Thomas Shanks and Co
Thomas Shanks and Co of Union Iron Works, Johnstone were makers of machine tools, up to the largest sizes.
Founded by Thomas Shanks.
1843 Producing screws.
1848 Slotting machine weighing 59 tons made by Shanks for Fulton and Neilson of Lancefield Forge. Described and illustrated in The Practical Mechanic's Journal, April 1848.
1866 Planing punching and plate-bending machines to Japan. W. and A. McOnie made the 60-hp engine, shafting and boilers. The steam hammers for the same place are made by Glen and Ross.
1887 Description and engraving of large radial drilling machine, weighing about 26 tons. See illustration. [1]
1888 Boiler-making Plant. Article and illustration.
1890 Made a 100-ton and a 55-ton overhead crane for the Fairfield boiler works. Driven by square shafting powered by a wall engine made by Robey and Co.[2]
1896 Description and engravings of two large lathes. One could swing work up to 15 ft diameter and 10 ft long. The other could swing work up to 20 ft diameter close to the faceplate [3]
1896 Description and engraving of a large vertical and horizontal planing machine made for the Cessnock Engine Works, Copeland Road, Govan of A. and P. W. McOnie [4]
1906 Large gap lathe weighing 124 tons. It would swing work up to 25 ft. in diameter by 4 ft. long in the gap; between the face-plate and the fully extended slide-bed it would swing work up to 12 ft. 6 in. in diameter by 9 ft. long ; between the centres it would swing work up to 42 ft. long by 8 ft. in diameter over the saddles. It was built forGlenfield and Kennedy of Kilmarnock. See photo.[5]
1911 Heavy quadrupled geared double-bed lathe.
1913 Description of the works and of some of the latest large machine tools produced by Shanks. These included a 'heavy forge-lathe' (see photo), specially intended for rough-turning turbine rotor-drums inside and outside, roughing out connecting-rings from the solid forging, &c. 'The front and back journals of the main spindle are of unusually large proportions, the face-plate is rigid enough to take the heaviest weights, and the saddles and slides are capable of withstanding the heaviest cuts. The double slide-bed is 16 ft. wide, and of great depth, to take the strains of heavy cutting. The fast headstock is of exceptionally massive design, with 94 in. height of centres, as shown on the illustration, but has since been made 102-in. centres, all in one casting. .... The driving-gear is of the firm’s patented arrangement, already referred to ; it runs so smoothly, and with such a small expenditure of power, that the lathe illustrated when running idle with a job of 90 tons between centres only absorbed 54 horse-power, the total power of the motor being 100 horse-power. The face-plate is very strong and rigid and is 13 1/2 ft. in diameter, but since this machine was completed a 15 ft. diameter plate has been made. ...' [6]
1927 'UPPER RENFREWSHIRE - IRON TRADE DEPRESSION.
The most important case before the Valuation Appeal Court for the Upper Ward of Renfrewshire held at Paisley yesterday , was that; by Thomas Shanks & Co. ( Ltd.) , Union Iron Works, Johnstone, in liquidation, against a valuation of £1470 on their works, and suggesting £800 as a reasonable figure.
It was explained by Mr Daniel Gardner, writer, Glasgow, for appellants, that the firm, which was established 100 years ago, through unfortunate circumstances had gone into liquidation in March 1925. The figure was one which had been fixed in a boom period. The criterion they should apply was what was the lettable value in 1927.
Mr Grey, the Assessor, said that during a period of prolonged trade depression the owner-occupier would be entitled to claim a rebate, but no such consideration could be extended to tenant occupiers.
The Court modified the valuation, and fixed it at £1000.
The Assessor asked for a stated case in appeal.'[7]
1927-8 Liquidation - plant and equipment advertised for sale.[8]
1928 The machine tool business was acquired by Craven Brothers; some staff transferred to Reddish where the products were manufactured.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Engineering 1887/03/25
- ↑ Engineering 1890/10/24
- ↑ Engineering 1896/05/01
- ↑ Engineering 1896/09/11
- ↑ Engineering 1906/04/20
- ↑ Engineering 1913/06/20
- ↑ The Scotsman - Friday 16 September 1927
- ↑ The Scotsman, 22 February 1928
- The Engineer of 23rd February 1866 p134
- The Engineer of 24th February 1888 p152-4
- Machine Tools by James Weir French in 2 vols. Published 1911 by Gresham
- Mechanics Magazine Volume XXXIX (39) 1843 Pt2 p224