Smith and Grace

1886.

January 1888.

Smith and Grace of Nene Side Iron Works, Thrapston, near Kettering, maker of agricultural machinery

1861 Dissolution of the Partnership between Nathaniel Smith and Robert Smith, as Engineers and Agricultural Implement Manufacturers, at the Nene Side Iron Works, Thrapston, in the county of Northampton, under the firm of Smith Brothers. All debts received and paid by Nathaniel Smith.

Nathaniel Smith founded his business in Thrapston to produce agricultural implements.

Later his sons were brought into the business. At some point Theodore Grace became a partner.

1867 Won a prize for a grinding machine at the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting

1868. Partnership dissolved. '...the Partnership heretofore subsisting between the undersigned, Nathaniel Smith and Theodore Grace, of Thrapstone, in the county of Northampton, Engineers, Iron and Brass Founders, and Agricultural Implement Makers, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent...'

1869 Grace's part was bought by George Smith and his brother Edwin Smith.

1869 Patent. '1702. And to Nathaniel Smith, George Smith, and Edwin Smith, all of Thrapston, in the county of Northampton, for the invention of "improvements in the mode of cutting, and skiving leather and other materials, and in means or apparatus employed therein."'

1870 Highly commended for hand-powered chaff cutter at the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting.

1885 The firm decided to devote all its attention to the power transmission side of its business, and to give up the manufacture of farm implements.

1886 Description and illustrations of 'To avoid the necessity of boring every pulley to fit the shaft upon which it is to be placed, Mr. Smith, of the firm of Smith and Grace, Thrapston, and 10, Walbrook, London, has devised the screwed bush shown in the annexed illustration. [Not shown here]. The bush is made in four parts, which are fixed to a flexible lining, so that they are always kept together. The outside of the bush is taper, and is screwed to fit a corresponding taper thread in the inside of the boss of the pulley. The bush is first applied to the shaft, and then the pulley is screwed on to it, until it becomes perfectly tight, the point of the cone being set in such a direction that any slipping which may take place forces the pulley further up the incline, and thus tightens the grip on the shaft. ...'

1886 Smith and Grace were awarded a medal for Smith's patent convertible belt pulley at the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting in Norwich; this system allowed one pulley to fit different size shafts

1893 Partnership change. '...the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned Nathaniel Smith, George Smith, and Edwin Smith, now carrying on business at Thrapston, in the county of Northampton, under the style or firm of Smith and Grace, as Engineers, Iron and Brass Founders, and Agricultural Implement Makers, was, on the 25th day of January instant, dissolved, by mutual consent, so far as relates to the said Nathaniel Smith only, who retires therefrom...'

1894 Edwin Smith took charge of the London part of the business

1894 Smithfield Club Show. Showed self-oiling loose pulley. (as Smith and Grace of Thrapston)

1900 Issued catalogue of Smith's patents for transmission of power. Contains details on pulleys, screw bushes, gear wheels, shafting, collars, couplings, plummer blocks, hangers, wall boxes and lubricators. Listed as Smith and Grace of Screw Boss Pulley Company of Thrapston.

1897 Smith and Grace were listed as advertiser in Engineering

1897 The firm seems to have taken the name Smith and Grace Screw Boss Pulley Co. A limited liability company was formed, and the principal production of the firm - the screw boss pulley - was greatly developed. The Thrapston industrial vee flat drive was also introduced.

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