John Smith and Co of Grove Iron Works, Carshalton
Extract from an item about the Grove Ironworks Mill, from Sutton Council's website: '.... we do not know much about the mill before it was rebuilt as a big weather-boarded building, probably in the 1780s. It was notable for its large overshot water wheel which was unusual on the Wandle. From this time it was used for grinding tobacco into snuff. During the Napoleonic wars in the early 19th century part of it was used to bore out the barrels of canons. However, this was a brief episode and the mill continued to grind snuff until about 1860 when it was let to John Smith who turned it into an ironworks. The mill was burnt down around 1950. Part of the Westcroft Canal survives but there are no remains of the mill building.' [1]
1873 Mention of John Smith, engineer, millwright and brass founder, Grove Iron Works, Carshalton. Established 1800.[2][3]
1879 Advertisement. John Smith, Grove Iron Works, Carshalton, mechanical engineer and millwright. Improved iron frame double grinding mill (image). Manufacturer of all kinds of modern engines.[4]
1899 Produced the Hyler White motor designed by F. C. Nunn and T. Hyler White[5]
1901 Was making their own design of motor car, including the engine, one which involved opposed pistons in each cylinder[6]
1904 Suppliers of steam-driven centrifugal pumps. [7]
Produced endless screens for sewage treatment plant, driven by water wheels[8]
An example of Guyot's Noiseless Engine steam engine was offered for sale on a New Zealand-based online auction site in February 2012. See photos, reproduced with the kind permission of the owner. It was a single cylinder vertical engine, about 3 ft high. It differed from the more typical enclosed high speed engine (e.g. of the Belliss & Morcom type) by having all the reciprocating parts (including piston rod) fully enclosed. Cast in the crankcase cover is the following: 'John Smith & Co Engineers Carshalton 5S No. 180'. It is assumed that this is the same company.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ [1] Sutton Council website
- ↑ Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter - Saturday 19 April 1873
- ↑ Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter - Saturday 03 May 1873
- ↑ Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter - Saturday 26 April 1879
- ↑ The Autocar 1899/06/10
- ↑ The Engineer 1901/03/08
- ↑ 'Stationary Steam Enginer Makers Volume 2' Compiled by George Watkins, Catalogued by A. P. Woolrich, Landmark Publishing: Brief reference to a John Smith & Co advert of 1904
- ↑ 'The Design Construction and Maintenance of Sewage Disposal Works' by Hugh O. Raikes, Constable, 1908.