David Thom and Co

of Whit Lane Works, Pendleton, Manchester

1905 The company was registered on 18 April, in reconstruction of David Thom, Domeier and Co, to take over the businesses of tallow and glycerine manufacturers. The London portion of the company was disposed of to a subsidiary company.

1929 'Explosion of a Cast-Iron Centrifugal Pump.— At the works of Messrs. David Thom and Company, Limited, Manchester, a cast-iron centrifugal pump, driven by a belt, was used for pumping liquid soap from one vat to another. It had been in use for this purpose at least 15 years. Beside the suction and delivery pipes, the casing was fitted with a 1-in. steam pipe for turning steam into the pump, should the liquid soap become too viscid. This steam pipe was connected to the main steam line of the works, but was fitted with neither pressure gauge, relief valve, or reducing valve. On November 15, 1928, the pump not working satisfactorily, the attendant stopped pumping,and turned on the steam, upon which the casing of the pump fractured in several places, the flying pieces injuring the workman. The boiler pressure at the time was about 60 lb. per square inch. A new pump has now been fitted, and the steam pipe has a reducing valve, limiting the pressure to 15 lb. per square inch.'

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