Etna Iron Works
of West Derby, Liverpool
'In 1824 a gas burner was made by the Etna Iron-Works, Liverpool, who used it to cook in their factory, where enlightened ideas of industrial welfare seem to have been ahead of their time. ...'[1]
1825 'The Marine Steam Engine — This highly useful and important machine has recently received great improvement from that eminent engineer, Samuel Clegg, Esq. of the Etna Iron Works, near Liverpool, and is introduced in a superb pair of Engines, now erecting on board the Lord Blaney: these engines display a compactness of structure and elegance of form which has hitherto been attempted in vain ; but, having at length been affected, will place these splendid trophies of science on a more economical and general footing. The specimen marine engine, erected at the Etna Iron Works, is a chef d'ouvre of art, presenting to the observer an unparalleled novelty ; it is of the power of twenty horses, occupies a space of two yards, by one yard, and stands in a glass case ; it gives motion daily to immense lathes and boring instruments, by which piston rods, beams, and cylinders, are turned with facility and care, and whilst it employs the hands of nearly 300 men, it requires for itself the slight attendance of a mere boy.'[2]
1827 Partnership dissolved: Samuel Clegg, Josiah Williamson, Thomas Mather Junior, and Kenneth Pringle, of the Etna Iron Works, Liverpool, engineers and merchants.[3]
1828 Advert:'TO BE SOLD, by AUCTION, by Mr. COGHLAN, on the 4th of March next, at eleven o’clock, at the Etna Iron Works, near the Old Swan, Liverpool,
The valuable ENGINEERING IMPLEMENTS, MACHINERY, TOOLS, and STOCK of the late firm of S. CLEGG and Co., consisting of an excellent horizontal Boring-mill, capable of boring Cylinders of five feet diameter, together with a complete assortment of Boring Tools. Attached to the Mill is a Face-plate, for Turning and Polishing Cylinder-lids, or other large surfaces. An upright Boring-mill, with Tools, powerful upright Drilling-machine, extra-size Lathe, with double Head Stocks and Slide Rests for heavy work, with extensive sets of Turning Tools, several smaller Iron Lathes, one with apparatus for making Screws, two large Foundry Cranes, Chains and Gearing complete, several smaller Ditto, a three-horse Portable Steam-engine, with Boiler and Reservoir, strong Vice-Bench, with Cupboards and Drawers beneath, 130 feet long, with powerful Vices attached, several large pairs of Smiths’ Bellows, and Engineering Anvils, with various Smiths’ Tools, Mandrills, Hammers, &c. a large quantity of Files and Rubbers, excellent double, Punching and Cutting Machine, with Fly-wheel. &c., Portable Punching-press, four Loam Cranes, two Soap Pans, Gas Apparatus, with Retort, Gasometer, and Burners, an excellent strong Waggon for Boilers, Blocks of stone, or other heavy articles, powerful Crab, 2,000 lbs. of new Engine Brasses, sundry Copper, Brass, Lead, Iron, and Steel, five Street Gas-lanterns, several sets of Wrought-iron Engine Beam-plates, Scales, Weights, Triangles, Leather Straps, Blocks, Shear Poles and Crane, Yard Bell, an eighty-horse Steam-packet Chimney, new. Glass-framed Engine-house, suitable for Green-house, various Casting Boxes, Weights, Ladles, &c., Fire-bricks and Tiles, seasoned Mahogany and hard Wood, for Patten-makers, Joiners’ Benches and Tools, Ropes, Chains, Clamps, Screws, several Cast-iron Wheels, and a complete assortment of modern Patterns for Marine and Land Engines, from three horse to eighty horse. Boiler-makers’ Tools, and various other Articles.
Catalogues may he had from the Auctioneer.
At the same time will offered for Sale, Six SHARES in the COUNTESS of LONSDALE Steam-packet, a constant trader between Liverpool and Whitehaven.
On SALE, the BUILDINGS constituting the Etna Iron Works, and the LAND and DWELLING-HOUSES adjoining, containing 10 Statute Acres Copyhold of inheritance; well worth the attention of Builders and Land Speculators.'[4]