Foden
Edwin Foden, Sons and Co of Elworth Works, Sandbach produced commercial vehicles.
General
In 1856 Edwin Foden became apprenticed to the agricultural equipment manufacturing company of Plant and Hancock.
He left the company for an apprenticeship at Crewe Railway Works
1860 He returned to Plant and Hancock at the age of 19.
1866 He became a partner in the firm and it was re-named Hancock and Foden [1]
1874 Listed as Edwin Foden, Coal dealer of Railway Station; Elworth Foundry, Sandbach. Also mentions the brass and iron foundry of Edward (sic) Foden at Bradwell / Sandbach. Also listed as Edwin Foden, engineer, iron founder and agent for the principal agricultural makers, Elworth Foundry. [2]
Edwin Foden's great innovation was the development of a practical and highly efficient compound steam unit. From this time on the majority of steam power units produced by the firm benefited from the use of this design. Experimental steam lorries were first produced shortly after the start of the 20th century.
1880s Supplied an engine to the Kidwelly Tinplate Co. Edwin Foden.
1880s Supplied an engine to the Baglan Bay Tinplate Co. E. Foden, Son and Co.
1882 Edwin Foden designed his first steam tractor.
1887 George Hancock retired and the company was renamed Edwin Foden Sons and Co Ltd. The company produced massive industrial engines, as well as small stationary steam engines and agricultural traction engines. Regular production of the steam tractors commenced.
1889 Traction engine shown at the RASE at Windsor. [3]
Developed a steam vehicle for road use - this was an "overtype" steam wagon, which carried its payload rather than pulling it as the traction engine did.
1900 The first Foden steam lorry was produced and continued until 1932.
1901 There work led to the design of the successful vehicle that was entered into the 1901 War Office trials. The Foden vehicle came second to a Thornycroft wagon but was nevertheless regarded by most commentators as a clear winner (the result was questioned in Parliament). This model was the basis for a highly successful line of vehicles which were produced over the next 30 years. [4]
1902 Production of the 5 ton lorry commenced until 1923
1904 Steam wagon. (Exhibit at Birmingham Thinktank museum).
1911 Edwin died
1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of Steam Motor Wagons, Tractors and Ploughs etc. see the 1917 Red Book
Post-WWI A successor to the Foden overtype wagon was introduced, with an improved cab, better driving visibility, and more powerful brakes.
1920 The C-type 5/6 tonners were produced.
1924 William Foden, who had largely run the commercial side of the business, retired to Australia as a result of major differences with their stepmother, a major shareholder in the business, coupled with the depressed market for commercial vehicles as a result of the availability of ex-military stock, and an increasing preference for the internal combustion engine with its greater ease of operation[5].
1930 One railway locomotive was built and delivered to Palmer Mann and Co, salt producers.
Through correspondence, William helped to convince his brother, Edwin Richard Foden, of the future of the diesel engine.
1931 Commenced diesel powered lorries using the Gardner engine but also used other makes later.
1932 Produced vehicles from 4 ton to 15 ton payload until the outbreak of WW2.
1932 E. R. Foden saw that the future lay in diesel power. In 1931 he was thrown out of the boardroom for advocating diesel over steam, and he subsequently retired. However, his son Dennis, George Faulkener and Ernest Sherratt (all Foden employees) decided to design a new diesel wagon. To help finance the venture, E.R. was persuaded to come out of retirement and head a new company. This company eventually became known as ERF.
1935 Last steam wagon built. A total of 6,500 were made.
1935 William returned from retirement and took over again as managing director of Fodens. The firm's order book consisted of only three vehicles and there was a file of unsettled warranty claims. William eased liquidity problems by introducing sharper accounting methods and greater economies in manufacturing. His son Ted also joined the firm, which then concentrated on diesel lorry manufacture.
The introduction of a new series of diesel-engined lorries restored the viability of Fodens.
By the end of 1937 the tide of decline had been turned.
WW2 Produced 1,750 vehicles for the War Department including 6 x 4 Army lorries and 770 Centaur and Crusader tanks. Also made 7.5 million 20mm shells.
1944 Advert for Foden Diesel.
Post-WWII Fodens diversified as a response to the difficulties encountered after the war. With William Foden as governing director, and assisted by his two sons as managing directors, the firm applied the new two-stroke diesel to industrial and marine uses and developed a rugged dumper-truck range.
1961 Employed 2,000 persons. [6]
1964 Received order from the Steel Company of Wales for large-capacity tip lorry and this led to many giant dump trucks being produced.
1964 The Foden two-stroke diesel engine was produced and continued until 1977.
1964 William died
1974 Opened new factory.
1977 New Fleetmaster (with Cummins or Rolls-Royce 290bhp engine) and Haulmaster (with Cummins) models with introduced.
1980 Financial difficulties; Paccar International gained control. The company was renamed Sandbach Engineering Co
1983 Renamed as Foden Trucks
Buses
See Foden: Buses
Lorries
See Foden: Lorries
Road Locomotive
Steam Vehicles
Farm Machinery
Notes
AL on 30/072012 writes:
As a long time employee of Fodens Ltd; researcher for the publication of the History of ERF Ltd; etc. I find your web page very well informed. However the piece about Edwin Foden's departure from Fodens and his setting up ERF has more holes than an old dish cloth. It relects the story, I should say myth, put out by ERF's second wife to explain his departure under a cloud from his father's Company.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times, Friday, Sep 01, 1911
- ↑ Morris & Co.'s Directory & Gazetteer of Cheshire, 1874
- ↑ The Engineer of 28th June 1889 p546
- ↑ The Times, Saturday, Jan 04, 1902
- ↑ Biography of William Foden, ODNB
- ↑ 1961 Guide to Key British Enterprises: Motor, Motor-Cycle and Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers
- British Lorries 1900-1992 by S. W. Stevens-Stratten. Pub. Ian Allen Publishing
- Ian Allan - British Buses Since 1900 - Aldridge and Morris
- The Modern Diesel edited by Geoffrey Smith. Published by Iliffe and Sons 1944
- The Steam Engine in Industry by George Watkins in two volumes. Moorland Publishing. 1978/9. ISBN 0-903485-65-6
- Traction Engine Album by Malcolm Ranieri. Pub 2005
- [1] Wikipedia
- British Steam Locomotive Builders by James W. Lowe. Published in 1975. ISBN 0-905100-816
- 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE