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Yates & Thom Ltd, or Yates of Blackburn, was a British manufacturer of stationary steam engines and boilers at the Canal Ironworks, Blackburn, Lancashire, England.

The company had its origins in a blacksmith's shop started by William Yates in 1824. [1]

Leigh Spinners cross compound steam engine

In the 1860s, the company supplied a cam operated, drop valve compound engine operating at 100 psi to the India Mill, Darwen. [2] Other mills supplied by Yates and Thom included the Durban Mill, Oldham. This was an 1800 hp triple-expansion four-cylinder engine built in 1906. It had a 24" HP cylinder, a 29" IP cylinder and two 38" LP cylinders with a 5 ft 6 in stroke. At 180 psi, it drove a 27-ft, 67-ton flywheel with 38 ropes at 65 rpm. It used Corliss valves on all cylinders. [3] An engine, one of a pair supplied by the firm, survives at Leigh Spinners. [4]

The company supplied a 3,300 horsepower twin tandem compound engine, which survives in the engine house at the Astley Green Colliery Museum. It was the largest steam winding engine used on the Lancashire Coalfield. [5]

In 1928, the company became Foster, Yates and Thom when it was acquired by Joseph Foster & Sons. [6] The company continued to manufacture boilers until 1964, with the remainder of the works closing in 1973. [1]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Archive news from the This Is Lancashire". www.thisislancashire.co.uk.
  2. ^ Hills 1993, p. 177
  3. ^ Roberts 1921
  4. ^ Historic England. "Leigh Mill, Park Lane (1253119)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Astley Green Colliery (623407)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Death of Sir W. Thom". Lancashire Evening Post. British Newspaper Archive. 11 April 1939. p. 8. (subscription required)

Bibliography

External links