of Salford, and later of Manchester
1848 Advert: 'ROBERT GILROY, Millwright and Engineer, respectfully informs his Friends and the Public that he has TAKEN and REMOVED to the UNION WORKS, Barlow's Croft (opposite Trinity Church), Chapel-street, Salford, the property of Mr. Harry Bentley, who has declined that portion of his business, where all orders the above line will meet with prompt attention and dispatch. Having bought all his pedestals; brass steps, and pulley patterns, with a great variety of others, R. G. hopes, by attention and moderate terms, to merit continuance of the support of his friends and those of the late firm.'[1]
1866 Advert: 'To Millwrights, Machinists, Foundry Masters, Brokers, and others.
T. M. FISHER & SON have been instructed by the executor of the late Mr. Robert Gilroy, to SELL BY AUCTION, on the premises, Castle-street, Knot Mill, on ....... the Whole of the Excellent TOOLS, MACHINERY, and EFFECTS thereon ; comprising two double break lathes. 15½ in. and 12in. with face plates, compound slide rests, and top driving apparatus ; ...... three powerful planing machines
....two vertical drills, will take in 4ft. 6in. and drill 22in, by J. and J. Kershaw; ditto, will take in 18in. and drill 12in.;....[numerous other machine tools]... beam condenser steam engine, cylinder 18in. diameter, 36in. stroke, with fly wheel, governors, valves, cisterns, pumps, &c; 8-horse horizontal high-pressure steam engine, cylinder 11in. diameter, 18in. stroke, partly finished; 6-horse do., cylinder 8in.diameter, 16in. stroke, partly finished; patent vertical sawing machine, several of Haley's 8 and 6 ton patent screw lifting jacks, and 10 ton double and single geared crabs, steel turning tools, mandrels, large quantity of bench tools, .......
most excellent lot of patterns, in wood, for 6, 8, 10, 15, 18, and 20-horse horizontal high-pressure engines; ditto, for lathes of various sizes; ditto, for rice and corn mills; balk and vertical saw frames ; whimseys for hoist, pipes, pillars, &c.; a most valuable lot of patterns, in wood and iron, for bevil, mitre, mortice, spur wheels; with a large quantity of patterns, iron, for strap pulleys, various sizes. In the Smithy are a most excellent lot of tools ; several massive anvils, on cast-iron blocks; swage ditto; quantity of wrought, round, square, and flat iron. In the Foundry are wrought-iron crane ladles, shank ditto; moulding boxes, small work ditto holding-down weights, core carriage, and moulders' benches. In the Yard: set of three circular steam boilers, each connected, with mountings, furnace front, and fire bars; cast and wrought iron, scrap and pig iron. Stores, Office Utensils, and other Effects....... [2]
Note: Manchester location was Castlefield Iron Works.