Edwin Danks and Co (Oldbury)
Boiler makers, of Oldbury, near Birmingham. Telephone: Broadwell 1381/2/3. Telegraphic Address: "Boiler, Oldbury". (1937)
1807 Joseph Danks was born in August; he became a blacksmith, who manufactured industrial boilers and iron canal boats
Joseph and his wife had Elizabeth had 3 sons, Edwin, Henry and Thomas, and 3 daughters. The sons all trained and worked as boilermakers [2]
1850s It appears that Edwin had a dispute with his father and brothers during the mid 1850's, was given £3000 and told to go and farm sheep in Australia.
1862 Upon his return, Edwin started the company known as Edwin Danks of Oldbury on a 17 acre site at Oldbury. Company founded. This was just 5 miles from Edwin's brothers company, Danks of Netherton; they were direct competitors.
1896 Private limited company.
1896/7 Directory: Listed as makers of iron boats.
1903 Listed as boiler-makers, opened a London office at 52, Lime-street.[3]
1910 Edwin Danks of Oldbury was acquired by Babcock and Wilcox[4]; their activities were then focussed on making 'Lancashire' type boilers.
1937 Boiler manufacturers and constructional engineers.
1937 Advert in British Industries Fair Catalogue. Lanc. and Economic Parts. Pipework, Pressed Work, Tanks. Structural Steel Work. Valves. Interlock Flooring, and Tanks of all descriptions. (Engineering/Metals/Quarry, Roads and Mining/Transport Section - Stand Nos. D.501 and D.400)
Mid 20th century: thousands of Lancashire boilers were converted by Danks of Oldbury to chain grate stokers,
1945 January. Mr J. Smith who for some years has been chief engineer of the company, was appointed managing director. W. F. Johnston was appointed chief engineer.[5]
1959 The Oldbury site was refurbished.
1961 Patent - Improvements in or relating to fuel burning apparatus.
1961 Engineers, specialising in the manufacture of shell boilers, water tube boilers, pressure vessels, chain grate stokers and oil burners.
1964 Patent - Improvements relating to steam boilers.
1984 Took over Danks of Netherton
Became part of Wellman Group
See Also
Sources of Information
- 1937 British Industries Fair Advert p600; and p353
- 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- [2] [3] Wikipatents
- Peck's Trades Directory of Birmingham, 1896-97: Iron Boats
- 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- History of Wellman Robey [4]