Ropner Shipping Co
Robert Ropner built up a fleet of colliers
1874 Founded the Ropner Shipping Company in Hartlepool.
1904 Robert Ropner was created a baronet
1919 Public company incorporated under the control of Sir R. Ropner and Co
1935 Sir Robert Ropner and Co ordered a sister ship to the "Clearpool" from William Gray and Co; double reduction geared turbines to be provided by Central Marine Engine Works[1]
1949 Ropner Holdings Ltd was incorporated with the aim of amalgamating Ropner Shipping Co and Pool Shipping Co. Both companies held shares in Chartair Ltd, an air transport company with interests in repair and maintenance of engines and machines [2]
Ropner Holdings of Darlington
1966 Ropner Holdings diversified into insurance, hire purchase and engineering[3]
1968 Ropner's subsidiary Airtech acquired William Mills and Co (Sheffield) maker of industrial spades, garden tools[4]
1970 Ropner Holdings acquired its management company, Sir R Ropner and Co, from the Ropner family[5]
By 1976 other subsidiaries were Hozelock and Airvert[6]
1978 Acquired Frederick Greenwood and Sons (Holdings)[7]
1982 Renamed Ropner Holdings plc
1987 The engineering division included:[8]
- Greenwoods
- Airtech
- Airvert
- Meltog
- Phoenix Ironworks Co
and a 40 percent interest in Quartzray which had been acquired that year.
The garden products division was Hozelock plus the garden hose division of Salford Plastics Ltd.
The company also has Insurance, Property and Shipping divisions.
1997 Jacobs Holdings, with interests in shipping and property, took over Ropner Holdings, which had interests in shipping property and engineering; the engineering businesses were likely to be sold[9]. The group was renamed Jacobs Shipping Ltd