Francis Preston (1823-1891) of Manchester.
1855 Government contract for bayonets and ramrods for the army
1856 Machinist, of Ardwick Spindle Works, Manchester
1858 'PRESTON and McGREGOR’S PATENT MACHINES for FORGING and CUTTING FILES, at One-Third the Cost of those made by Hand, may be seen at Work daily, on the Premises of the Maker, FRANCIS PRESTON, ANCOATS BRIDGE WORKS, MANCHESTER.'
Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 26 October 1858
1869 Advert: 'Velocipedes, manufactured by PRESTON BROTHERS, Ancoats Bridge Works, Ardwick, Manchester (Established 1826). Wholesale and for Export. The various parts are made interchangeable upon the same principle as now pursued by the English Government in their manufactory of Rifles, so that if an accident happens to any part of the Velocipedes the damaged parts van be easily replaced. Agent for Birmingham: T. Heath, 94 Hatchett Street.'[1]
1870 'SPEIGHT’S DOFFING PATENT for SPINNING and TWISTING FRAMES.— Notice is hereby given, that by an Agreement, dated the 26th of January, 1869, the sole LICENSE to make the fliers, tubes, wharles, oil cups, &c., &c., was GRANTED to Messrs. FRANCIS PRESTON & Co., Machinists, Ancoats Bridge Works, Manchester — Dated February, 1870.
A. & G. W. FOX, Solicitors, Manchester.
Bradford Observer, 28 February 1870
See "'Clay's' Breech Loader 1862" by Steven Roberts for a summary of Preston's involvement in arms production [2]. The source also refers to his partnership in the Ardwick Spindle Works with William Seed, and with Preston's involvement with the Lancashire Steel Co.
1892 Obituary [3]
FRANCIS PRESTON was born at Higher Ardwick, Manchester, on 10th January 1823.
For the greater part of his life he was actively engaged in engineering works of a varied character.
He died suddenly of heart disease on 24th December 1891 at Blackpool, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1856.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Birmingham Daily Gazette, 11 June 1869
- ↑ [1] "'Clay's' Breech Loader 1862" by Steven Roberts, 2010
- ↑ 1892 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries
- Mechanics Magazine Volume LXIII (63) 1855 Pt2 p31 & p218