Sharrocks and Birch
of Manchester
Cotton spinners and makers of textile machinery.
1837 'Wednesday night, about half-past eleven, a fire was discovered in a room used by Messrs. Sharrocks and Birch, as a machine shop, situated at the junction of Union-street and Bengal-street. An engine was brought the spot, a little before twelve, and by the exertions of the fire-men, the fire was got under by three o'clock, after doing considerable damage. The property was insured.'[1]
1839 Advertisement: 'THE Valuable Modern STOCK and TOOLS, belonging to the Assignees of Messrs. Sharrocks and Compy., machine makers, Great Ancoats-street, Manchester,which include forty-three single and double geared lathes, with self-acting motion slide rests, universal and other chucks; seven drilling machines, cutting machine for wheels, smiths', turning, and joiners' tools and benches, and numerous other effects, will be SOLD by AUCTION, in the month of September next.—Particulars, with the days of sale, will be given future papers. T. M. FISHER; Auctioneer, 5, Newall's Buildings, Market-street, Manchester, 30th August, 1839.'[2]
1839 Advertisement: 'Extensive Sale of Lathes, Drilling Machines, Cutting Machines, Smiths tools, Screwing Machines, Grindstones, Benches, Vices, Iron Cupola, Moulders' Boxes, Patterns, Carts, Wheelbarrows, &c.
By T. M. FISHER, by order of the assignees of Messrs. Sharrocks, machine makers, and free from duty, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of October, 1839, on the premises, Lees-street, Great Ancoats-street, Manchester; sale to commence each day at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
The Valuable STOCK and TOOLS, which are of modern construction and in first-rate working condition, including one 4½ inch, one 7in., four 7¼in., three 8in., three 3½in., three 9 in., two 9¼in., and one 11 in. single geared lathes; one 7¼in. and one 12½ in. ditto, with universal chucks; six 7½ inch, two 8¼in., one 9in., four 6¼in., three 9½in., one 10in., one 12¼in., and one 16in. double geared lathes; one 9½in. doubled geared slide lathe, with slide rest, worm wheel and shaft: one 13in. double geared slide lathe, with slide rest, pinion rack 35 feet long, bed 39 feet long by 1 foot 4 in. wide, worm shaft and wheel; one 9 inch double geared self-acting slide lathe, and one 9 in. single geared ditto, with slide rests and cast iron bed; slide rests, wood and cast iron lathe bearers; three upright drilling machines, two horizontal ditto, one ditto for carding engine bends, and one ditto for spindle rails; four frames for building and turning carding engine cylinders; cutting machine for wheels from 3 to 24 teeth, by Healey; benches and vices, crab crane with half-inch chain, cathead and block, grindstones and glazers, saw benches with circular saws, wheels, screws, nails, patent scales and weights, oil cans, straps, smiths' anvils and tools; two-hand screwing machines, with stocks, taps, and dies; wrought iron cupola, ladles, moulders' boxes, and a complete assortment of patterns for looms, throstles, cotton and flax and other spinning machines; also the counting house fixtures, eight days' clock, iron safe, two 20-light gas meters, pipes and burners, broad-wheeled cart, spring ditto, two wheelbarrows, cart gears, and other effects.....'[3]
1839 ' PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.... Wm. Sharrocks, John Sharrocks, and Thomas Birch, machine makers (so far as regards Thomas Birch.)
Samuel Sharrocks, Henry Sharrocks, Wm. Sharrocks, John Sharrocks, and Thomas Birch, formerly of Manchester, cotton spinners (so far as regards Wm. Sharrocks, John Sharrocks, and Thomas Birch.')[4]