Walter Somers and Co
Walter Somers and Co of Haywood Forge, Halesowen, near Birmingham. Telephone: Halesowen 1185/6/7. Telegraphic Address: "Somers, Halesowen"; (1937) of Mucklow Hill, Halesowen.
1866 Founded by Walter Somers
1895 Converted to private limited company.
1903 Made a screw 11.5" diameter, 85 ft 7" long, 2" pitch, weight 17.5 tons, for 150 ton sheer legs.[1]
1927 See Aberconway for information on the company and its history.
Purchased Clarkes Crank and Forge Co.
1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Steel and Iron forgings of all descriptions and of any size or weight. Also Die Blocks in carbon and alloy steels.
1962 Proposal to merge with Mitchell, Shackleton and Co, another forgemaster. Mitchell, Shackleton and Co would offer their shares to Somers's shareholders[2].
1963 Take-over offer proceeded; Mitchell Somers formed but the company continued as a subsidiary.
1967 One of the larger steel companies not subject to nationalisation[3]
1968 Form rolling machine.
Note: There is a detailed account of Walter Somers and Co and The Haywood Forge in The Engineer 1966/07/08, p 39
The firm continues as Somers Forge
See Also
Sources of Information
- The Engineer of 30th August 1968 p334