Lancaster and Tonge
Lancaster steam traps and pistons of Pendleton, Salford, Manchester, 6. Telegraphic Address: "Pistons, Manchester". (1937)
Maker of stationary engines. [1]
1887 Inclined engine shown at the 1887 Royal Jubilee Exhibition Manchester[2]. See illustration. No detailed description provided.
1892 'This business originated in the year 1879, and was started in a very small way, in the same street now associated with the Lancaster Works, viz., Withington Street, Broad Street, Pendleton ..... The founders of the firm were Messrs. Henry Lancaster and Richard Fletcher C. Tonge, trading under the title of Lancaster & Tonge. That title is still retained, although Mr. Lancaster died in 1887, and the concern has since that date been under the sole proprietorship of Mr. Tonge. .... When the business was commenced they occupied only a very small establishment, the buildings being in the form of dwelling-houses and yards, and here for a time they continued to develop their trade and increase the extent of the premises until they had accommodation for about thirty hands. Soon, however, the business quite outgrew the facilities at their command, and they resolved to erect new premises, which soon rose up in the immediate neighbourhood and received the title of the Lancaster Works. This was in 1883, and the new place was in full working order in 1884, the original premises being devoted to various incidental departments associated with the general routine of the industry engaged in. It may here be mentioned that when the firm first started they employed four men, now the number of skilled hands numbers over one hundred, and, as a proof of the class of workmen employed, we may state that the firm pay probably the highest wages in the engineering trade; they were also the second firm in Manchester to concede the fifty-three hours per week. ..... Messrs. Lancaster & Tonge’s leading specialities consist in their renowned “Lancaster” Steam Traps, “Lancaster” Spiral Spring Pistons, “Lancaster” Serpent Coil, “Lancaster” Vibration and Sight-Feed Lubricators, “Lancaster” Malleable Iron Union, “Lancaster” Adjustable Bearings, and “Lancaster” Condenser and Feed-Water Heater. They also have a large staff of men for repairing and altering existing engines, and have shown us savings of over 30 per cent, effected by such. They have about ten boring bars and engines always ready. These have gained a reputation that is practically world-wide, and although all their specialities are covered by patent rights, yet they are not usually advertised as such, being amply introduced and fully protected by the simple use of the widely-known registered trade mark of the house — “The Lancaster.” [3]
1894 Handbook on their Steam Traps. [4]
1899 Advert for steam traps, pistons and metallic packing. [5]
80 HP horizontal tandem compound engine for Hardcastle and Co, textile finishers, Radcliffe. This was one only three that they made. It was made in the early 1900s and ran for nearly 70 years.[6]
1905 Advert for the 'Lancaster' piston plus metallic packings, steam traps and steam separators. [7]
1911 Catalogue on steam traps, steam dryers, pistons, piston rings, metallic packing etc. [8]
1913 Advert for steam traps, pistons and metallic packing. [9]
1917 Advert for steam traps, metallic packing and piston rings. [10]
1919 Advert for steam traps, metallic packing and piston rings. [11]
1924 Patent - Improvements in means for operating the valve or valves of a hydraulic press.
1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Various types of Steam Traps, Steam Dryers, Piston Rings, Piston Rod Packings, Moulded Gearing, Colliery Throttle Valves, Reducing Valves. (Stand No. D.228) [12]
1940 Advert for steam traps. [13]
1944 Patent - Improvements in steam traps.
1945 Advert for steam traps and piston rings. [14]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain by George Watkins. Vol 10
- ↑ Engineering 1887/12/16
- ↑ [1] THE CENTURY'S PROGRESS - LANCASHIRE. The London Printing and Engraving Co., 1892. Hosted by MESSYBEAST.COM
- ↑ The Engineer 1894/10/26 p363
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1899. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p16
- ↑ 'Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain, Volume 3.2: Lancashire' by George Watkins: Landmark Publishing Ltd.
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1905. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p16
- ↑ The Engineer of 24th November 1911 p550
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1913. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p36
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1917. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p10
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1919. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p10
- ↑ 1937 British Industries Fair Page 381
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1940. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p184
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1945. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p224