Title
De Havilland Propellers and Hawker Siddeley Dynamics material
Reference
MS/2218/04
Production date
1958 - 1988
Creator
- Sevant, Anthony HenryBiographyBiography
(1933 - 2015) Aerospace Engineer
Anthony Henry Sevant was an engineering manager who was involved in the Blue Streak missile programme. He began his career in 1949 when he joined Harris Lebus as a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice. He would remain with the company for 5 years, which included 3 years working in the drawing office, before joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to complete his National Service. This was undertaken between 1954 and 1956 during which time he was employed as a Gun Fitter on a firing range.
Following his time in R.E.M.E., he joined Saben Hart and Partners, a design and engineering consultancy firm, where he worked as a Design Draughtsman. Here he was involved in the design of special-purpose machinery, earth-moving equipment, gearboxes, hydraulic systems and equipment, and pipework installations.
In 1958 Sevant would join De Havilland Propellers as a Senior Draughtsman before being promoted to Senior Designer in 1962. In 1963 his company would be merged with the missile and equipment departments of Whitworth Gloster and A.V. Roe to form Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, part of the Hawker Siddeley Group. He would remain in position in the Space Projects Division until the following year when he was promoted to Drawing Office Section Leader and then Senior Mechanical Engineer in 1965. During his time at De Havilland Propellers and Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, he would be involved in the design and manufacture of special purposed ground equipment for the Blue Steak missile and would also represent the company at the Woomera test facility in Australia, as a Design Consultant. Later he would also be part of the company’s involvement in EDLO (European Launcher Development Organisation).
In 1968 he would leave Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and move to The Plessey Company. Here he would initially work as a Senior Mechanical Engineer before moving on to become Principal Mechanical Design Engineer in 1969, Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1970, Engineering Services Manager in 1972 and Chief Mechanical Designer in 1977.
Scope and Content
Papers relating to Anthony Sevant's work as a Senior Design Draughtsman, Senior Designer, Drawing Office Section Leader and Chief Mechanical Designer for De Havilland Propellers and then Hawker Siddeley Dynamics.
Extent
17 items
Language
English
Level of description
SERIES
Repository name
Science Museum, London
Associated people and organisations
- De Havilland Propellers LtdBiographyBiography
De Havilland Propellers Limited was established as a division of De Havilland Aircraft in 1935 to manufacture variable pitch propellers under licence from the Hamilton Standard Company. In 1946 it was incorporated as a subsidiary company based at Hatfield, with a manufacturing facility in Lostock. In addition to the manufacture of propellers the company would work on missile projects from the late 1940s and would diversify into industrial equipment in the 1950s. This decade would also see the company begin work on the Blue Jay project, which became the Firestreak heat-seeking missile, and Blue Streak, both as a missile and later as part of the European satellite launch programme. In 1960 the company, along with its parent, would become part of the Hawker Siddeley Group and the decision was taken to merge De Havilland Propellers and the De Havilland Aircraft Company into a single entity. This was known as the de Havilland Aircraft Company and removed the need for de Havilland Holdings which ceased to function. The new join company would continue to operate independently inside the Hawker Siddeley Group until 1963 when a reorganisation transferred the missile and equipment interests that had been de Havilland Propellers into Hawker Siddeley Dynamics.
- Hawker Siddeley Dynamics LimitedBiographyBiography
Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Limited (HSD) was a defence and electronics manufacturer formed on 1st July 1963 as part of a reorganisation within the Hawker Siddeley Group. The new company was a consolidation of the missile and equipment interests of De Havilland, Whitworth Gloster and A.V. Roe, all of which had previously operated separately within the Group.
The new establishment consisted of over 15,000 staff, headed by Sir Arnold Hall as chairman, operating on sites at Hatfield, Lostock, Farnworth, Lakefield, Stevenage, Welkin House, Conquest House, Woodford, Whitely, Spadeadam and Woomera. It would take over all of the projects these companies were involved in including the Firestreak, Blue Streak, Red Top, Blue Steel, Seaslug and CF.299 missiles, and various air-conditioning, fuel control and power supply projects. It also continued as the British representative on the ELDO (European Launcher Development Organisation) project.
In August 1964 the company was chosen to supply air-conditioning equipment to the Concorde project and also announced the development of the Sea Dart missile for the Royal Navy. In 1966 it would also announce a further missile project when the Martel was unveiled in cooperation with Engins Matra. Beyond these military projects, there was also a great deal of work in the civilian sector including the design of the suspension and brake system for British Rail’s prototype Advanced Passenger Train (APT), which was awarded to them in 1969.
In 1977 the Aircraft and Ship Building Act created British Aerospace (BAe) and Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, along with Hawker Siddeley Aviation, the British Aircraft Corporation and Scottish Aviation, were merged into it. The none aviation aspects of Hawker Siddeley would continue as a separate company until 1991 when it was acquired by BTR.
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
