William Jessop and Sons
William Jessop and Sons, of Park Works, Brightside Works and Soho Rolling Mills, Sheffield.
This web page provides a summary of (and some highlights from) the 125 year history of this firm, at one time the largest speciality steel maker in Sheffield, and probably the UK. A Graces Guide contributor has developed a more comprehensive timeline and history for this company, fully sourced, which can be viewed at this link.
1831 William Jessop and Sons was formed as a partnership between William Jessop (1772-1835) and his sons Montague Jessop (1802-1841), Thomas Jessop (1804-1887), Henry Jessop (1808-1849) and Sydney Jessop (1808-1871). They operated a steel converting and refining plant at Park Works, Blast Lane, Sheffield which had for a short time already been occupied by William Jessop as a sole trader. Later - mostly 20th century - sources, including the company’s own advertising, date the foundation of the company as 1774. There is no evidence to support this (indeed William Jessop would have been only 2 years old), but the background to the formation of the company, including William’s previous businesses, are discussed in the linked paper.
By 1834 William Jessop and Sons had established an office and warehouse in New York. America would be a vital export market for the firm for many years.
1835 William Jessop died on 20th November 1835 after a long and painful illness, aged 63 years. [1]
By 1837 William Jessop and Sons had taken additional premises at Brightside. [2]
By 1841 William Jessop and Sons had established a branch in Manchester.[3] Initially established by Montague, it was later run by Sydney Jessop.
1841 Montague Jessop died 17 Jan 1841.[4]
1849 Henry Jessop of New York and of the firm William Jessop and Sons, died in London on 23 Jun 1849 while on a visit from USA.[5]
By 1852 William Jessop and Sons also occupied Soho Works in Forge Lane (a rolling mill on the corner of Little Pond Street and Forge Lane, later renamed as Pond Street and Shude Lane - see maps attached). [6]
By 1859 the surviving Jessop brothers had been joined in partnership by William Robinson.[7] Robinson was Thomas and Sydney’s nephew, son of their late sister Mary. This was to be a short lived arrangement.
1865 William Robinson left the partnership, but continued for a time as works manager at Brightside. [8]
1871 Sydney Jessop died at his home in Manchester on 16 Jan 1871, leaving Thomas Jessop as sole partner.[9]
1875 Thomas Jessop, still sole partner and of advanced years, decided to retire and sell his business. Sale was agree for the sum of £400,000 and a new limited liability company, William Jessop and Sons Limited, was registered on 14 Dec to buy the firm. See the attached history for more detail and names of directors.[10]
1876 Thomas Jessop was invited onto the board of the new company as Chairman, a post he was to hold until his death.
1876 Announced they were concentrating all their workman at the Brightside Works.[11] However, this was to be a brief interlude due to down turn in trade and within a few years both Park Works and Soho Rolling Mill were in operation again.
1882 Jessops exhibited a crucible cast steel stern-frame and rudder of their manufacture, at the Naval and Sub-Marine Exhibition, London. [12] John Francis Hall, works manager at Jessops, is credited with some of the early and pioneering work in this area, and Jessops were to develop a considerable reputation for their ability to produce large steel castings. These cast steel stern frames and rudders were quickly adopted by the Admiralty.
1884-1885 Brightside Works was expanded by the addition of Siemens-Martin furnaces with gas producers and steel foundry at a cost of £32k. The new foundry was particularly intended to support the growing trade in very large steel castings for ship stern posts and rudders.[13]
1885 At the International Inventions Exhibition, London, awarded a gold medal for crucible cast steel stern frames, solid rudder, and cast steel stern propeller brackets and blades, and a silver medal for Hall and Verity’s flexible crank shaft (below).[14]
1886 John Francis Hall, Works Manager, had joined Jessops as an apprentice in 1870, being quickly promoted to management. He was a prolific inventor, including patents in 1886 (in his own name) for armour plates and for forge and tilt hammer helves. Additionally, with John Verity (1862-1901), Leeds, patents applications were made for anchors, for couplings in screw propeller and other shafts and for improvements in cranks. More details on these and other patents are shown on Graces Guide at John Francis Hall. Work on armour plate carried on for some years with interesting admiralty tests and there is more information in the attachment.
1887 Thomas Jessop died on 30 Nov 1887 aged 83.[15] He was succeeded as Chairman of William Jessop and Sons by his son William Jessop.[16]
1887 Manchester Exhibition - "Among other exhibitors at Manchester are Messrs. Wm. Jessop and Sons (Limited), Brightside Steel Works, who have sent a large steel spur rim casting. It weighed 14 tons,and was 18 feet in diameter. It was too large to go by rail, and had to be sent by road, and its progress was rather noteworthy, as recorded in another column. Messrs Jessop aad Son have a special reputation for this class of work. They recently made several wheels about the same size for Messrs. Schneider, Creusot, France, where they will used in their large new steel plate-mills. ..." [17]
1890 Received two large hammer blocks weighing 50 tons each from the manufacturers Sheepbridge Iron Works which were erected by Thwaites Brothers of Bradford. [18]
1891 J F Hall resigned his position as general manager at Jessops, to pursue the commercial opportunities offered by his patents.[19] Sydney Jessop Robinson (works manager) and Alfred Hills (company secretary) were appointed to the Board as joint managing directors.[20]
1894 Amongst ongoing investment in plant and equipment Jessops installed a 69-in. crank lathe, with four rests and a 50-ft. bed, constructed by Hulse and Co, and another lathe with a 60-ft. bed, intended for straight shafting and other plain work, constructed by Smith, Beacock and Tannett, equipped with four saddles.[21] Also referred to is a new type of Siemens-Martin furnace, the joint invention and patent of Mr. Sydney J. Robinson and Mr. S Pope.[22]
1898 William Jessop’s Park Works demolished after over 65 years in their occupation.[23] The annual report for 1898 confirmed the sale of the lease.
1901 Driven by import tariffs, price controls, the amalgamation of the crucible steel makers of America into a single combine and the importance of the American market to the company, Jessops announced the intention to lay down a manufacturing plant in America.[24] In April they completed the purchase of a 41 acre site in Washington, Pennsylvania. [25] A wholly owned subsidiary of William Jessop and Sons Limited named the Jessop Steel Company was incorporated to own and operate the plant.
1902 New plant in Washington PA began production. [26]
1903/1904 William Jessop and Sons acquired a controlling interest (just over 50%) in J. J. Saville and Co, a steel manufacturer and file maker, with works in Sheffield.
By 1905 Jessops had adopted the trade name “Ark” for their highest grade of cast High Speed Steel.
1905 A section in a booklet Industries of Sheffield and District - Iron Steel and Allied Trades - 1905 outlines the history of the company and includes interior photos of the works.
1910 Jessop’s US import and sales business was incorporated as William Jessop and Sons Inc., still at 91 John Street, but with several other regional offices and agents.[27] This was distinct and separate from the manufacturing company Jessop Steel Company Inc.
1914 At the outbreak of WW1 Jessops were one of 30 Sheffield steel makers to invest in High Speed Steel Alloys Ltd to build a works at Widnes for the manufacture tungsten, an essential requirement for the manufacture of high speed steel.[28]
1914 Steel manufacturers. Specialities: high-grade crucible steel for every purpose, producers of steel forgings and steel castings in the rough or finished state up to sixty tons weight for marine, railway, mining, electrical and general engineering and for motor vehicle construction. Employees 2,000. [29]
1919 - Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) made an offer to buy William Jessop for £1,400,000 either in cash or part cash, part BSA shares. By 19 Dec 1919 they owned 99% of the share capital. [30] These reports confirm that Jessops owned works in both Sheffield and the USA, and also owned a controlling interest in J. J. Saville and Co.
1921 Soho Rolling Mills sold. The Sheffield Pure Ice and Cold Storage Company bought the freehold of Soho Rolling Mills from William Jessop with the intention of enlarging their contiguous premises, ending Jessops 70 year ownership.[31]
1924 Jessops sold their American subsidiary Jessop Steel Company Inc. of Washington PA. BSA stated that manufacture in the USA was not conducive to the company’s objectives.[32] The Washington works continued trading as Jessops Steel, but with no association with the British firm.
1926 BSA annual report for trading year 1926 records the purchase of the remaining shares in J J Saville and Co. [33] Whilst it is not stated, the indications are that Saville became a wholly owned subsidiary of BSA, not of William Jessop and Sons. A prospectus for debenture issue in 1936 confirms that BSA owned 100% of the issued share capital of both companies.[34]
1927 See Aberconway for information on the company and its history.
1929 A number of derivative modern sources state that William Jessop and Sons and J J Saville and Company merged in 1929 to form Jessop Saville Company. This is demonstrably not the case, as we will see below, but the origin of this assertion is unclear.
1931 Managing Director G G Coppel retired and was succeeded by Lewis Chapman who was also appointed a director of BSA. Chapman had been with the company for 25 years and had been appointed to the Board in 1928.[35]. The notice of Chapman’s appointment made it very clear that Jessops and Savilles would continue to operate separately. “To Function Separately. The two businesses will continue to function separately, each having their own works, as their main interests are independent of each other. Savilles are outstanding as makers of high speed steel and special steels generally and files, whilst Jessops, apart from specialising in crucible tool steel and fine sheet and strip rolling, have a large heavy and light engineering section producing finished crankshafts ranging in size from aeroplane and automobile engine cranks up to the largest submarine Diesel types. Jessop’s steel foundry is also noted for specialising in all classes of high grade and intricate steel castings for the engineering industry."[36]
In the 1930s and 1940s, we see Jessops and Savilles drawing closer together, still separate legal entities with their own Boards and product lines, but with the same management. Aside from their traditional product lines, it becomes increasingly difficult to attach a particular development to a specific company. In particular, we see advertising for their developments in titanium and cemented tungsten carbide being advertised over both company names as seen in the attached adverts.
1933 BSA announced the intention to consolidate manufacturing in their steels business. Saville’s file factory was moved from Shoreham Street to new facilities alongside William Jessop’s Brightside Works in 1934 and by 1935 relocation of the remainder of their manufacturing seems to have been complete. The Triumph Works name was retained for Saville’s works within the Brightside complex. [37]
1936 Jessops introduced an austenitic steel alloy named G.2, for aircraft engine exhaust valves.[38]
1937 Steel manufacturers. "Ark" and "B4 Any" Steels. [39]
1939 BSA Annual Report highlights the development of a carbide super cutting alloy marketed by “our steel companies” as Cutanit.[40] Cutanit was not a Jessops trade name.
1940s At a date yet to be established, Jessops and Savilles were joined in the BSA steels interests by another Sheffield company, Bromley, Fisher and Turton Limited, but exactly when, and how ownership was structured, has not yet emerged. Bromley, Fisher and Turton relocated to Brightside under BSA ownership, retaining the “Midland Works” name from their old Shoreham Street Works.
1945 BSA Chairman paid tribute to the achievements of the company during the war years, and particularly mentions crankshafts made by Jessops for marine diesels.[41]
1945 A Gloster Meteor IV, with Rolls Royce Derwent engines, set a world speed record. Derwent turbine discs were of Jessop G.18B, an austenitic alloy steel containing 13%Cr, 13%Ni, 10%Co.[42] High temperature steel alloys for gas turbines were to be an important part of Jessop’s business over the next decade.
1948 William Jessop and Sons was listed as one of the companies to be nationalised under the Iron and Steel Bill.[43]
1949 Jessops introduce a new austenitic steel alloy, G.32, for gas turbine blades.[44] Their advertising that year claimed that 90% of British-made gas turbines had Jessop discs
1950 New metallurgical research laboratories established at Whiston Grange, Rotherham.[45] Although for the use of the steels group in general, it was owned and operated as William Jessop and Sons.
1951 In June BSA were notified that the Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain intended to exercise their option to take over BSA’s steel interests, including William Jessop and Sons Ltd, J J Saville and Co Ltd., and Bromley, Fisher and Turton Ltd., all of Sheffield. However, on 24 Jun 1953 BSA were notified that the Iron and Steel Corp would not exercise its option. All three remained part of BSA.[46]
1954 Jessops bought proprietary designs and operating techniques for melting titanium from the Titanium Metals Corporation of America.[47] A plant was built and opened in 1956.
1955 Confirming that Jessops and Savilles remained separate entities, Sir Bernard Docker, in his presentation to BSA shareholders may be quoted. “William Jessop and Sons Ltd and J J Saville and Co Ltd, our steel companies remain In the forefront in their specialities and particularly as suppliers of steels with the quality of great strength at high temperature for jet and turbo-prop engine, for which the demand still Increases.”[48]
1957 Sheffield directory entries for Brightside show J. J. Saville & Co. Ltd. steel mfrs, (Triumph steel works); Jessop, William & Sons Ltd. steel mfrs; Bromley, Fisher & Turton Ltd. steel mfrs. (Midland works).
1959 The companies in BSA’s steel group were consolidated into two new companies, Jessop-Saville Limited and Jessop-Saville (Small Tools) Limited.[49]
This narrative continues on the Graces Guide web pages for each of the two new companies.
Fatal Accident at Brightside Works, 1888
The full newpaper report is transcribed here, as it offers some insight into the dangers, the methods, and the inquest process.
'THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT MESSRS. JESSOPS'.
INQUEST THIS AFTERNOON.
This afternoon, at the Infirmary, Mr. D. Wightman resumed the inquiry, into the circumstances attending the death of Henry William Booker, a moulder, who died from the effects of injuries received in the explosion which occurred on May 30, at Messrs. Thomas Jessop and Sons' works, Brightside. The inquiry was opened a week ago and adjourned for the attendance of Mr. Banham, the manager, and a workman named King, who were injured by the explosion and were not well enough to give evidence last week. Mr. Banham attended to-day, but it was stated that King was still very seriously ill, and not fit to be present.
At the commencement of the inquiry the Coroner said he was glad to see that Mr. Banham was sufficiently well to be present and give evidence, as he was a man in authority at the works.
James Banham, steel manager, of the crucible steel department at Messrs. William Jessop and Sons (Limited), said the deceased worked under his orders. On the 30th May, about five o'clock, the deceased and others were assisting to cast an ingot weighing about 60 cwt. The steel was run into a bucket in the ordinary way. The bucket was placed over the pit. He was standing near, and the deceased was on the opposite side. He (witness) told Joseph King to draw the plug steadily for the purpose of letting the molten steel into the mould. King did it steadily. The steel began to boil in the bucket, and then he knew something was wrong. Immediately afterwards the explosion occurred and blew most the steel out the bucket. He, King, Gregory, and two others were slightly burned.
The Coroner Now comes the question. You were the man in authority, were not? —Yes.
Now how do you account for this? It doesn’t blow up every day does it? —Certainly not.
Now what was the cause?— Damp plug.
Have you any doubt about that?—No, sir.
Who had the management responsibility this plug? -King:
How is he? Can he give evidence?—No, sir.
Did you see the plug before it was put in, then? — Yes.
Did you handle it?— No.
Did you examine it at all?— No.
Wasn't it part of your duty to so?— No.
But if you were authority whose duty was it? King's.
Tell me the process which is gone through for the purpose of making this plug fit do its work? What is done at it?— Lined up with composition.
What kind composition?— Ground gannister, &c.
How had he to dry it?—in the melting furnaces.
Any more than one plug, do you use the same plug all along ?—No, there are several plugs. We were using two plugs at the time. King has had the control of these plugs seven eight years.
Has anything of this kind ever happened before? No, sir.
From the dampness of the plug has it ever partially exploded before?—it has often boiled from the dampness in the bucket.
How can that get damp?—By lining the same as a plug.
You line it at the same as plug?— Yes.
The same stuff ?—Yes. The bucket was lined each time for casting with the same material as the plug. He thought that the explosion must have arisen from the dampness of the plug, as it was the plug that exploded. The plug had not been used since the previous day. The inside the plug must have been wet. He considered that half a pint of water at the bottom of the bucket, if confined in one place, would be sufficient to cause the explosion. The damp must have been confined in the centre of the plug. At this point the remains of the damaged plug and also a perfect one were produced and examined.
Mr. Banham, continuing, said he did not think it his duty to examine the plug before every casting. This was left to King. The plug was hollow.
The Coroner : Had the same means of drying this plug that he has had for all these years?—No, sir.
Well then how was it? —He has been on different parts of the works doing this sort of thing. He will have been doing this kind of thing in the same place for several works.
Only ?-Yes.
How you account for his not getting that plug dry as he generally got it before?—l don't know, sir, unless he made it up wetter, and did not give it sufficient time.
Had he the same means of drying it?— Yes.
The same means?— Yes.
The same place?— Yes.
And the same time allowed him?— Yes. He has been managing these plugs seven or eight years.
Is he a man who drinks at all, King?—No, sir.
Is he a steady man?— Very steady.
You have no reason to think it has arisen through his not being quite sober?—No, sir. I believe he is a teetotaller.
You have reason to believe it arose through any neglect on his put and having too much to do?— No.
Had he sufficient time to it?— Yes; he only had two do that day.
Juryman : you have reason to believe ho took the ordinary course?—Yes.
And nothing else? Yes.
The Coroner: Did he case them as you had seen him do them numerous times in a proper manner? —Yes.
Is it your opinion that this accident has arisen entirely and solely through the plug not being sufficiently dry? -Yes.
And nothing else?— Yes.
The Coroner, addressing the jury, said he did not think it necessary to call any further evidence, but it was for the jury to decide. The only question appeared to be what was the amount of blame, if any, attaching to King. When adjourned the inquest he had some doubt whether it was not Mr. Banham's duty to see the plug was properly dry. Mr. Banhain hid explained that King had done the work for a number of years, and that he considered him a competent person. King had done this so long that in all probability he (King) considered that on that occasion he had dove it in the ordinary way. He did not think they could come to any other conclusion than that King had considered the plug to be safe.
A Juryman said he should like to have some evidence about the drying of the plug.
Walter Liversedge, puller-out, deposed to seeing the plug at the back of one of the furnaces when he went to work at six o'clock in the morning.
Luke Ogden, odd man, stated when he went to work in the morning he saw two plugs standing at the back of the furnace. He moved the plugs a short distance from the furnace as they were in his way.
The Coroner: Now we seem to be getting at the real explanation.
Witness, continuing, said that he had moved plugs on several previous occasions. He did not examine the plugs when he moved them see whether they were properly done or not. They had been there all the night.
The Coroner asked whether they would adjourn the inquest for the attendance of King. If he thought King would do any good he would have adjourned without consulting them. He did not see what good King would do them. He had no doubt King would tell them be thought the plugs were dry, and that he put the composition on the way he had done it in previous years. He was not likely to throw any blame upon himself.
The jury did not desire to adjourn.
The Coroner thought they had thoroughly bottomed the matter. The last witness had innocently enough doubt contributed to the accident by removing the plugs from the place where they were drying to a place where they would not dry. If he had been able to leave them alone till King wanted them, in all human probability the accident would not have happened. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," the Coroner suggesting that in future the plugs should provided with a proper place for drying, a place where they would not in the way of anyone. The proceedings then terminated.
[50]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Sheffield Iris - 24 Nov 1835
- ↑ White’s Directory of Sheffield 1837
- ↑ Pigot and Slater’s Directory of Manchester and Salford, 1841
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 23 Jan 1841
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 30 Jun 1849
- ↑ White’s Directory of Sheffield 1852
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 11 Nov 1859
- ↑ The London Gazette - 28 Feb 1865
- ↑ Graces Guide Sydney Jessop
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph – 11 Dec 1875; 14 Dec 1875; 18 Dec 1875: The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908
- ↑ The Engineer of 22nd September 1876 p214
- ↑ Modern shipbuilding and the men engaged in it; David Pollock; 1884
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 11 Mar 1886 and others
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 14 Aug 1885
- ↑ Obituary - Sheffield Evening Telegraph - 30 Nov 1887 and Sheffield Independent - 1 Dec 1887
- ↑ Sheffield Evening Telegraph - 10 Mar 1888
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 23 Apr 1887
- ↑ The Engineer of 21st February 1890 p161
- ↑ Leeds Mercury - 28 Mar 1891
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 17 Mar 1891
- ↑ The Engineer of 31st August 1894 p201
- ↑ The Engineer of 14th December 1894 p537
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 11 Mar 1898 – adverts for salvaged materials
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 13 Mar 1901
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 24 Apr 1901
- ↑ Sheffield Evening Telegraph - 28 Nov 1902
- ↑ Trow’s Directory of New York, 1911
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 22 Mar 1916
- ↑ 1914 Whitakers Red Book
- ↑ Birmingham Daily Gazette, 9 Aug 1919 and Globe, 12 Jan 1920
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 5 Nov 1921
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 13 Aug 1924 and The Times – 8 Apr 1925
- ↑ Birmingham Daily Post - 11 May 1927
- ↑ Daily News (London) - 12 Nov 1936
- ↑ Sheffield Evening Telegraph – 25 Jul 1931 and Sheffield Independent - 27 Jul 1931 and 2 Nov 1936
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 1 Aug 1931
- ↑ Financial Times 11 Oct 1934 (BSA Annual Report) and phone directories
- ↑ Financial Times - 8 Mar 1949
- ↑ 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- ↑ Financial Times – 8 Nov 1939
- ↑ Financial Times – 21 Mar 1945
- ↑ William Jessop and Sons advertisement, The Times – 10 Nov 1945 and The Rolls Royce Derwent, Flight Magazine – 25 Oct 1945
- ↑ Daily Mirror - 30 Oct 1948
- ↑ Financial Times - 8 Mar 1949
- ↑ Birmingham Gazette - 22 Dec 1950
- ↑ Financial Times - 26 Jun 1951; Sunday Express - 11 Nov 1951; Financial Times - 26 Nov 1953
- ↑ Coventry Evening Telegraph - 26 Aug 1954
- ↑ Birmingham Daily Gazette - 6 Dec 1955
- ↑ Financial Times 19 Nov 1959
- ↑ Sheffield Evening Telegraph, Thursday 14th June 1888