McNicoll and Vernon
of Brunswick Dock, Liverpool.
Patent steam cranes.
John McNicoll and John Vernon.
1850 'Economy of Steam Power.— In Mr. M'Nicoll's timber-yard and saw-mill at Liverpool, steam-power has been applied to work the travelling-cranes used to convey the timber about the yard. Each crane, when worked by hand required four men, whereas the steam-crane is worked by a man and boy only, and does double the work, the wages being about £330 per annum in one case, and £67 in the other. The steam-machine will carry 13 logs of timber, weighing together 19½ tons, one at time, from one end of the yard to the other, a distance of 100 feet, in twenty-six minutes, at a cost of less than sixpence -The Artisan.'[1]
1851 Employing 150 men.[2]
1859 Advertisement (see illustration) includes the names of some firms using the steam cranes: Exors of Samuel Ellis, Manchester, Hull Dock Co., Joseph Whitworth & Co., Joseph Dowson and Co., Saw Mill proprietors, Lambeth, John Jay, Contractors, London, Peto, Brassey and Betts, John McNicoll & Co., saw mill proprietors, Liverpool. Applications for licences and estimates to John Vernon, Engineer & Iron Ship Builder, Brunswick Dock, Liverpool.
1871 Employing 70 men and 20 boys.[3]