J. and C. Carmichael
James and Charles Carmichael of Ward Foundry, Sessions Street, Dundee.
1810 The firm was founded by James and Charles Carmichael and were principally marine engineers and makers of weighbridges and turbines. James Carmichael was born in 1776 and served his time as a millwright. In 1810 his brother Charles, who had received a similar training, suggested that they should take up the manufacture of steam engines. Agreement was soon reached, and the firm entered on its career as Messrs. J. and C. Carmichael.
1823 James was a man with considerable inventive talent, and when a repeat order for a twin ferry boat for the Tay was secured in 1823 he set about devising an engine reversing gear which could be readily operated from the deck. It was fitted to the ferry steamer George IV and proved perfectly successful.
c.1829 They invented the fan blower for forges and furnaces; this was introduced with remarkable success, and the invention was freely and liberally given to the trade.[1]
Another important invention by the firm was a planing, shaping and boring machine.
1833 Produced their first two locomotives (0-2-4) for the Dundee and Newtyle Railway [2]They were named the Earl of Airlie and the Lord Wharncliffe. They had vertical cylinders, one at each side of the boiler, which, through return connecting-rods and bell cranks, drove the driving wheels.
Some sources suggest the locomotive Trotter was created by Messrs. Carmichael. However there was some speculation to this.
1843 Charles Carmichael died.
1850 David, James and George Carmichael were recorded as at J. Carmichael and Co[3]
1853 James Carmichael died. The firm was carried on by their sons and became James Carmichael and Co
1929 The company closed