Donkin and Co
Donkin and Company Limited, St Andrew's Works, Walkergate, Newcastle upon Tyne, makers of steering gear for ships
Makers of ships' steering gear
1840 Mr. David Donkin commenced business in St. Andrew's Street, Gallowgate, Newcastle.
1876 Mr. George Donkin, a son of the founder, was joined in partnership by Mr. Bryce Gray Nichol, a well-known engineer on Tyneside, and the firm became known as Donkin and Nichol. Commenced the manufacture of ships' steering gears.
1879 Company started
1882 Gained diploma at the Tynemouth Exhibition
1887 Diploma at the Newcastle Jubilee Exhibition
1892 on the death of Mr. Bryce Nichol, the title of the Firm was changed to Donkin and Co.
1901 Moved to Walkergate in order to obtain room for expansion due to the increased volume of work.
1919 Public Limited Company under the same name.
Later: subsidiary of Clarke, Chapman and Co[1]
1927 onwards: Advertising 'THE "DONKIN-SCOTT" ELECTRICAL STEERING GEAR WITH LAURENCE, SCOTT PATENT ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR DIESEL ENGINE SHIPS. [2]
1984 Auction sale notice: Donkin and Co. PLC (In Receivership) on their premises at SHIELDS ROAD, WALKERGATE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, on WEDNESDAY, July 18, 1984, MACHINE TOOLS, SHEETMETAL AND WOODWORKING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (as used in the manufacture of steering gear). Sale to commence at 10-30 a.m. Viewing on Tuesday, July 17, between 9-30 a.m. and 4-30 p.m.
BORING MACHINES — Horizontal; Vertical; Table and floor types; Incl.:— Kearns 4in. (1974); Richards 6in. (1969); Niles 2 1/2in.; Richards 3in.: W.B. 36in. —40 in. plus 6in. (models M and D.H.) all with taper attachments; N & L Planomill cap. 10ft. x 6ft. x 6ft.
LATHES — N & L 64in. x 6ft.; Denham 46in. x 7ft. 6in.; Swift 36in. x 16ft.; D.S.G. 20in. x 72in. (copying): Lang Model 1082 24in. x 108 in. (copying): Lang 30in. x 96in.; Lang B & F lathe 40in. swing. Small lathes by D.S.G.: Mitchell: G & N: Lang, etc. Capstan and turret lathes inc.: — Wards 3DS, 7DS, 7CB, No. 10; Herbert 2D.
MILLING MACHINES — Vert and Universal by Parkinson; Soag, Archdale and Herbert.
SAWS — by Blitztrenner; N & L: Herbert.
SLOTTERS AND KEY SETTERS — by Butler; Pratt and Whitney: WGW and Muir.
GRINDERS — Cylindrical, surface, tool and cutter, etc. by Churchill; Edgewick and Whickman.
DRILLING — Radial and pedestal by K & W; Town and Herbert. SHEET METAL — H. Rolls; Shears; Guillotine; Folder; swager; Rotary shear; Weiders; etc.
WOODWORKING AND PATTERN WORKING MACHINES — Inc.:— lathes, bandsaws, bdrer: saw benches: planer/thicknesser; pattern mills; grinders; etc,
MISC. — Hyd. presses: vices; tooling; setting out plates: marking off tables; drills; taps: reamers; chucks; div. heads; miling cutters; measuring equip.; spanners; tools; hoists; etc.
For further details contact The Auctioneers, Lithgow Sons and Partners, The Auction Houses, Station Road, Stokesley, Middlesbrough, Cleveland.
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail - Monday 16 July 1984</ref>