same; Dated June 2nd, 1854.[7]
1855 'Death of Mr. John MASON.— On Thursday, Mr. John Mason, machine maker, of this town, died at the house of Mr. Davenport, his relative, and manager of his works, after a very short illness. Mr. Mason only returned from Paris a few days ago, where he had some machinery in the Exhibition. He appears to have neglected taking his food regularly, and on his arriving a late train at Rochdale, was ill that he could not get to his own residence. During that night he stayed at the Wellington Hotel, and in the morning got to his counting-house in a very emaciated condition. He was taken across the road to Mr. Davenport's; Dr. Cox was called in, but it was found no aid could he render to the deceased. His health has been precarious for a long time.'[8]
Machine Tools
Although principally a maker of textile machinery, Mason also produced machine tools. A large lathe built c.1850, with two toolposts and provision for fitting a multi-spindle drilling head, was featured in the Proc. I.C.E. in 1857-8.[9]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Kerry Evening Post. - Saturday 29 October 1831
- ↑ Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Thursday 11 February 1864
- ↑ Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser, 11 September 1839
- ↑ Huddersfield and Holmfirth Examiner, 11 June 1853
- ↑ Huddersfield and Holmfirth Examiner - Saturday 31 December 1853
- ↑ Halifax Courier, 8 July 1854
- ↑ Blackburn Standard, 6 December 1854
- ↑ Manchester Courier - Saturday 29 September 1855
- ↑ 'A History of Machine Tools 1700-1910' by W. Steeds, Oxford, 1969