Horseley Bridge and Thomas Piggott
of Horseley Works, Tipton, Staffs
1780 Predecessor company founded.
1873 Public company as Horseley Co.
1916 Company incorporated as Horseley Bridge and Engineering Co Ltd[1].
1924 The Horseley Bridge and Engineering Co Ltd of Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs, appointed Mr. L. Harper to fill the position of London representative of the company in place of Mr. H. L. Batting who retired early on March 31st due to ill health and after 40 years of service to the firm.[2]
By 1930 Thomas Piggott and Co was a subsidiary
1933 Name changed to Horseley Bridge and Thomas Piggott on amalgamation with Thomas Piggott and Co.
1937 Structural engineers. "Lamella" Steel Hangars. "Piggott's" Pressed Steel Tanks. [3]
1937 Description of welded Klonne-type waterless gasholder of 2 million cu. ft. capacity, made for the Ford Motor Co at Dagenham.[4]. 'The height measured from the bottom edge of the lowest strake to the top gallery is 185 ft. 3 in., and the diameter is 126 ft. The internal surface is, of course, cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 2, and, as the internal welds have all been ground flush with the plate, is very smooth. One of the modifications in design is a new form of piston packing which does not employ a liquid seal. The quality of the seal provided by it is evidenced by the fact that, as is clear from the illustration, the piston is used as an erection stage, this procedure being followed as the shell was extended upwards, the piston being supported on compressed air. When completed, the gasholder will, of course, be roofed in. ....'. The construction process was described in detail in The Engineer 1938/07/29. The shell was formed of 3/16" plate. 'The roof of the gasholder is designed as a self-supporting dome, and consists of 1/8 in. steel sheets having rolled steel channel section rafters and purlins. In the centre of the roof is fixed a turret designed to serve as a ventilator, and to house the internal lift cages which provide access to the piston. ... Inside the shell tho dome-shaped piston which travels up and down, depending upon the quantity of gas stored, is guided in its travel by means of two sets of wood rollers, both sets of rollers being located above the piston to facilitate inspection. Around the circumference of the piston is fitted the sealing arrangement comprising a fluted dilatable steel ring to which is attached the sealing ring, which is made up of six layers of a special rubber and fabric material, to form a gas-tight joint against the shell. of the gasholder. This sealing ring is kept pressed tight against the shell by means of weighted levers. An automatic lubrication system is provided for the purpose of greasing the shell to ensure easy travel of the piston. ...'.
1939 See Aircraft Industry Suppliers
1949 Gas holders[5]
1961 Constructional engineers and iron founders, specialising in bridges, piers, pipes, jetties, cranes, tanks, gas plant, steel works, pressings, stampings and castings, and transmission towers. 1,000 employees. [6]
1968 Taken over[7] by John Thompson; merged with the Pressure Vessel Division to form Thompson Horseley[8].
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times, 15 March 1920
- ↑ The Engineer 1924/03/28
- ↑ 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- ↑ The Engineer 1937/10/29
- ↑ [1] Historic England
- ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- ↑ History of Clarke Chapman: [[2]]
- ↑ The Times, 18 April 1969