J. and R. Shorrock of Lee Foundry, Darwen, Lancashire
Lancashire Loom. Exhibit at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry
Maker of stationary engines. [1]
See John Shorrock and Ralph Shorrock
1869 Partnership change. '...the Partnership lately subsisting between the undersigned, James Rawlinson, John Shorrock, Ralph Shorrock, and Lawrence Roberts, carrying on business as Cotton Manufacturers, at Springfield Mill and Tackfield Mill, within Over Darwen, in the county of Lancaster, under the style or firm of, Rawlinson and Company, is this day dissolved by mutual consent, so far as regards the said James Rawlinson and Lawrence Roberts; and that the said business will in future be carried on by the said John Shorrock and Ralph Shorrock (under the style or firm of J. and R. Shorrock), who will receive and pay all debts due to and owing by the said partnership...'[2]
1876 Advert: iron and brass founders.
1882 Supplied the 150 IHP tandem compound mill engine, looms, gearing, and various castings for Starkie Street Mill, Darwen. 14 ft dia flywheel, 24" wide, driving the mill by a 20" wide rubber belt, 105 ft long. [3]
1884 ' A Monster Cylinder.— Messrs. J. and R. Shorrock, Lee Foundry, Darwen, are erecting for the Hyde Paper Mills, near Manchester, a paper-making machine which, it is said, will, when completed, be the largest of its kind in the world. The cylinder is 3 yards in diameter and 8 feet on the face, and has taken 182 days to complete. The rough casting weighed 35 tons, but by chipping and boring it has been reduced to 26 tons.'[4]
1888 J. and R. Shorrock, Bolton Road and Lees Foundries, Darwen.[5]
1889 Horizontal cross-compound steam engine of 300 HP installed at Bank Top Mill, Darwen. Photographed by George Watkins in 1956, who noted that 'It was very rare to find a Shorrock engine'.[6]
1892 'Enterprize at the Hyde Paper Mill.
A GIGANTIC PIECE OF MACHINERY SUCCESSFULLY CONSTRUCTED.
DARWEN ENGINEERS TO THE FRONT.
It is an admitted fact by all competent judges in the profession that Messrs. J. and R. Shorrock, of Darwen, have, in addition to a well-deserved reputation for making one of the best looms in the market, a good name (which we are told is rather to be chosen than great riches) throughout the whole of the paper trade for erecting substantial paper-making machinery. About eight years ago this eminent firm made and supplied to the special order of the Hyde Paper Mill Company the largest machine for making cap papers that had ever been constructed up to that time, and this machine worked so satisfactorily that the same enterprising firm have, through their active manager, Mr. J. Tod, ordered another of the same kind but a little larger in several ways. This has, we understand, been successfully completed and will be placed in full working order during the next few days; and as the machine is, as we have stated, the largest cap paper machine known either in this or any other country, we think that a few details with which we have been provided by the courtesy of the engineer will prove of interest to our reader. "The machine cylinder, which is a marvel in itself, measures 8 feet 10 inches on the face, is 12 feet in diameter, and 26 tons in weight. It is driven with a large spur wheel. Chairs are turned to receive same, secured with sixteen l 1/2 inch bolts. The ring of the cylinder is one solid piece 1 3/4 inches thick, bored inside. and turned and polished on the face. The casting in the rough weighed 32 tons, and it will stand on standards weighing 3 tons each. The bottom cooch of the machine is one inch thick of brass, 9 feet long, bored inside, and 2 feet 6 inches in diameter, and containing 65,000 perholes [?], the diameter of which which is 5-16ths of an inch. The brass borings from these perforations weighed over 450lbs, it has taken one man a month to do this portion of the work, boring five holes at a time. Upon this works the top cooch, which is a strong iron shaft covered with mahogany logs 2 1/2 inches thick, the brass roller working the cylinder weighs 50 cwt., and a strong wrought iron shaft, 5 inches diameter, which is turned, balanced, and covered with a composition covering, goes through it. The machine is 3 inches larger than the one made previously for the same firm, and is replacing an old one of ten feet diameter." We learn that Messrs Shorrock have been busily engaged for five Months in erecting this huge machine, which we think all our readers will admit from the above description sounds like a great triumph of engineering skill. The insurance company have just tested the cylinder with 28lbs. steam pressure, the results being quite satisfactory. The cylinder was conveyed to the mill by two steam traction engines, and in order to convey an adequate idea of its great size, we may say that if it had been two inches larger it could not have been taken either by road or rail on account of the bridges.'[7]
1904 'The Extensive ENGINEERING WORKS now carried on under the style of J. and R. Shorrock, Lea Foundry, Darwen, together with the Engines, Boilers, Fixed Plant, and Machinery. The concern has been carried on for upwards of 30 years, and has a wide and valuable connection, being well-known both in this country and abroad for turning out high class power looms, paper-staining and papermaking machinery, steam engines, and all classes of engineering tool'[8]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain by George Watkins. Vol 10
- ↑ [The London Gazette Publication date:16 March 1869 Issue:23479 Page:1715]
- ↑ Preston Herald - Saturday 11 March 1882
- ↑ Nottingham Journal - Monday 10 November 1884
- ↑ Cotton Factory Times - Friday 12 October 1888
- ↑ ‘Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain, Volume 3.1: Lancashire’ by George Watkins: Landmark Publishing Ltd.
- ↑ Denton and Haughton Examiner - Saturday 4 June 1892
- ↑ Northern Daily Telegraph - Wednesday 21 September 1904