Maker of ploughshares, of Norwich and Ipswich (1789)
Genealogy of the Company
- 1785 Ransome and Co
- 1808 Ransome and Son
- 1818 Ransome and Sons
- 1825 James and Robert Ransome
- 1829 J. R. and A. Ransome
- 1836 Ransomes and May
- 1854 Ransomes and Sims
- 1869 Ransomes, Sims and Head
- 1880 Ransomes, Head and Jefferies
- 1884 Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies
1783 Robert Ransome had a patent for the making of iron plates and tiles.
1785 The company, known as Ransome and Co, was founded by Robert Ransome, an ironfounder in Norwich.
1785 Took out a patent for cast-iron ploughshares.
1789 The company moved to Ipswich.
1803 Robert was responsible for one of the important developments in ploughs. This was the chilling process, whereby the underside of the share was made extra hard, while the upper part remained soft and tough. The upper part thus wore away faster than the lower, so that a sharp cutting edge was maintained and less draught was required.
In 1808 Ransome took out a patent for the manufacture of interchangeable plough parts.
1808 When Robert's son James became a partner in the company it was renamed Ransome and Son.
1818 When Robert's son Robert Ransome, Junior joined the business it was renamed Ransome and Sons