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.
1925 'STEERING GEAR FOR FOREIGN SHIPS. While local industries are suffering through the trade depression and there is keen competition with foreign countries, it is of interest that Messrs. Donkin and Co., Ltd., engineers, Ltd., Walker Gate, have several contracts in hand for their Donkin-Scott electric steering gear, for which the firm is the sole licensees for this country.
The majority of the orders are for foreign firms who in many instances have been quicker than British shipowners and shipbuilders to see the advantages of this new steering gear, which can be fitted to all vessels.
It is claimed in regard to the gear that economy is effected in working, there is increased ease of control, less fitting costs and less upkeep as compared with the steam gear, while compared with electric-hydraulic gears the shock of heavy seas is reduced by the spring-harnessed quadrant, and the risk of damage practically eliminated, while again economy in running is shown, a marked feature being its exceeding reliability. The gear has been fitted in vessels up to 22,000 tons.
NEARLY A CENTURY. The history of the firm goes back to 1840, when Mr. David Donkin started business in St. Andrews-street, Gallowgate, Newcastle. In 1876 Mr. George Donkin, 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. About this time the firm commenced to manufacture ships' steering gears, and they gained diplomas at the Tynemouth Exhibition in 1882 and the Newcastle Jubilee Exhibition in 1887. When Mr. Bryce Nichol died in 1892 the title of the firm was changed to Donkin and Co., and in 1901 new works were established at Walker Gate, while in 1919 the firm was formed into a public limited company. Messrs. Donkin and Co., Ltd., were the pioneers of the duplex-ram hydraulic telemotor, and also manufacture their well-known steering gears, the Wilson-Pirrie, horizontal and vertical. With the coming into of the motorship, Messrs. Donkin allied themselves with Messrs. Laurence, Scott and Co., Ltd., of Norwich, in producing the Donkin Scott electrical steering gear.'[1]
1927 onwards: Advertising 'THE "DONKIN-SCOTT" ELECTRICAL STEERING GEAR WITH LAURENCE, SCOTT PATENT ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR DIESEL ENGINE SHIPS. [2]
At some point the business became a subsidiary of Clarke, Chapman and Co[3]
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>