W. A. Baker and Co
Engineering and foundry business, of Westgate Works, Newport, Mon.
1880 Business established[1].
1906 Made a swing bridge to cross the Bude Canal by the Falcon Hotel, Bude[2]. The first swing bridge built there dated from 1820, the second was built in 1887 and the last, Baker's all-iron structure, was installed in 1906. It was replaced by a fixed bridge in 1962.
1938 Whitehead Iron and Steel Co acquired a controlling interest in W. A. Baker and Co[3] as it would be a convenient local source of ferrous and non-ferrous castings for use by Whiteheads[4].
WWII New foundry constructed
1946 Major expansion and refurbishment to provide modern engineering department to serve the Whitehead Iron and Steel Co as well as supply iron and brass castings at competitive prices to various external customers[5].
1957 After several years of closer working with Black-Clawson of USA, W. A. Baker and Co was acquired by Black-Clawson International[6].
1969 Industrial Division of Black-Clawson International[7]