Title
Trade literature relating to the machine tool industry in Altrincham
Reference
YA2010.37/4
Production date
1925 - 1955
Creator
- Frank Pearn & Co LtdBiographyBiography
Frank Pearn & Co was a pump manufacturing and hydraulic engineering company based in the West Gorton area of Manchester. Brothers Frank and Sinclair Pearn formed the company in 1880 as a partnership with Thomas Addyson.
The company had previously existed as a partnership between the two brothers, beginning around 1871, before Arthur Collings Wells joined as a third partner, and the company became known as Frank Pearn, Wells & Co. It is not recorded when Wells joined the partnership, but it is estimated to be around 1878 or 1879.
Under its new name, the company continued to manufacture pumps, supplying to waterworks across the United Kingdom. From 1886, Frank Pearn & Co was also the maker of the Clarke's railway signal wire compensator and developed designs for patent universal horizontal surfacing, boring, milling, drilling and tapping machines, which the company licensed to George Richards & Co. The machines were advertised under the name Pearn-Richards.
Following Frank Pearn's death in 1914, Sinclair Pearn continued as chairman and managing director until his death in 1933. Sinclair Pearn was succeeded by his son Harold Walker Pearn, who had been joint managing director with his father. Harold Walker Pearn died in 1954, and the company was wound up the following year. Its business was absorbed by Holden & Brooke Limited.
- George Richards & Co. LtdBiographyBiography
Manufacturer of machine tools, founded in 1880 by George Richards. The business was taken over by Tilghmans in 1896 but continued to operate as a separate company.
George Richards and Co. Ltd. merged with H. W. Kearns and Co. Ltd in 1967, when Kearns was bought by Staveley Industries, who by then owned George Richards. The new company was named Kearns-Richards.
Scope and Content
Trade literature relating to Frank Pearn & Co., Pearn-Richards branded machines, George Richards & Co., Staveley Industries and Trafford Park.
Extent
1 envelope containing 6 items
Level of description
SERIES
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
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.