130 years of changing cast iron technology: John Harper & Company 1852-1982
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Published
Jan 1, 2022
Abstract
Developments in the iron foundry products and technology of John Harper & Co are reviewed, from its origins in the 1850s making white-heart malleable iron castings for locks and keys, grey iron castings for decorative hardware in the 1890s and for the electrical, typewriter and other industries in the 1920s and 30s, then Meehanite engineering castings in the 1940s and 50s and Spheroidal Graphite iron in the 1960s and ’70s. The company was eventually taken over in 1974 and the foundry closed in 1982. Changes in metallurgical production processes are reviewed in relation to changing economics, management policies, markets, and technologies.
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Keywords
References
Anon 1899, South Staffordshire Commercial Sketches Institutions & Trades Illustrated, A XXth Century Review, 23-8.
Anon 1928, ‘New Foundry of John Harper & Co at Willenhall’, Foundry Trade Journal 39, 261-2.
Anon 1967, ‘Melting Plant for Spheroidal Graphite Iron’, The Engineer 223, 163.
Cameron J 1921, ‘Semi Steel’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen XV, 79-120.
Church R A 1969, Kenricks in Hardware (Newton Abbot).
Dews J W 1953, ‘Design, Installation, and Operation of a Watercooled Cupola’, Foundry Trade Journal 94, 519-22, 561-5.
Evans E C 1953, ‘Operating Experience with Hot Blast Cupolas in Great Britain’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen 95, 73-8, 113-7.
Field H 1920, ‘What is Semi Steel ?’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen 45, 312-20.
Field H 1926, ‘Some Experiences with Malleable Iron’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen 20, 564-96.
Field H 1950, The Story of The Old Works 1790 to 1949 (Willenhall) 1950.
Gale W K V 1966 The Black Country Iron Industry (London).
Gale W K V 1969 Iron and Steel (London).
Greenwood W H 1885 A Manual of Metallurgy (London) Vol I.
Griffiths S 1873, Griffiths’ Guide to the Iron Trade of Great Britain (Reprinted with an introduction by Gale W K V (Newton Abbott) 1967).
Harper J D 1967, ‘Operation of the Basic Cupola for the production of Light Nodular Iron Castings 1956-66’, British Foundryman 40, 54-68.
Harper J D 1972, ‘The Choice of Melting Plant for SG Iron Casting Production’, Proceedings of BCIRA Conference on Choice of Ironfoundry Melting Plant (Birmingham) 227-31.
Hughes I C H 1985, ‘Alloy Cast Irons 1900-1950’, Historical Metallurgy 19, 90-6.
Iron and Steel Industry Annual Statistics, 1960-1980, issued by the UK Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.
Lea Barham & Brooks, Stockbrokers, Birmingham 1951 Prospectus: Offer for Sale of 400,000 1/- shares at 7/8d each in John Harper (Meehanite) Limited.
Moldenke R 1917, The Principles of Iron Founding (New York).
Meehan A F 1924, Improved Manufacture of Grey Cast Iron. British Patent Application 210118.
Price G 1856, Treatise on Fire and Thief Proof Depositories and Locks and Keys (London).
Strauss G, Quin C, Brough J, Archer T, Tegtemeir W, and Prowse W 1863, ‘England’s Workshops’, The Ironmonger 119-29 (Reprinted in part as ‘One-hundred Years Ago at John Harper & Company Ltd’ Foundry Trade Journal 115, 9-13).
Tildesley N W 1971, ‘The Early History of The Albion Works, Willenhall, 1790-1880’ West Midlands Studies 4, 32-45.
Anon 1928, ‘New Foundry of John Harper & Co at Willenhall’, Foundry Trade Journal 39, 261-2.
Anon 1967, ‘Melting Plant for Spheroidal Graphite Iron’, The Engineer 223, 163.
Cameron J 1921, ‘Semi Steel’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen XV, 79-120.
Church R A 1969, Kenricks in Hardware (Newton Abbot).
Dews J W 1953, ‘Design, Installation, and Operation of a Watercooled Cupola’, Foundry Trade Journal 94, 519-22, 561-5.
Evans E C 1953, ‘Operating Experience with Hot Blast Cupolas in Great Britain’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen 95, 73-8, 113-7.
Field H 1920, ‘What is Semi Steel ?’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen 45, 312-20.
Field H 1926, ‘Some Experiences with Malleable Iron’, Proceedings Institute of British Foundrymen 20, 564-96.
Field H 1950, The Story of The Old Works 1790 to 1949 (Willenhall) 1950.
Gale W K V 1966 The Black Country Iron Industry (London).
Gale W K V 1969 Iron and Steel (London).
Greenwood W H 1885 A Manual of Metallurgy (London) Vol I.
Griffiths S 1873, Griffiths’ Guide to the Iron Trade of Great Britain (Reprinted with an introduction by Gale W K V (Newton Abbott) 1967).
Harper J D 1967, ‘Operation of the Basic Cupola for the production of Light Nodular Iron Castings 1956-66’, British Foundryman 40, 54-68.
Harper J D 1972, ‘The Choice of Melting Plant for SG Iron Casting Production’, Proceedings of BCIRA Conference on Choice of Ironfoundry Melting Plant (Birmingham) 227-31.
Hughes I C H 1985, ‘Alloy Cast Irons 1900-1950’, Historical Metallurgy 19, 90-6.
Iron and Steel Industry Annual Statistics, 1960-1980, issued by the UK Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.
Lea Barham & Brooks, Stockbrokers, Birmingham 1951 Prospectus: Offer for Sale of 400,000 1/- shares at 7/8d each in John Harper (Meehanite) Limited.
Moldenke R 1917, The Principles of Iron Founding (New York).
Meehan A F 1924, Improved Manufacture of Grey Cast Iron. British Patent Application 210118.
Price G 1856, Treatise on Fire and Thief Proof Depositories and Locks and Keys (London).
Strauss G, Quin C, Brough J, Archer T, Tegtemeir W, and Prowse W 1863, ‘England’s Workshops’, The Ironmonger 119-29 (Reprinted in part as ‘One-hundred Years Ago at John Harper & Company Ltd’ Foundry Trade Journal 115, 9-13).
Tildesley N W 1971, ‘The Early History of The Albion Works, Willenhall, 1790-1880’ West Midlands Studies 4, 32-45.
How to Cite
Harper, J. (2022). 130 years of changing cast iron technology: John Harper & Company 1852-1982. Historical Metallurgy, 35(1), 33-47. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/282
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Harper, J. (2022). 130 years of changing cast iron technology: John Harper & Company 1852-1982. Historical Metallurgy, 35(1), 33-47. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/282