Oakbank Foundry
The Oakbank Works were operated for many years by John Neilson, brother of James Beaumont Neilson and father of Walter Neilson.
Having built some iron steamboats for canal navigation, Neilson proposed to build a sea-going boat but could not win support for the project.
1831 Neilson built and engined the Fairy Queen on his own account, said to be the first iron steamer that sailed from the Clyde. She became a passenger steamer on the Largs route.
1844 'TO ENGINEERS, IRONFOUNDERS, AND BOILER MAKERS. OAKBANK FOUNDERY AND ENGINE-WORKS. MR. NEILSON, being about to retire from Business, is ready to treat with a respectable Party for a LEASE of the PREMISES. The ENGINE-SHOP is furnished with an Engine of Twelve Horse-power, Two Planing Machines, one of them large, Two Self-acting Lathes, with a Screw Cutting Apparatus of various Pitches to suit, Five Lathes, with Back Speed, a Boring-mill, capable of boring seventy inches diameter, Two Cranes for Fitting, and other Tools of various kinds. The SMITHS'SHOP has Nine Forges, with Anvils, Bellows, and Forging Implements. The BOILER-SHOP has a Plate Furnace, Four Forges, with Anvils and Bellows, Piercing and Plate-bending Machines, Ten Ton Crane and other Tools. The FOUNDERY has an Engine of Eight Horse-power, and Two Cupolas capable of making a Casting of Nine Tons Weight, is furnished with Two good Cranes, and a variety of Moulding Boxes and other necessary Implements. There are various MACHINES, ENGINES, PIPES, &c. on the Premises for SALE , and among others the following : Two Marine, or Side Lever Engines, of Twenty-eight Horsepower each, one of them Second-hand, the other New, but not complete. Four High-pressure Engines, of Eight, Twelve, and Fifteen Horse-power, nearly complete, but without Boilers. One Fifteen Horse High-pressure Boiler. One Six Horse Portable Condensing Cistern Engine. Two Clay Mill Rollers, and Table, with Shafts and Wheels. Three Sugar Mill Rollers, with Shafts. Three Cart Weighing Machines, one of them Index Lever. Two Sets of Crane Gearing for Timber Cranes. One Self-acting Turning Lathe, with Twenty-one Feet Bed and ? Inch Head, and Screw Cutting Apparatus for the same. Lot of Engine Forged Work, partly Fitted with Brass, and a variety of Screw Bolts and Nuts. Lot of Engine and other Castings, of Pipes, &c. including several Flanged Pumps, ........ Application may be made to Mr. NEILSON, at Oakbank ; or to MONTGOMERIE and FLEMING, Writers, 62, Miller-street Glasgow.'[1]
1856 Description and illustration of Duff's high pressure compound vertical engine at Oakbank Engine Works (same place?). [2]
See Also
Sources of Information
- Glasgow Men [1]