Title
Geoffrey Key Sketches of Wire and Rod Making Process at Richard Johnson & Nephew
Reference
YA1997.43
Production date
1974 - 1974
Creator
- Key, Geoffrey George BamfordBiographyBiography
Geoffrey Key was born in Rusholme, Manchester in 1941. His father worked as a warehouseman for the Co-Operative Wholesale Society and his mother was a secretary at Dunlop's, were she illustrated the in-house magazine for the company.
His early education began at Manchester’s High School of Art before going on to study art at Manchester Regional College of Art. After being awarded a National Diploma of Design and the Diploma of Associateship of Manchester he continued his postgraduate scholarship in sculpture at Manchester.
The main themes in Key’s work were the human figure, landscape and horses. He was a member of the Manchester Academy, gaining first prize there in 1971. Key's art was exhibited at Salford Art Gallery from 1966, Sheffield University and abroad in 1974, other exhibitions including the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, 1983, Blackheath Gallery from 1989 and Barn Gallery, Cheshire, in 1991.
Public galleries holding his work include Salford, Manchester and Bolton hold his work. Key lives in Pendleton, Salford, Lancashire.
Scope and Content
Five illustrations by the artist Geoffrey Key showing the process of wire drawing and rod making at Richard Johnson & Nephew, Manchester. The five mixed media sketches were commission by the company to celebrate 200 years of steel rod and wire production at the works occupied by the company on Forge Lane.
Extent
1 linear metre
Physical description
Good
Archival history
The series of five sketches were commissioned by Richard Johnson and Nephew Ltd to celebrate 200 years of steel rod and wire production at the Forge Lane site. The donor Geoff Crawford was formerly Managing Director at Forge Lane.
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
- Richard Johnson & Nephew LtdBiographyBiography
Richard Johnson and Nephew were a firm of ironmasters and wire drawers based in Bradford, Manchester, with a heritage dating back to 1773. They revolutionised the wire industry with the introduction of the first continuous galvanising plant in 1860 and later with the world's first successful continuous rod rolling mill in 1862. These machines sped up the wire-making process at a time when demand was rising rapidly.
The company supplied wire for a range of uses, including galvanised armouring wire for submarine cables, and for use in suspension bridges including one at Niagara. In 1877, the company bought the sole licence to manufacture barbed wire under patent across Britain. The company later supplied over 60% of the steel-cored aluminium conductors for the National Grid.
In 1973, Richard Johnson & Nephew merged with Thomas Firth & John Brown Ltd, becoming Johnson & Firth Brown. The Bradford Works closed in 1986.
Subject
Conditions governing access
Open access.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.
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