Pelapone Engines

Pelapone diesel engine at Kidwelly Industrial Museum

of Slack Lane, Derby

1948 Change of name from New Pelapone Engine Co

1948 'Switch From Cranes To Diesels -

CHANGES AT DERBY WORKS
Major changes to take place at London Crane Works, Derby, this year will result in the town gaining a new industry with a high export potential in exchange for the departure of one of its oldest concerns - Coles Cranes - which during the war supplied thousands of mobile cranes for the Services. The new industry, the manufacture of stationary diesel engines, will result from the transfer of Pelapone Engines, Ltd., from Wakefield to the Crane Works, at present occupied by the Mechanical Handling Division of Steels Engineering Products, Ltd. The two companies are linked through their directors.

IN STAGES
The manufacture of Coles cranes, electric hoists, and the "Electric Eel" industrial truck, is being transferred in stages to Steels' Crown Works, Sunderland. Mr. B. H. Dawes, Derby service manager to Steels Engineering Products, told the "Telegraph": "Stage one of the transfer has been completed. We hope to finish all four stages by August, and to start producing diesel engines by the end of the year. "The whole of these works are being taken over by the Pelapone Company to enable it to increase its production of engines to meet an exceedingly heavy order book for overseas customers." Ninety-four per cent, of the output of diesel engines is exported and production at Derby is planned for 2,000 engines a year, he added.

STAFF RETAINED
The present works staff at the Crane Works, numbering about 140, is being retained and will in time be increased to nearly double that number. A small number of keymen in crane production have been moved to Sunderland and some workers may come to Derby from Wakefield.'

1967 Became subsidiary of Dewhurst and Partner

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