Title
Documents, Drawings and Photographs relating to Smith and Coventry
Reference
YA2003.81
Production date
01-01-1889 - 31-12-1927
Creator
- Smith & Coventry LtdBiographyBiography
The company founded by William Ford-Smith and Arthur Coventry when the machine tool industry was still in its infancy as Smith & Coventry Ltd in 1854.
The company, formed by William Ford-Smith and originally situated in a Bonding Warehouse located in Salford. He was joined a year later by Arthur Coventry and they became partners. The company concentrated on smaller machines and produced various kinds of planing, milling, turning and boring machines.
In 1876 the company established the manufacturing of twist drills, which previously had to be imported from America. The company had sent Herbert Hunt there in order to discover and acquire the neccesary technical knowledge on how to manufacture twist drills. The company eventually became one of the largest producers of twist drills which necessitated the opening of a new larger premises at Park Road, Timperley.
In January 1898 the founders of the firm retired and left the running of the business to W.D. Ford-Smith, Consul for Japan in Manchester and Theodore Coventry J.P. As the company grew the Directors decided to concentrate on the manufacturing of small and medium sized machines which included the Robey-Smith patent bevel gear planer, Cooper's patent brass finisher's lathe and Knowel's patent key seater.
On the outbreak of the First World War the company were fortunate enough to receive a large order from Woolwich Arsenal for machines for the production of shells. As well as continuing to produce machines to produce shells the company also re-designed and produced machines for making guns.
The company was eventually purchased by John Hetherington & Sons.
As well as the Park Road premises the company's main site was at Gresley Iron Works, Ordsall Lane, Manchester.
Scope and Content
A small collection of drawings, documents and booklets for machine tools manufactured by the company.
Extent
18 items
Physical description
The condition of the archive is fair. Some file covers are damaged.
Language
English
Archival history
Papers originated from Walter Anderson 1907-1982(?). He was born in Altrincham and studied at Altrincham Technical College 1917-1918. He began work at Smith & Coventry Ltd c.1918. In 1927 he worked as an engineer in Bradford and eventually moved to Bradford c.1930. He demonstrated the Robey-Smith Bevel Gear Planing Machine in Paris in the 1920s.
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
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.
External document
Related object
Related items
Y1977.64.3
Y2002.4
System of arrangement
The archive has been arranged in chronological order.