Title
Engineering plans produced by the Fine Cotton Spinners & Doublers Association Ltd
Reference
YMS0631
Production date
1878 - 1956
Creator
- Fine Spinners and Doublers LimitedBiographyBiography
In 1898 encouraged by Herbert Dixon and Scott Lings a group of spinning companies in the North West formed the Fine Spinners and Doublers Association. Businesses joining the Association from its foundation included A. and G. Murray, Thomas Houldsworth and Co, C. E. Bennett and Co, James and Wainwright Bellhouse, and McConnel and Co. Rapid expansion in the following years encompassed many more firms.
The Fine Spinners and Doublers Association enjoyed a huge advantage due to its size. Being much larger than its competitors enabled it to secure Sea Islands cotton, named after an area in South Carolina, where it was grown and Egyptian cotton. Until c 1930 it was the world's largest cotton-spinning concern, operating 60 mills and employing a workforce of 30,000 operatives.
In 1946 the name of the business was changed to Fine Spinners and Doublers Limited and enjoyed a brief period of prosperity before being purchased by Courtaulds in 1963.
- The Lea Recorder Co. LtdBiographyBiography
The Lea Recorder Co Ltd was established by James Edward Lea (c1869-1955) in 1911 as a manufacturer of recording equipment for measuring water and coal consumption. Lea had invented an automatic water-consumption recorder whilst working in South Africa. In 1905 he patented his recorder and returned to England to begin manufacturing it. In 1913 the business was registered as a private limited liability company.
The original premises were situated on Deansgate, Manchester. The company moved to premises on Cornbrook Park Road in 1918.
Lea continued in his role as Chairman of the business until his death in 1955.
Scope and Content
Plans produced by the Fine Cotton Spinners & Doublers Association Ltd for various companies including: Distaff Fabrics Ltd, The Lancashire Hill Rope and Twine Co Ltd, James Marsden and Sons, Moston Mill Co Ltd, Thomas Rivett Ltd, Jacob Sassoon Mill, Messrs George Swindells and Son Ltd, The Tutbury Mill Co Ltd, The Victor Mill Ltd.
Also includes some plans drawn by other companies including The Lea Recorder Co, and Cochran and Co, Annan, Scotland.
Extent
261
Archival history
Provenance unknown
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
- C. E. Bennett and Co. LtdBiographyBiography
Cotton spinner, bleacher and manufacturer based at Union Mill and Bengal Street Mills in Ancoats, Manchester. Known to have been active in 1891.
- Richard Harwood and SonBiographyBiography
Cotton spinner and manufacturer, based in Brownlow Fold Mills, Halliwell, Bolton. Known to have been active 1874-1979.
- John Musgrave & Sons LtdBiographyBiography
John Musgrave & Sons was established in 1850 as the successor company to Musgrave, Son and Heaton. It became a limited company, John Musgrave & Sons Ltd, in 1881.
Musgrave, Son and Heaton was founded in 1838, through a partnership with his son Joseph and John Heaton. The company established its works at the Globe Ironworks in Bolton in 1839. It operated until 1849, when the partnership with Heaton was dissolved.
John Musgrave and his son Joseph then formed a new partnership, John Musgrave & Sons, in 1850, continuing to operate from the Globe Ironworks. Advertisements claimed that the company had been founded in 1839, referring back to the establishment of the Globe Ironworks by the previous company.
John Musgrave & Sons developed and manufactured horizontal stationary steam engines for collieries, pumping stations, and textile mills. Their products sold around the world.
John Musgrave died in 1864 and his four sons continued the business. From around 1866, the company's products included steam engines, steam hammers, boilers, bridges. cranes and gears.
The company built a separate works in Westhoughton in 1902 for the boiler making side of the business. This investment seems to have caused financial difficulties and, in 1911, the company put its Globe Ironorks into voluntary liquidation. The company was refinanced in 1913, as John Musgrave & Sons (1913) Ltd.
The Westhoughton boiler plant closed in 1912 and was acquired by the Admiralty and re-equipped to manufacture naval guns in July 1915.
In August 1920 shares in John Musgrave & Sons (1913) Ltd were offered on the open market but by December 1924 the company had appointed receivers. The business continued to trade for a further two years. Final closure came in December 1927 when Galloways acquired Musgraves' goodwill, designs and drawings.
- Shaw, Jardine & Co LtdBiographyBiography
Cotton Spinners based in Manchester. Known to have been active c1914-c1950
- Moston Mill Co LtdBiographyBiography
Cotton spinners based at Newton Heath, Manchester. Known to have been active 1907-1952
- Lancashire Hill Rope & Twine Co LtdBiographyBiography
Rope, twine and net manufacturer, known to have been active c1919-1930.
- James Marsden and SonsBiographyBiography
Cotton spinner and manufacturer, known to have been active 1891-1911.
- Thomas Rivett LtdBiographyBiography
Cotton doublers based in Stockport. Known to have been active in 1891.
- Victor Mill LtdBiographyBiography
Cotton manufacturer based at Stalybridge, Cheshire. Active c1904-1977
- George Swindells & Son LtdBiographyBiography
Cotton manufacturer based at Bollington, Cheshire. Active c1800-c2000
- Tutbury Mill LtdBiographyBiography
Cotton doublers based at Rocester, Staffordshire. Active c1905-c1950
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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