Leeds Engineering and Hydraulic Co
Pumps and hydraulics, of Rodley, Leeds.
1866 Leeds Engineering and Hydraulic Co was founded; it produced slow speed hydraulic pumps and equipment, typical of the time.
1890 Illustrations and description of a large winding engine constructed for the owners of the Wingate Grange Collieries, County Durham. This engine was erected at the head of the “Lord ” pit, which was 110 fathoms deep. The engine, when in full work, was capable of drawing 1200 tons of coal per day of eleven hours. The engine was vertical, the winding drum being carried by girders immediately over the cylinder; the distributing valves were of the Cornish hand-geared type, and the parallel motion of the crosshead was obtained by means of parallel levers having their end centres mounted on the walls of the engine-house. The cylinder was 40 in. diameter with a stroke of 6 ft., and the winding drum was 18 ft. in diameter. The piston was fitted with Durham, Churchill, and Co.'s patent rings and springs.[1]
1894 Winding engine for the new pit belonging to T. and R. W. Rowers, at Primrose Hill, Astley, near Leeds. Cornish double-beat inlet and exhaust valves. Cylinders 34 in. in diameter by 5 ft. stroke. The winding drum is 14 ft. in diameter by 6 ft. wide. Described and illustrated in Engineering 1894/11/02
1895 A 1250 ton hydraulic press illustrated in Neuere Schmiedepressen, 1895[2]
1896 of Providence Works, Cross Stamford Street, Leeds
1899 'The hydraulic power needed for handling the shields used by Messrs. Perry and Co. for the construction of the Baker-street and Waterloo Railway, is obtained from the mains of the London Hydraulic Power Company. The pressure is, however, insufficient for use in the jacks, as it is desirable to keep the latter as small as possible, and consequently self-acting intensifiers have been put in. These intensifiers were supplied by the Leeds Engineering and Hydraulic Company, of the Providence Works, Leeds, and their construction is clearly shown in the engravings we publish on this page [not included here]. The intensifiers are actually bolted to the shields and move with them, their working parts being protected by a complete covering of steel plates, ..... The length of piping subjected to the high pressure, 2400 lb. per square inch, is thus reduced, and the flexible joints it would otherwise be necessary to subject to this pressure are entirely dispensed with. ....'[3]
1912 James Alfred Towler and Mr. John Pickering bought the Leeds Hydraulic and Engineering Company of Rodley, Leeds.
The brothers Frank and John Towler worked for the company
1917 Advert. Hydraulic machinery and pumping plant
1919 Advert. Hydraulic machinery and pumping plant
1927 Advert. Hydraulic machinery and pumping plant
1931 Frank and John Towler formed Electraulic Presses Limited
Later the Towlers bought a controlling interest in Leeds Engineering and Hydraulic.
Early 1930s: The Towler brothers developed a high-speed oil hydraulic pump of high volumetric efficiency and capable of operating at high pressures.
1935 Towler Brothers (Patents) Limited was formed by Frank and John, to exploit the newly developing market of the changeover from water to oil as a medium for transmitting power. They were pioneers in the field, especially to operate the systems at much higher pressures, although this was not an easy sell.
1935 Leeds Engineering was acquired by Joseph Booth and Brothers
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Engineering 1890/10/17
- ↑ [1] 1250-t-Schmiedepresse der Leeds Company in article 'Neuere Schmiedepressen' Polytechnischen Journals, 1895, Band 297 (pp. 248–254
- ↑ Engineering 1899/12/01
- Mechanical World Year Book 1917. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p174
- Mechanical World Year Book 1919. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p210
- Mechanical World Year Book 1927. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p148
- History of Towler-Fraser [2]