W. Gilbertson and Co
Comet Steels of Pontardawe, near Swansea, South Wales
William Gilbertson (1810-1882) of Cwmavon, Glamorgan, was a leading citizen in Pontardawe and the founder of Messrs. William Gilbertson and Company Limited.
1860 Company established.
1862 London Exhibition [1].
1860s Acquired Primrose Forge and Tinplate Works at Pontardawe.
1900 Faced with increased demand for tinplate and sheet steel, the Gilbertsons decided to increase capacity by building a new steelworks on a site adjacent to Port Talbot Dock, in conjunction with Miss Emily Talbot of Margam who provided a lease on the land. A private company was formed: Port Talbot Iron and Steel Co.
1904 Mr F. W. Gilbertson of F.(sic) W. Gilbertson and Co, steel, tinplate and galvanizing works at Pontardawe, gave evidence to the Tariff Commission[2].
1910 Galvanizing had taken the place of tinplate manufacture; W. Gilbertson and Co acquired tinplate from Bryanman; installed 6 new tinplate mills[3]
1914 Manufacturers of Siemens steel. Specialities: tinplates, terne plates, aluminium coated plates, galvanized sheets, high carbon and soft steel billets and bars, basic slag meal. Employees 1,600. [4]
1919 March. Advert for Comet Steels with 2,500 tons produced every week. [5]
1934 Acquired by Richard Thomas and Co[6]
1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Tinplate, Blackplate, Galvanizing and Sheet Mills. (Stand No. D.328) [7]
See [2] for map. The site is now occupied by housing.[8]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class I.: W. Gilbertson and Co
- ↑ The Times, Apr 25, 1904
- ↑ The Times, Feb 23, 1910
- ↑ 1914 Whitakers Red Book
- ↑ The Autocar 1919/03/29 p24
- ↑ The Times, Mar 20, 1934
- ↑ 1937 British Industries Fair Page 368
- ↑ [1] GGAT 130: The Sinews of War: South East Wales Industry and The First World War, 2015, Report for CADW by Johnny Crawford. See pp.40-1
- [3] Archives Network Wales